Chapter 4
Marco
Kellen Parsons was at once infuriating and adorable. Ignorant and cute. A waste of space and a potential way to pass the long, cold night.
Not in that way. You mean he’ll keep the bed warm. You’re not going to make a move on him. Possibly because I’d neglected to mention I was bisexual. Probably because he was likely straight.
Except… I wasn’t getting that vibe from him. At odd moments, though, I thought he was checking me out. Probably not even aware he was doing it.
I changed into my pajamas in the bathroom, then headed right back into the main room.
Where Kellen stood, illuminated by the fire I’d set in the hearth.
He was bent over, obviously have just removed his jeans, and was now pulling on the sweatpants I was lending him.
They’d be too short—but would definitely be more comfortable than sleeping in shorts, and the temperature was just too damn cold to be sleeping without clothes.
I held myself perfectly still as I watched the firelight dance across his pale skin.
His blond hair shone, and I knew the exact shade of those baby-blue eyes.
The guy was damn attractive—and likely knew it.
You were mean in calling him a waste of space.
Sure, but when you run out of food, you’re going to be frustrated with him.
Both of those statements could be true at the same time.
“Oh shit. You scared me.” He pressed his hand to his heart.
“Sorry. I tend to be quiet. Although I suppose around here, it doesn’t make that much difference. Still, better to let the wildlife be—so I’m as silent as I can be.” Not that there’s any wildlife in the cabin…maybe he won’t notice?
“Uh, what wildlife?”
“Coyotes, cougars, hawks, wolves, deer. Bears in the summer as well.”
“Yeah…I don’t remember much about bears when I came out.” He frowned. “I think.”
“They must’ve left you alone. That’s a good thing. When I come out next summer, I’m definitely bringing an air horn.”
He blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. They’re common around here. Of course, your father might not let me come back if my findings aren’t to his liking.”
“Okay.” He ran his hand through his floppy hair. “It’s hard to read by firelight. Could you, uh, topline the book for me?”
“Humans are a disaster for the planet. We’ve destroyed ecospheres, mucking with Mother Nature and heating the planet with all our pollutants.”
He pursed his lips. “That all sounds really bad.”
“Because it is. Go brush your teeth, and we’ll get into bed.” Which sounds way more promising than it actually is.
“Sure.” He padded to the bathroom in my wool socks, wearing my sweatpants and my favorite henley. You’re going soft.
Was I feeling sorry for the guy? Yeah. I was.
Aside from being totally unprepared, he vacillated between arrogant and unsure.
Arrogance I wouldn’t tolerate. But the lack of confidence at odd moments spoke to me.
I could feel sympathy for him. Maybe even empathy because, at odd moments in my life, I wasn’t so cocksure.
Rare were those moments, though. I was comfortable in who I was and what my role was in the world.
Environmentalist suited me. I was headed toward a PhD and a position teaching.
I’d be lucky to land a job at the University of British Columbia, but I’d take anywhere on the planet.
I just wanted to stimulate young minds—teach them what was possible.
And that inevitable destruction of the human race wasn’t guaranteed.
I added a couple of logs to the fire, opened the pullout couch bed, and set about making the bed with the warmed blankets.
They’d cool soon enough—given how precipitously the temperature in this room had dropped.
The cabin had decent insulation, but the wind blew strong tonight and rattled the window panes.
I hustled around to the various windows and closed drapes.
The difference would be minimal, but a feeling of intimacy descended.
Like Kellen and I were the only two men left in the world.
That felt…reassuring.
I had enough batteries to last about two weeks. The pile of wood was likely to last about as long. Food would be tighter, but we’d manage.
Fucking hell.
Today was December 19th. I’d planned to drive home on Christmas Eve, spend a day or two in Vancouver with Dad and Troy, then head back here.
A week of missing data wasn’t going to be the end of the world.
Well, it would matter—but this was their first Christmas as a married couple.
The only thing they wanted was for me to join them.
Troy’s friend Freddie and his new husband Anton were going to host all of us on Christmas Day.
Freddie had been friends with Troy for several years now—the older man frequenting the restaurant where my best friend worked. Over the summer, he’d reconnected with his first—and only—love, Anton.
Anton was some hotshot actor who was starring in some new hush-hush secret spin-off television series. Now, I’d heard of Vigilante Justice. Anton had a role in that show that was being…spun off? Or something. Anyway, this was, apparently, a really big deal.
I was happy for everyone. If they wanted me home, I’d make the trip.
If the weather cooperated. I’d berated Kellen for not having checked the weather. I hadn’t either, though. Well, I’d checked the temperature each day for data for my studies—but I hadn’t actually checked the long-term forecast.
I didn’t want to use power with my phone, but I needed to see what was up. Also, if I wasn’t going to make it home, I needed to send Troy a text. Logically, I should text my dad, but he’d be upset. Better to have Troy deliver the bad news.
Huh. Apparently this storm was supposed to end tomorrow. If Mr. Parsons’s guy who cleared the driveway came the day after, I should be okay. There didn’t appear to be any snow until Christmas. Although, admittedly, this was British Columbia. Wait twenty minutes and the weather could change again.
“You’re using your phone?” Kellen pointed.
I pulled the flannel sheet, blankets, and quilt back. “Hop in. I’m just quickly checking the forecast for the next few days. Storm’s due to end tomorrow. Your dad’s got a guy who clears the driveway, and I have a winterized truck, so I should be able to head to Vancouver for Christmas.”
Kellen dove under the blankets, leaned against the pillow, and pulled the quilt up under his chin. “Do we have enough wood?”
“Yep.”
“Do we have enough food?”
“Should.”
“What if I don’t want to go back?”
I shot a text to Troy.
—Planning to be there for the evening of the 24th. —
Immediately, he responded.
—Freddie and Anton want you to stay at their townhouse in North Van rather than you going to your place. All your roommates will have gone home for Christmas, right? —
—I guess? —
Truthfully, I barely knew the guys I was renting a townhouse with near the UBC campus. When I was on work-study, the townhouse was just a place to rest my head. In the new year, I was going to be the TA for an intro environmental science class, so I’d be tied to Vancouver for four months.
I wasn’t looking forward to that. Yeah, but if you want to teach, then you have to be, you know, in a city.
Unfortunately, that was true.
—Tell them I’d be happy to stay in their spare room. —
At least that was the truth.
—Goodnight. —
—Stay safe. We love you. —
That was so like Troy. His parents had abandoned him when he’d turned sixteen and had come out as gay.
Dad and I tried to help—and we had to a certain extent—but we’d let that relationship slip through our fingers.
Only Troy breaking his leg and needing help had brought him back into Dad’s life—and therefore mine as well.
We were so fucking grateful.
I loved seeing my best friend and my dad so happy.
After powering down the phone, I flipped off the lamp. “Goodnight, Kellen.”
“Goodnight, Marco. Uh, thank you.”
I cuddled under the blanket. “You’re welcome, Kellen. I’m sorry I called you a waste of space.”
“You’re not wrong,” He turned on his side—away from me.
Despite the fact I was sharing a small bed with a very attractive man, sleep claimed me quickly, dragging me under, and sending me into a dreamless night.