Page 46 of Meeting Mr. Christmas
“Thanks, Mom.” The words came out rough and unsteady, and Jed blinked hard to stop the tears of gratitude and love from falling.
Francine abandoned attacking the remains of the mashed potato and sat down opposite him.
“I always knew you’d end up with a cute little brunette,” she said, taking his hand and squeezing it. “And Noel Christmas is the cutest of them all. It was just a matter of time before you saw that for yourself, but I never had any doubt you’d get there.”
Jed jumped, his jaw dropping to the floor before he snapped it closed. “What? You had suspicions? About me and Noel? I hardly had them myself.”
Francine laughed. “I’m your mom, so I have special mom superpowers. Of course I knew. You two have been inseperable pretty much since the day you both drew breath. When you weren’t with Noel, you always seemed kind of lost. Some people are just made for each other. They’re like magnets, I guess. No matter what path they try to take, they get pulled back together again. That’s who you and Noel are, Jed. One of you without theother, it’s unthinkable. It may have taken you a while to work that out, but you got there in the end and that’s what counts.
“Do you think you boys are ready for coffee and sugar cookies now?”
“Hot chocolate with cherry brandy is officially my favorite drink.” It had been a wonderful Christmas Day, but Noel was happy to be home, just him and Jed, snug in front of the fire. “Great Aunt Wendy’s cookies aren’t so bad either.” He bit into another, his fourth or fifth, maybe. Sure, they were a little burned, but the depth of flavor and the sweet hit were more than compensation.
Next to him on the couch, Jed laughed. “For somebody who almost had to be rolled home because he was too full to move one foot in front of the other, you’re getting well acquainted with those cookies.”
“It would be rude not to.” Noel licked his fingers clean of cookie. Draining the last of this drink, he slumped back against Jed, sighing when Jed pulled him in close. “It really has been a perfect day.”
“I know what would make it truly perfect,” Jed whispered in his ear. Noel grinned. Oh, yes… His clothes were feeling a little tight. “I want to give you your Christmas present.” Jed nipped at his ear.
“Nggghh.”
“What was that? You want me to give it to you, right here on the couch?”
Oh my god, yes…
Jed slipped out from behind him, and Noel reached for the zipper on Jed’s jeans, but Jed stepped back.
“Aren’t we going to get naked?” Noel blinked up at Jed, who smiled down at him, his eyes narrowed.
“We sure are, but first I want to bring you your Christmas gift. It’ll only take me a moment to get it.”
Noel blinked. Jed was serious, but they’d?—
“We agreed we wouldn’t buy for each other, that we’d save our money for our vacation in Florida. Now I feel bad.” Guilt and embarrassment squirmed in Noel’s stomach. He knew he should have got Jed something.
“It didn’t cost me much. In fact, it didn’t cost me anything.” Jed shrugged. Noel peered up at him. Jed was attempting — very badly — to look nonchalant.
“So, you found something in the dumpster?” Noel arched his brows, and Jed laughed.
“Wait there and don’t go away.”
Go away? There was no chance of that happening. Jed left the room and Noel settled back into the cushions. What the hell had Jed gotten him — for free?
Seconds later, Jed was back, one arm behind his back. Noel opened his mouth to make a joke, but the words died as Jed bit down on the side of his thumb on his free hand, a signal as clear as a flaming beacon that he was feeling unsure and uneasy.
What the hell was going on? Noel pushed himself up to sitting, his throat too dry for him to speak.
Jed dropped down next to him on the couch. “All the traditions we’ve always had, and the new ones we’re making, like decorating the tree together and building a snowman. There’s another one I want to add, and it’s this.”
Jed brought his arm out from behind his back. In his hand, he held an exquisitely wrapped single red rose. Noel’s eyes widened as he pressed a hand to his mouth.
“Last Christmas Eve, when I found you in Odette’s, I gave you a rose and I told you I loved you. I could say I love you asmuch now as I did then, but it’d be a lie. Because the truth is, I love you even more. I was going to give it to you yesterday, but I don’t know, it felt right to wait until today.”
Noel took the flower, its perfume rich and heady in the warm room, and he closed his eyes as he breathed in deep. A single red rose, yet it said so, so much. He opened his eyes and met Jed’s steady gaze.
“I love you too, Jed. Always have, and always will.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Jed’s, sighing into the soft, sweet kiss.
Jed took the rose and placed it on the side. Easing Noel down on the couch, he nipped at Noel’s earlobe. “Always have, and always will. Is that a promise?” he whispered against Noel’s ear.
