Chapter 41
The train starts the journey to Inverness while breakfast is being served and Gabriel has got a sleepy, soft James sitting opposite of him.
A quick internet search yesterday showed him that the journey today is one of the most scenic routes of the trip.
And now that they’re travelling during the day again he can actually enjoy it.
“I still can’t believe we’re actually starting the final stretch of the trip,” James mentions, buttering up the croissant on his plate.
The jam soon follows and he licks his finger where some of it lingers.
Gabriel can’t help but be mesmerized by the motion, following the hand all the way up to James’ lips.
Once settled on James’ face, he locks eyes with a fond look and tired smile.
“It feels like yesterday we got off the train in Paris.”
Gabriel ducks his head, fondly recalling those first few days.
How scared he was, about how to act, how to be and what he was going to say during the prolonged period of time they were sure to be spending together.
And look at them now, locking ankles underneath the breakfast table on one of the most beautiful trains, heading back home.
Sharing smiles, inside jokes and memories to last them for years.
How terrified he was, that night in Paris while they shared a room for the first time. And again, when he found out that they would have to share not just a room, but a queen-sized bed for the entirety of the journey.
Full of doubt when he suggested the dating farce, knowing that in the end he wouldn’t really be helping anyone but himself into a bigger mess. His mind recalls the first time James reached out, thinking how much he wanted it to be true and not just a facade.
How things changed when the both of them opened up to each other, more and more with each passing night in the warm, cozy cabin.
He looks back and sees two completely different people returning to London.
Something he’ll be forever grateful for.
It might be the lingering Christmas spirit talking, or the being away from London, but for once he can say that he knows himself, is at peace with what he found and looking forward to what the future will bring.
“It does,” he says eventually, meeting James’ gaze again. “We’ll have to do something like this again, if you’re up for it.”
Now it’s James who ducks his head, a bashful blush spreading across his cheeks. “Only if you’ll join me.”
“Fine,” Gabriel sighs, teasing. “But only if there won’t be as many museums.”
“Hey! You liked them,” James protests. Gabriel levels him with a look. “Alright, you liked some of them,” he relents. They smile at each other, lost in each other’s eyes and the warm atmosphere of the restaurant.
In his peripheral Gabriel sees blurs of mountains and melting snow.
Any other moment, earlier on in the trip even, he would’ve been sat faced toward the window, taking in the views and changes in scenery.
Now, he finds all he wants to look at right in front of him.
As he watches the man on the other side of the table stick out his tongue, just a bit, to catch a stray smidge of jam in the corner of his mouth, he smiles and thinks there’s really no other view he’d rather be getting lost in.
Before long the table clears, their plates growing emptier and emptier. The teapot is nearing room temperature, even with the candle burning underneath it, and both of them have had at least two cups. With a satisfied hum James places his empty mug on the table, leaning back into the seat.
Just as the train hurtles into the tunnel, leading them back to the mainland of the United Kingdom, James offers to retire to their room. To get ready for their day, even if they won’t be in Inverness for another couple hours.
For a moment they stumble, The Evergreen gaining even more speed and they fall against each other in the hallway.
Gabriel’s got James pinned against one of the wooden panels, darkness engulfing them through the windows on either side of them.
They laugh, leaning against each other, and Gabriel admires the way the Christmas lights bring sparkles to James’ eyes.
It’s amazing to see how much calmer James looks, just by looking into his eyes.
He leans in, pressing his chest against James’ and putting his hands against the wall behind James’ head.
He’s got him caged in, but the happiness and ease don’t diminish in James’ stare.
They hold eye contact up until the moment Gabriel gets too close and he finds himself closing his eyes.
James sighs, the soft exhale fawning over Gabriel’s face.
His hands trail up over Gabriel’s back to bury themselves into his hair.
Their lips move in tandem, like they’ve been doing this for longer than they have.
Their touches are soft and hesitant still, but reassuring and comforting.
The warmth of James’ body has become familiar at this point, a welcome heat source in the cold of the hallway, and he finds that he could get used to this.
He hates that the moment gets interrupted by a rough shove against his shoulder, sending him off kilter slightly.
The pained yelp from James alerts him that the knocking of their teeth did indeed hurt him just as much as it had Gabriel.
With a huff he whirls around, demanding to know what the person’s problem is.
He ends up face to face with both Riley and Paul.
Out of instinct he plants himself firmer onto the ground, his stance widening and his arm reaching out behind him to make sure that James is shielded. “What’s your problem?” he grits out again.
“My problem?” Riley snarks, an angry grimace tugging at his lips. “You’re my problem. You might be from some fancy family, but it doesn’t give you the right to ruin my wedding.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows furrow, confused. “What are you on about? I haven’t done anything.”
“Of course you did. That twirp’s father,” Riley snarks as he points at James, “rescinded his contribution. And the venue called to inform us of a joint Hayes-Patterson party happening on our date instead.”
Gabriel’s eyes gleam with glee at Riley’s sour look.
“That’s got nothing to do with me,” he says, arms crossing over his chest. “But you know what they say, karma’s a bitch.”
Riley lunges at him, reaching out to strike him across the face. To Gabriel’s utter surprise it’s Paul who stops him, pulling him back by the elbow. The two of them share a heated glance, anger radiating off of them both. In the end Riley settles back, just slightly.
But it’s Paul that surprises him, once again, and he’s sure James as well, when he says, “I’m sorry.
We’ll leave you two alone.” It’s not the apology that James deserves to hear.
It’s not the groveling he’s owed. And it most certainly doesn’t sound sincere, but the promise of being left alone takes the edge off.
It’s not out of the goodness of his heart; Gabriel can tell it’s not.
It’s just a way to weasel his way into James and Gabriel’s good graces, to try and salvage what they can of their reputation.
Gabriel would take so much pleasure in telling them exactly where to shove it, but he’s much more interested in seeing it all unfold when they get back to London.
He’s sure James’ mother will keep the both of them in the loop.