Page 54 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“Give it a rest, Kein. You love sex. We get it.” Damn, Colin is fierce.

“So this is me coming out. Again. I love science fiction movies. Art is my jam. I read history books for fun. And give me art history, and I geek out hardcore. I’m…” Can I really say this? I take a deep breath. “I get straight As. I’m…smart.”

“You hide that well.”

I give Remi the finger, and everyone cheers. He grins and then nods not so subtly toward Colin. Right.

“My self-exploration—no comments necessary, Kein—has led me to another truth. I have a type. It’s not bears or big muscled guys. It’s not cute twinks or jocks or geeky guys who like art or history or music or even the serious guys who think about everything and makeyouthink about everything. My type is very specific.” I glance at Colin. His eyes are wide and beautiful, and I can’t look away. Is he holding his breath? “Because that’s what happens when you fall in love. That person does it for you.” I shrug one shoulder and smile helplessly. “You’re it for me, Colin. I know you don’t date football players. But maybe you’re okay dating a nerdy guy who uses up your toothpaste, never cleans his messes, and loves you more than football.”

“Dude,” Steph says, with a shake of his head, “too far.”

I ignore my friend and the rest of the football team agreeing with him, and hold out my hand for Colin. For a terrifying second, I worry he isn’t going to take it. That I read all the signs wrong. That Remi steered me wrong.The guy hates me.What was I thinking? But then Colin clings to my hand and then to me. I wrap my arms around him and hold him close, savoring the moment.

“Fucking kiss him already,” Remi yells.

“I’m getting there.” I grin at Colin. He smiles, his lips quivering as he blinks away his tears. “I love you, Colin,” I say in a low voice so only he can hear. I cradle his face in my hands and kiss him. The noise around us fades as I focus on showing him every word is true. And then I get lost in his lips. His taste. Of how right this is.

“Let’s keep it PG-13,” Steph says, squeezing my shoulder. Right. We’re still at a party with a room full of people. I lead Colin to the outskirts of the group. They’re still cheering for us, but it wouldn’t matter if they were booing. This is a perfect moment. Nothing can ruin it.

“Okay, that Christmas wish was granted,” Steph says, working the crowd like always. “I feel like Santa. Anyone else have a wish?”

I pull Colin into a quieter spot. “Hey.”

“Hey,” he says with a laugh, his eyes soft. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long.”

He kisses me again, ignoring those around us, and the person now telling their Christmas wish.

“I hope it was okay,” I say when we take a moment to breathe. I could kiss him forever. “I know you’re a private person—”

“Stop. It was perfect.”

We share more kisses until someone stumbles into us. “Sorry, Gil,” the girl says with a giggle, trying not to spill her beer. I don’t know her, but as usual, she knows me—a heck of a lot about me and someone closer to the real me. But none of that matters anymore, and it’s kind of amazing.

“I think I need another drink,” Colin announces, grabbing my hand.

“Okay,” I say, thrown a little by his request. “You want me to get you one?”

“Yes. But not from the kitchen. I want this drink at home. Where we can celebrate Christmas Eve early and fulfill a certain Christmas wish.”

“Colin, I don’t care about that,” I say, not wanting to bring his mood down but needing to say this. “If I’m still a virgin at twenty-three, so what? It’s not important. My Christmas wish has already come true.”

He smirks at me. “Who said we were talking about your wish?”

* * *

COLIN

Leavingthe party and getting home takes forever. It’s one in the morning by the time we reach the apartment, but I’m not tired at all. Everything I’ve worried about has been for nothing. Gil loves me. He said it in front of his football team. And his past dates. He can’t take it back, and given the way he’s staring at me with a dopey smile on his face, he doesn’t want to.

Does a part of me still worry that his plan was to pick someone, and he settled on me? Of course, because I’m me.

As soon as we walk through the door and turn on the lights my eyes are drawn to the list. That fucking list. Now, I can erase it and get my chalkboard back. But the bottom of the list catches my attention. At the bottom, on number twelve,Science Nerdis marked out, and in big letters, someone has writtenCOLIN. My eyes well up, the emotion almost too much. I stare at Gil, and he gives me a lopsided grin.

“How?” I ask, unable to string more words together. We were together the entire time. But as I glance back at the chalkboard, I recognize the swirl on the end of my name. The only person it could be.

“Remi did it for me right after we left.”

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