Chapter 35
Gabriel has never had a Christmas like this.
Until now, every Christmas had been about galas and big elaborate dinners.
The holidays were used as an excuse to flaunt just how much money his parents had and just how little qualms they felt about spending it on unnecessary things.
Laying back against the covers, James’ head pillowed on his chest and another one of those classic Christmas movies playing on his tablet, he can’t recall a moment he’s felt more content, more at ease.
Dinner was nice. Nothing too elaborate, too fancy or complicated.
Just a freshly made dish, with a nice wine to drink alongside it.
He’s still waiting for the other shoe to drop, for James to react to the revelation of who Gabriel is.
But by the looks of it, it’s not coming.
Not entirely shocking, if he takes into account that James has also broken away from his circle of wealth.
It’s still proving to be a nice change, since it’s the first time his heritage doesn’t seem to matter.
The evening passes slowly. The movie ends and another automatically starts playing.
By then it’s mostly background noise to him as he’s turned his focus to the man in his arms. The soft, golden curls feel like silk underneath his touch.
James’ breath comes in even puffs, slow in rhythm and soft in sound.
If he wasn’t enjoying the sensation of James’ hand trailing along the hem of his shirt, fingers sliding underneath to seek warmth, he would’ve thought he had fallen asleep.
It’s been a nice change to be able to be with James like this, to enjoy the silent comfort of each other’s company and not feel pressured to break it.
Gabriel knows it’s the only time of day that James’ head isn’t filled with to-do lists and running on intruding thoughts.
The second movie ends. The man laying on his chest has most likely fallen asleep fully.
If the slow huffs of breath, intermitted with short snores are any indication.
James’ hand has found its way completely underneath Gabriel’s shirt and is radiating a warm pressure point on the low of his back.
He really couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend Christmas Eve.
He smiles to himself as he gently presses a kiss to the crown of James’ head.
Just before midnight the lights in the hallway flicker off, dimming the little strip of light that shines from underneath the crack of the door. Minutes later the train starts moving and The Evergreen Adventurer begins its journey to Amsterdam.
From where he’s dozing alongside James he hears his phone buzz on the nightstand. He reaches out to grab it, simultaneously clicking off the lamp. The room falls into complete darkness, marking the end of the wonderful day and a beautiful start to this year’s Christmas.
There are a few messages waiting for him, his lockscreen displaying two missed calls as well. Both calls are from his mother and are easily discarded. The messages are from his friends, wishing him happy holidays and confirming the details for tomorrow.
It’s only then that he realizes that he’s made plans for Christmas Day, without accounting for James.
When he made the plans it was with full conviction that the trip meant the two of them both doing their own thing and occasionally meeting up for dinner or when the activity called for it.
Even though he wanted more, he assumed that it wouldn’t actually be happening.
What a fool he was. And thank god for that. Only now it means plans were made, and he doesn’t know how James will feel about it.
They’ll be spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Amsterdam.
It’s the only city on the whole trip that Gabriel’s already been to.
He’s got some friends living just outside of the city, who invited him over for Christmas dinner.
And, because there hadn’t been any talk about any sort of plans, he agreed to join them for the evening on the twenty-fifth.
He meant to ask James to join them, so he wouldn’t be alone on Christmas.
The whole thing honestly slipped his mind.
Opening up the chat with Connor he opens his camera roll, strolls through the few pictures the two of them have managed to take together and selects his favorite. An early snapshot of their days in Venice, when the gondolier had insisted on a photo next to a beautifully decorated bridge.
Of course, we’re still on. Just left Cologne. Got room for one more? He hits send on both the photo and the message.
Almost immediately the speech bubbles pop up and there’s another incoming message. You finally got your head out of your ass, huh? We’ll see you both tomorrow.
Now all he needs to do is convince James that he’s welcome during the dinner. He knows his boyfriend will see it as intruding, when it’s nowhere near true. If there’s one thing he’s sure of, it’s that he won’t be having James spending the holiday alone again.