Page 51 of M.M. Scrooge
Daniel
I have a boyfriend.A boyfriend! An actual man, who’s actually into me, who I’m actually bringing to Christmas with my family.
I’ve always wanted to bring a partner to Christmas with my family!
To have someone across from me on the stupid twin beds in the stupid guest room at Mom’s house, to share spiked hot chocolate with, and to kiss under the mistletoe. Not that we’ve ever hung mistletoe, but we could always start.
Max and I haven’t known each other very long, just a few weeks, but there’s already a connection between us unlike any I’ve had with previous partners. He puts the effort in. I’m not sure why he’s trying so hard, but I really appreciate it.
Max is quiet on the drive over, but once he meets Mom, out comes the lovable guy I’m growing to adore. She has a way of putting people at ease that works like a charm, and Max isn’t immune.
When we sit down to dinner, he doesn’t shy away from asking about Dad. The empty place at the table is sad, yes, but our memories and stories of him are as joyful as ever. Though Max won’t ever get to meet my dad, as we talk about his life, he’ll get to know what kind of man he was and what made him so special to us.
After the kids have gone to bed, taking Max’s roommate’s dog, Timmy, with them, we cuddle together on the loveseat in the living room. Libby and John sit across from us on the couch. Mom is in the kitchen making the hot chocolate I’ve been looking forward to all evening. At the last second, we remember how Dad used to add a dash of cayenne for kicks, and Max insists on trying it. I may or may not have regrets.
Libby is the last to go to bed, leaving me with a kiss on my cheek and a whisper in my ear. “I’m so happy for you, baby brother.” We grin at each other, and she says loud enough for Max to hear, “And I’m taking you two up on that babysitting offer. Your girl needs a day off.”
“Anytime,” Max says. I can’t believe he offered to help when I told Libby I’d keep the kids. They’re going to be calling him Uncle Max in no time. My insides are all warm and squishy. Somehow, even with Dad gone, this has turned into a wonderful Christmas.
Now that we’re alone, Max travels his hand, which has been on my knee, up my thigh.
“Hey!” I nudge his ribs with my elbow. “No hanky-panky in my childhood living room. It’s weird.”
He smirks a sexy resolve-melting sort of smirk. “What about in your childhood bedroom?”
“On the elliptical machine or over my mom’s desk?”
“Either.” His eyes sparkle with mischief. “Both.”
I shake my head. I love how much he wants me. And I want him just as bad. But a night off might be best. “We’re in the guest room. Twin beds. And my sister’s kids are sleeping across the hall.”
He pouts. “We don’t even get to snuggle?”
“We could push the beds together?” I’ve wanted a reason to do this for years.
Max stretches, uncurls his big limbs from the loveseat, stands, and offers me a hand. I let him pull me up, and he tugs me against his chest and drops a kiss on my crown. “Let’s do that.”
“Quietly.”
“Quietly.”
We take turns preparing for bed in the little bathroom down the hall. Then we carefully move the table out from between the beds, pick one bed up, and shuffle over until it’s smashed next to its twin. It’s not perfect, with the seam down the middle and two sets of blankets, but it’s a dream come true all the same.
Max sheds his clothes. He sleeps nude, and for that, I’m grateful. I’ll never get tired of ogling a naked Max. His body is a work of art, all those muscles shifting and flexing. I usually sleep in my underwear, could never get used to going totally bare, but for Max, I’m willing to try. I shuck off my clothes.
He lies on the edge of his bed, I lie on the edge of mine, and we meet in the middle. He wraps his strong arm around me. I rest my head on his massive chest, throw my skinny thigh over his meaty one, and cling to him like a baby opossum.
“Your family is really great,” he murmurs in a sexy nighttime voice, making me doubt my recently instated no-hanky-panky rule.
“Yeah, they are.” I trace my fingers over the ridges of his abdomen. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to see your family on Christmas too.”
“That’s okay. I never do, but maybe it would be different with you along. Maybe someday we could make the trip together.”
I’m glad the lights are off because my giddy smile must stretch from ear to ear. I can’t help it. I love it when he talks about the future like the one sure thing is that we’ll still be together.
This is what I’ve always wanted. To build a life with a special someone. With a guy like Max. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe he feels the same way about a guy like me.
I don’t know what makes me question my luck, but the words spill from my mouth before I can stop them. “Why me, Max? What makes you so sure?” If only I had half of Max’s easy confidence, maybe I wouldn’t wrestle so much with doubt.
