Interlude: Cavatina by Tal Bauer

Author:Tal Bauer [Bauer, Tal]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Tal Bauer Writes
Published: 2019-03-07T05:00:00+00:00

This Christmas, it was Jack who played “Santa Baby” on his phone and pulled Ethan into his arms, swaying before the flickering fire in the stone fireplace. Mary and Andrew went to church, and instead of facing crowds and gawkers, they’d decided to stay home.

“I love my family,” Jack said softly. He rested his cheek against Ethan’s. “But it’s nice to get some alone time with you.”

“Your momma would have murdered you if you didn’t spend this Christmas with her. She’s still upset about missing last year and seeing the White House at Christmas, I think.”

Jack laughed. “Well, I had someone special I needed to spend time with. I needed to be greedy.”

“Someone special, huh?” The music played on, and their hips swayed, bodies made to fit together.

“Someone super special, it turned out. But I had to make sure. I wanted to see if spending a long holiday together was as amazing as I hoped it would be.”

“And was it?”

“It was better.” Grinning, Jack kissed him. “You know, I married that man.”

“Did you?” Ethan’s cheeks ached.

He was smiling like an idiot, he knew. He loved this goofy side of Jack, the playful way he’d pull Ethan into the silliest conversations, lead Ethan down the road with a dopey look of bliss. He was putty in Jack’s hands. The same jokes, the same rhythms of their life, and he loved every moment of it. Would he ever tire of this? Ever roll his eyes at Jack’s silliness? Would their little love rituals ever go sour on him, tired and staid instead of belly-button-pinching and feeling like a whole firework show was being set off only for him? He couldn’t imagine a day where he wasn’t this in love with Jack. Visions of the two of them sitting on a porch somewhere, old and wrinkled and gray, still holding hands, popped into his head. You know, I married that man, wizened old Jack said, winking at him. His heart swelled, nearly burst against his ribs.

“That man is the luckiest man that ever lived,” Ethan said. His voice was huskier than it had been, thickened with the honey-languid intensity of his imaginings. He barked out a laugh. “Bet he was shit scared working up the nerve to ask you to marry him.”

“Scared?” Both of Jack’s eyebrows shot sky high.

“Is there anything more intimidating than asking the love of your life if they’ll marry you?”

“Oh, I was a sure thing.” Jack swept his hand over the side of Ethan’s face. His thumb stroked over his cheekbone. “The love of my life wanted me forever. I’ve never been happier than that moment.”

“Never, huh? I’ve got some work to do.” He gently thrust his hips into Jack’s.

Jack threw his head back and laughed. “Different kind of bliss, love.” He pushed his hips right back, grinding into Ethan. He sucked in a quick breath. “And you do that perfectly, too.”

They kissed, the music changing over to another slow Christmas song without them. Their arms wrapped around each other, dragging over backs and shoulders, up necks and into hair.

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