Chapter 44
Arriving back at The Evergreen at six in the morning wasn’t the plan. With the excitement of the countdown, the champagne and the late hour, they managed to doze off for a few hours.
For once Gabriel is grateful for James’ obsessive need for alarms and reminders, as his watch beeped around half past four with a reminder to be back on The Adventurer by seven.
At his raised eyebrow, James just quipped, “I was going to spend the evening here anyway. With or without you. I wasn’t going to be the loser hanging around a bar solo.”
The crew greets them with bright smiles, well wishes for the new year and the announcement that brunch will be served from eleven.
It’s the perfect excuse for them to get out of their day old clothes and into some comforting loungewear. The trip to Ireland will last them about nine hours and there’s at least a couple of those to spare before brunch.
Slipping underneath the covers together happens like second nature, just like it’s getting more and more familiar to tuck James against him and underneath his chin.
The position brings warmth without feeling restricting.
It’s awfully easy to drift off again now that they are back on familiar territory.
James’ breathing slows down while Gabriel finds his eyes getting heavier and he’s happy to let himself succumb to the call of sleep.
When he gets jostled awake again, it’s from The Adventurer pulling out of Inverness. It’s still dark outside and the lights are turned off in the hallway. The open curtain provides nothing but darkness still. Between one blink and the next he drifts off again.
The next moment he blinks open his eyes, Gabriel finds brighter light filling the cabin. The light from underneath the door casts a strip of warm yellow across the wall opposite him and the man beside him is trying to wriggle free.
With a sigh and a slow stretch he turns on his back, untangling his arms from around James, who dashes toward the bathroom with surprising hurry. Gabriel huffs out a little laugh.
He flicks on the lamp to his right and sits up a little. A glance at his phone screen says it’s just after ten and the rumble in his stomach tells him it’s time for something to eat.
“Morning,” mumbles James sleepily when he slides back into bed. The warm pocket they were wrapped in has vanished, but Gabriel’s sure that they’ll be able to restore it.
James grabs his e-reader, settling in next to him.
“Morning, happy January first,” Gabriel whispers to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. James ducks his head, bashful and sleep soft. Gabriel smiles.
The smile is slow, filled with emotions that you only really feel on days like this.
A heaviness that comes with starting fresh.
The hope that the blank slate of the year brings.
His partner’s face portrays the unease that comes with this day, but also the freedom that it brings.
Gabriel is sure that his own features reflect the same.
Starting new, at the end of this trip, with each other. To Gabriel that sounds like the best possible way this year could’ve started. “Happy January first,” James whispers back, equally as soft.
At another rumble from his stomach, Gabriel grins and says, “How about brunch in the restaurant?”
The pliant, warm man next to him perks up. “That sounds great. I’m starving.”
“How that’s possible after last night, who knows,” Gabriel teases. “But yeah, me too.” It’s almost an unspoken rule by now that James takes his morning shower, and Gabriel goes to see if they’ll need a reservation and to bring them back a cup of tea.
In the end the reservation isn’t needed, as the hostess jokingly says that most people on the train are either still asleep or just going to bed.
When he gets back James has just come out of the bathroom, curls still wet and dripping.
The cup of tea is accepted with a happy hum and a grateful smile.
Gabriel didn’t realize that brunch might be served buffet style. Not once before did The Evergreen offer lunch in this capacity, and as they step into the restaurant he can’t help but glance at James. “We could-”
“You know what?” says James, heaving a deep breath and a timid smile. “I could at least try it once, right? It’s one of the last days, so it feels fitting. One last challenge and all that.”
“Only if you’re sure. If you’re uncomfortable, I can get us some plates and we’ll have lunch in the cabin.”
James reaches out, putting his hand on Gabriel’s cheek, swiping his fingers underneath the barely defined bags he finds there. They give Gabriel a soft, sleepy look that James adores. Rough edges and all, Gabriel’s so beautiful. “I know,” he whispers.
Gabriel asks for a table closest to the buffet, knowing that James’ hang-up comes from having to pass the rest of the restaurant with his food. The privacy of the booth is welcome, especially now that it means that it will help James.
The food looks delicious and most definitely welcome after the early morning they had.
Coffee is served at the table and Gabriel patiently waits out James, whose eyes take on a more tense look with every passing second.
Gabriel scoots out of the booth, going to stand up.
James follows his movements with wary eyes and a sad smile.
Gabriel stops next to James, putting his hand on his shoulder, trailing it upward and carding his fingers into the soft curls at the back of his head. He tilts James’ head back, making sure that they’re holding eye contact as he reassures, “It’s okay. I’ll get us some things.”
The selection offers a full English breakfast, with hashbrowns and scrambled eggs for days. He fills two plates with things both of them enjoy and happily returns to the table. James has ordered both of them a soda in the time he took to get back and greets him with a grateful stare.
He’s pleasantly surprised when, near the end of the brunch when the restaurant has emptied out significantly, James hesitantly stands up.
With a deep breath he takes a plate and the few short steps toward the buffet.
Gabriel smiles when he ducks back into the booth moments later with a plate filled with little pastries.
With the passing of the green valleys and scenic houses on his right and the proud, satisfied little smile in front of him he thinks that this trip has given the both of them more than they ever bargained for.