Page 67 of One More Yule Log
“It’s Sunday! Sunday is free day!”
“Oh, good to know. I lose track.” He winked at Ben.
“We’ll have to watch the weather, guys. We’re supposed to get slammed with storms soon.”
He was going to have to start paying attention to that now. Alice lived in town, so she could open…
“I’ll need to get chains,” Gray said. “I have snow tires, but no chains.”
“We’ll pick you up some, absolutely. Safety first.”
“Thanks.” Yeah, and he’d have to talk to Ben to make sure his truck was safe to take Liv places. He would want to be able to.
He needed to make a list—he’d been so focused on moving over the last few days that he’d lost track of anything else.
“You’re frowning.” Ben reached over and stroked his forehead.
“Only because I’m making lists in my head.” He let Ben smooth out the lines.
“You need a pen and paper? I know where they are.” Liv hopped up.
“Thank you so much, kiddo.” He kissed Ben just because.
“Happy, lover?” Ben squeezed his fingers and held on.
“I am. I really am.” He leaned against the couch, stretching out his legs. “I still feel a little stunned.”
“I bet. This last couple of days have been busy as hell.” Ben’s hand was warm and solid. “Tomorrow’s that party and then we’re in for the holidays, hmm?”
“Yep. Bakery’s closed for the duration after tomorrow too. Alice will be in there to do a few personal projects, so I don’t even have to check pipes and such.”
“Excellent. I’m so ready for time to sleep in and enjoy each other. Eat and watch TV and make snowmen.” Ben was a man of simple tastes.
“Me too.” He stroked Ben’s belly, fascinated by the flat planes. “Cookies. Liv and I are making cookies.”
“Yeah? You’re not sick of them already?”
“Not when Liv wants buttercream on her sugar cookies.” He winked. “No flooding required.”
“Ah. Cool. And now you have a kitchen of a decent size to work in.”
“I do. I don’t have to go to the bakery.” Gray clapped his hands, then rubbed them. “I want to make a giant roast beast. What do you do for Christmas dinner?”
“We usually beg a spot at someone’s table. We used to do big breakfast and roast dinner, but it felt lonely, just the two of us. This year, we can relax, stay home, and cook.”
“So there’s no turkey expectations, or oh, we always do a ham?” He would love for them to plan a feast together.
“Nope. We’ve had enchiladas, raclette, lasagna, and one year there was posole!”
“Raclette is yummy. Do you have one? A raclette, I mean?”
“I do, in the basement. I have an unhealthy addiction with kitchen gadgets.”
“I have to see this. Maybe rearrange your pantry a little.” He glanced sideways at Ben.
“Have at. I have a huge shelf of gadgets that I use once or twice, but I’d love to play with you.”
“Yeah?” That was his fondest dream. A partner who wanted to cook together. “I can’t wait!”
