Page 30 of Salvaging Christmas

“I need you. Can you come with me a moment?”

Trevor turned, concern on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. I just—need you for a second.”

Trevor got up and followed Rudy through to the darkened living room. Someone had switched off the main lights, leaving the room lit by the orange glow of the flickering log fire and Christmas tree lights. Just for a second, he stopped in the doorway, soaking up the festive and homey space, and barely heard Rudy call his name from the front windows. Soft strains of Nat King Cole’s velvety voice singing The Christmas Song issued from Cheryl’s speaker. When Trevor got there, Rudy’s playful grin had his pulse racing all over again. Maybe he ought to warn his new friend about the effect he was having so that he might tone down any furtive glances and warm smiles—and ultimately the mixed signals he was sending. But something twinkled in Rudy’s eyes right now, as though he had a secret he desperately needed to share with his new best friend.

“Come here,” said Rudy, pulling Trevor to him and—with what had quickly become his trademark gesture—putting his left arm across Trevor’s shoulders. “Look outside.”

When Trevor turned, he could not help the gasp that escaped him. Without thinking, he snaked his right arm around Rudy’s waist as his mind grasped at what it was seeing.

Snow.

Everywhere.

Drifts and swirls and fields of powdery flakes. Brilliant white, thick and fluffy. Falling in slow motion, settling on everything, onto the hard, icy ground. Masking everything in its purity. Just as Rudy had predicted.

“Now tell me I’m crazy.”

“You’re not crazy. It’s beautiful,” Trevor said to the view. “You were right all along. You’re amazing, Rudy.”

Next to him, Rudy’s body stiffened slightly, and his arm tightened around Trevor’s neck. Before Trevor realised what was happening, his body was being turned around. With an effort of will, he tore his gaze away from the scene as Rudy brought their mouths together. Trevor barely had time to catch his breath as the kiss turned from soft lips touching to open-mouthed passion. Almost as though a switch had been activated, Rudy’s body came to life, hungry for Trevor, pulling their torsos together. Engrossed in the kiss, Trevor struggled to catch up and make sense of what was happening, especially Rudy’s hard arousal pressing into him. When questions nagged him about Rudy’s sexuality, he batted them away, not wanting to spoil the moment. Only when Rudy smoothed his hand down Trevor’s back, venturing beneath the material of his jeans to cup one of his cheeks, did Trevor finally come up for air with a gulp.

“Are you okay?” whispered Rudy.

“Seriously? Are you seriously asking me that? I am being kissed by the hottest man in Scotland, against a backdrop that most photographers would kill to capture, and you’re asking me if I’m okay? Rudy, this is fast becoming the best Christmas ever.”

Rudy had started chuckling even before Trevor had finished speaking. Soft chortles rose and fell against Trevor’s chest until Trevor stilled them with another kiss. Eventually Trevor slowed and pulled his head away, and marvelled at Rudy’s closed eyelids, illuminated by the soft light. Still with their arms wrapped around each other, they swayed gently to the music.

“Do you think we should let the others know?” whispered Rudy, his eyes still closed and a satisfied smile on his lips. “About the snow, I mean.”

“In a minute. The snow’s not going anywhere. Let me be selfish and enjoy this moment a little longer,” said Trevor, tightening his arms around Rudy and pulling him closer. “They come so rarely in a lifetime.”

“Whatever you need, Trev,” said Rudy, pushing his cheek into Trevor’s neck and returning the embrace. “Whatever you need.”

Chapter Eight

Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man This Christmas)

Not one person acknowledged them on their return to the kitchen. Everyone appeared caught up in the excited buzz of conversation and laughter around the table. Trevor insisted Rudy be the one to let them know about the change in weather because, after all, Rudy had been the one people had ridiculed. He should have the honour of saying ‘I told you so’.

As they approached the table, he let go of Trevor’s hand and moved back to his seat at the head. Trevor missed the warm pressure, surprised at the sudden loss of intimacy. As he took his seat, a wave of uncertainty hit. Rudy seemed to sense his disquiet because he smiled and winked from down the table, both still in their invisible bubble, something Rudy burst by clanging a fork on his wineglass.

After a full minute, waiting patiently for one conversation or another to wane, and accompanied by a couple of people shushing others, he announced the news. Chairs scraped instantly and noisily away from the table, excited murmurs rising as Jessica, Antoni, Frank and Johnny rushed to raise the kitchen blinds. All those left seated craned forward or around, smiling at the heavy snowfall outside the window, illuminated by the internal lights. Following louder squeals of laughter, those on their feet headed outside, each vowing to throw the first snowball. Even Karl and Mary joined them, caught up in the fun.

Although Rudy trailed the others outside, he stopped on his way and placed a hand on Trevor’s shoulder and didn’t seem to mind when Trevor shook his head, indicating his choice to stay inside. Left to his thoughts, Trevor’s head began to fill with questions. What had the kiss meant? Surely not just a reaction to the beautiful landscape of falling snow? And, more importantly, was this a one-off or was there going to be more intimacy? Rudy had admitted to having a girlfriend in his past. Maybe this was a first for him, a tentative bi-curious toe in the water to test his sexuality? Except nothing about the embrace had been hesitant, quite the opposite. Rudy’s kiss had rocked Trevor’s world.

“Are we going to join them, Mac?” asked Cheryl, her hand landing on his forearm.

Trevor flinched at the contact.

“Whoa,” she said, lifting her hand away and leaning back. “Are you in the middle of a self-diagnostic? In which case, do you want to tell me what happened?”

Cheryl knew about Trevor’s incessant self-talk. Even though apart from Mrs M, nobody remained in the kitchen to hear him, he leaned his head in close and paused, waiting for her to do the same.

“Rudy kissed me,” he whispered.

“You converted him,” said Cheryl, waggling her eyebrows and not understanding the depth of his freak out. “Congratulations, Mac.”

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