A Timely Gift by Kris T. Bethke

Author:Kris T. Bethke [Bethke, Kris T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-299-5
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

“ANOTHER HOT chocolate?”

I picked up my empty mug and gestured toward his. We’d already watched the first movie and followed it up with How the Grinch Stole Christmas—the original animated version with Boris Karloff expertly voicing the Grinch. It’s a Wonderful Life was up next. But before I started the next movie, I wanted to refill our drinks and put some more cookies on the plate. We’d steadily munched through the first helping.

“I better not.” Deacon rested his head against the back of the couch and turned lazily to look at me. “We’ve had two, and those plus the wine…. Any more and I won’t be fit to drive home in a few hours.”

“So stay here.”

Deacon’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. I laughed.

“The couch is comfy,” I said deliberately, and he looked chagrinned. “Besides, you’re heading to my da’s house with me tomorrow. It’ll be easier to head out together, yeah?”

Deacon stared and then shook his head—not like he was disagreeing, but more like he couldn’t understand. He blew out a breath.

“What about clothes?”

I shrugged. “You aren’t that much bigger than me. Maybe, what? Two inches and twenty pounds?” I studied him critically. He couldn’t be more than six feet tall, and while he was a little more muscled, I wasn’t skinny. “I’m sure I can find something that will fit.”

Deacon didn’t say anything, but his dark eyes were wide. I could see the lights on the Christmas tree twinkling in them. We’d left the room lights off, so we had only the tree and the big-screen TV for illumination. Damn, he looked good. I cleared my throat. Maybe I should lay off the booze too.

“You don’t have to—drink any more, I mean. The offer is open either way. And you don’t have to stay either, if you don’t want. It was just a suggestion.” I felt embarrassment rising, but I forced it down. I hadn’t blushed in years, and I wasn’t about to start.

“Okay.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Okay to what?”

“Okay, I’ll stay. But maybe go easy on the Bailey’s in the next cup.”

I grinned, and warmth spread through my stomach. “Not a problem.”

It didn’t take me long, and by the time I got back, Deacon had already put in the next movie. We met at the couch and settled in closer to each other, and I handed him his mug. But when I reached for the remote to start things up, he spoke instead.

“Can I ask you something?”

I blinked. “Uh… sure.”

“How come you don’t have a boyfriend?”

That was a loaded question, though one I wasn’t opposed to answering. I cleared my throat. “Umm. I did for a while. Paul.” Deacon scoffed when I said the name, and I had to smile a little.

“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“We weren’t right for each other.” Christ, were we not right for each other. I thought he was a good guy, and I bent over backward to make him happy. But I was blinded to the fact that it was all one-sided.

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