Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“You’re forgiven for being late this morning,” Jason told David with a smile as he handed him his Americano and bagel to go.
It had been nearly two in the morning before they’d said goodnight at David’s front door.
The temptation to say yes to David’s suggestion of a hot chocolate had been enormous, but Jason’s ever practical mind won out over that one: he knew what he’d be like after only a few hours’ sleep, and Melina didn’t need a grump for a boss first thing on a Monday morning.
Besides, all I really wanted to do was curl up on the couch with David and fall asleep with him in my arms. It was a new sensation, this desire for more intimacy, and Jason was finding it a little…
overwhelming at times. He liked the touching and the kissing—God, he couldn’t get enough of the kissing—and he could quite willingly have shared those sweet, sensual kisses until dawn peeked its head through the window.
What is he doing to me?
Jason knew the answer to that one. David had awoken him to the joy of intimacy, and he had no desire to go back to sleep just yet.
David yawned. “I did not want to get out of bed this morning.” He sipped his coffee, wincing at its heat. Around him the regular patrons were sitting and talking, drinking and perusing their phones.
“Boss? If you want to grab a minute, I’m doing fine here,” Melina said quietly, nudging him with her elbow. She gestured toward the couch in the window with a flick of her head. “Why don’t you and David go sit for a moment? I’ll bring you some coffee.” She gave him a warm, encouraging smile.
Jason gave her a startled glance, then peered at David. “Do you have time for that?”
David smiled. “Sure, I’ll make time. The boss owes me, right? I’m making his company look good.” He chuckled. “Well, maybe not owes me exactly, but I can try to stay under his radar this morning.”
Jason was about to object, but Melina pressed a mug into his hand. “Here. Go. Sit.”
He arched his eyebrows. “Who’s the boss around here?”
She grinned. “Right now? Me, so go spend some time with your man.”
Her words sent heat pulsing though his body in a languid wave of contentment. My man. In a daze, he followed David over to the couch and sat beside him.
“Am I?” David murmured. When Jason gave him a quizzical glance, David smiled. “Your man?”
Jason had never felt so flustered. “Well, the position seems to be yours, if you want it,” he said carefully, trying to keep his tone light.
David’s eyes locked onto his, and there was suddenly no trace of the fatigue that had clung to him when he’d entered the shop. “Yeah, I think I’ll apply.”
Fuck. Jason’s heartbeat quickened and his throat tightened.
Something had just changed, maybe it was the air around them that seemed…
electrified, making all the hairs on his arms stand to attention.
Whatever it was, it felt for all the world like David had made a declaration of intent, and Jason was torn between searing anticipation, bone-rattling nerves, and frantic fist pumping.
When David’s phone vibrated loudly, the moment was shattered.
David gave him an apologetic glance and pulled the offending item from his jacket pocket. He rolled his eyes as he connected the call. “Hi, Mom.”
Jason stared. Mom? he mouthed.
* * * * * *
David sighed. “No, it’s fine. I’m just having breakfast in the coffee shop along my street. What’s up?” He wasn’t in the mood to deal with his mom, but it was rare for her to call this early.
“I just wanted to catch you before I made some more calls. It’s about Christmas Day.”
He was about to complain that her advance planning was scarier than usual, when it struck him that they had already reached December twelfth. Geez, how had that happened? “What about it?” He had a feeling he knew what was coming right at him anyhow. Why should this year be any different?
Jason regarded him in silence, sipping his coffee.
His mom heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I already know the answer to this one, but I’ll go ahead and ask it anyway. Are you going to bring someone with you this year?”
And there it was.
David stared at Jason. Is it too soon to subject him to my crazy family? The experience could scar him for life, not to mention frighten him off completely with the prospect of the whole ‘come meet my parents’ deal.
“Oh my God.” His mom’s choked gasp broke through his internal ramblings.
“What?”
“Who is he?”
How in the hell does she do that? “What are you talking about?” If in doubt, bluff it out. It was a tried-and-tested method that usually worked wonders with his mom.
“You paused,” she announced triumphantly. “You never pause when I ask you that. So, I repeat, who is he?”
Damn her. David took a deep breath. “Mom, there’s nothing to tell, all right?”
“Yet,” she added. “Nothing to tell yet. But there is someone, right?”
David closed his eyes for a count of three and then opened them. “Okay, look, right now we’re… we’re just friends.”
Facing him, Jason stilled and his eyes widened. Me? he mouthed. When David nodded, Jason exhaled slowly.
“Right.” She drew out that goddamn syllable as much as was humanly possible. “In that case, I’ll expect you to ask your ‘friend’ to accompany you on Christmas Day. And David? I’m not gonna take no for an answer.” Before he could retort, a gleeful chuckle filled his ear and she was gone.
David dropped the phone onto his lap and sagged into the couch.
Jason peered at him. “I gather that had something to do with me.”
“You might say that.” It was now or never. “My mom has just invited you to spend Christmas Day with me and the rest of my family.” He fell silent, his gaze focused on Jason’s startled expression.
“Really?”
David nodded. “We’re talking a whole bunch of people, loads of food, Christmas games, movies, alcohol, a front lawn full of lit up Frosty, Santa and his reindeer, and any other new decorations that my poor, long-suffering dad has been roped into buying this year, more alcohol…
” He peered at Jason. “So, have I put you off yet?”
“Is that what you were trying to do?” Jason lowered his voice. “Put me off?” His face tightened just a smidge.
Fuck. “No,” David stressed. “It’s just that my mom can be pretty full on during the holidays, and it would be a kind of baptism by fire, if you get my meaning.”
Jason cocked his head to one side. “When did you last take someone home to meet them?”
Now they were at the crux of it. “Well, actually, I’ve…
never taken a boyfriend home for Christmas.
” It was only in that moment that David realized he’d never once talked about his history, and unfortunately, this was not the time to start that particular conversation.
“Look, we can’t really discuss this now.
How about I come by the shop tonight when I get off work?
Will you be here or are you going to the shelter? ”
“I’ll be here,” Jason said quietly. “If you like, we could have dinner at my place.”
Oh, he really liked that idea. “Sounds great. Should I bring some wine?”
Jason nodded. “Make it white. I’m thinking chicken.”
David rose and pocketed his phone. He picked up his bagged bagel and insulated mug. “I’d better run.” Only he didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay on that comfy couch and chat with Jason.
Then Jason took the wind out of his sails by rising to his feet, leaning forward and kissing him square on the lips. “Have a good day,” he murmured against David’s mouth, before picking up his own mug and walking over to Melina, who was watching them both, her mouth open.
What made David’s day was Jason’s response. “What—you never saw two guys kiss before?” He glanced over his shoulder at David and grinned. “It’s getting to be pretty commonplace around here.”
Laughing to himself, David exited the coffee shop and sprinted to the subway, doing his best not to drop his breakfast.
* * * * * *
“I’ve been thinking about what you said this morning,” Jason said as he handed David a tray containing a plate of chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce on a bed of wild rice.
David leaned over and sniffed at the meal. “Oh wow, that smells amazing.” He glanced across at Jason. “You mean about mom’s invitation?”
Jason nodded. “Was she serious?” He hadn’t been able to push the thought far from his mind all day. Meeting David’s family sounded sort of… official. Is that it? Are we official? Just the idea had been enough to have butterflies rampaging through his stomach.
“Oh, hell yes, Mom was deadly serious.” David peered at him. “So will you? Come with me, I mean?”
The words were there on the tip of his tongue. Are we rushing this? Are we moving too fast? Then he considered the thought. Haven’t I waited long enough to finally be who I am?
Because he knew that this was just the first step. Other… events lay hidden from view, but were there nonetheless.
Like sex.
That did feel like a step he wasn’t ready to take. At least, not that night anyway. It wasn’t that he was scared, more that he was just… cautious, uncertain.
Okay, maybe a little scared too.
Jason took a deep breath. “Okay,” he said slowly. “I’ll come with you.”
David’s face lit up. “Really?” The way his eyes shone, the genuine note of pleasure in his voice…
That clinched it.
“I think it’ll be a great way to spend Christmas Day.”
David sighed. He ate a forkful of his dinner and made appreciative noises.
After pausing to take a sip of wine, he regarded Jason with a wistful smile.
“Personally? I always preferred Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. The anticipation, the carol service, candles…” He straightened.
“Are… Are you doing anything Christmas Eve?”
Jason heaved a sigh. “No. It will be me here, watching TV, same old, same old…. ”
David set his jaw. “Then maybe this year it’s time to change things up a bit. You’re spending the next day with me and my family, so how about if I spend Christmas Eve with you?”