12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

When Nick finally had feeling in his legs again, he rolled onto his back with a groan. They’d made an unholy mess. There was lube and cum everywhere, coating their bodies and the pillows and the pieces of clothing they’d use to mop up.

“I think next time we should use a bed,” he admitted, glancing over at Leo.

He giggled, sitting up. His hair was a mess and he had a fading crease on his cheek from the pillow. He looked so amazing Nick’s chest ached.

“I love you,” he whispered thickly, his eyes suddenly, unexpectedly wet.

Leo blinked and threw himself forward, landing against Nick’s chest so hard it knocked a surprised gasp from him.

“I love you too,” Leo whispered against Nick’s throat.

Nick hugged him tightly, trembling, overwhelmed by the emotion sweeping over him.

“Hey,” Leo shifted to look him in the eye. “Are these good tears?”

Nick nodded, wiping them away with the back of his hand. “When I lost Nicole,” he rasped. “I thought it was the end. I thought … I thought I’d found my happily ever after and I’d have to be okay with never finding it again. I thought I’d grow old alone.”

Sadness flickered over Leo’s face so Nick reached out and took his hand. “But I was wrong. I was so wrong and I’m so glad of it. Because now there’s you , and Leo …” He shook his head, letting out a breathless little laugh. “You have no idea how happy you make me. How alive I feel again.”

“Oh, Nick …” Leo whispered.

For a few moments, they stared into each other’s eyes. Leo shivered.

“Shit,” Nick said, realizing the fire had burned down to ashes and the room was growing cold. He snagged a throw blanket from the couch and wrapped it around Leo’s shoulders. “Go upstairs and shower. I’ll throw some stuff in the wash and be up shortly.”

“You sure?” Leo hesitated. “I could help.”

“I’m sure,” Nick said firmly. “It won’t take me long. Take a nice hot shower and get ready for bed. Help yourself to anything you need.”

“Thanks.” Leo kissed his cheek, then stood, the throw wrapped around his shoulders like a cape. It fluttered behind him as he opened the French doors, shooting a small smile at Nick before he disappeared.

For a moment, Nick sat there, soaking in the moment, more content than he had been in years.

He was getting cold too and stood, slipping on a pair of boxer briefs. It didn’t take long to poke at the ashes, spreading the embers to cool, then close the glass doors on the fireplace. He stripped the covers off the dirty pillows and gathered their remaining clothes into a ball to carry downstairs.

He started a load of laundry, pausing when he caught a glimpse of the desk he’d bought for Leo’s Christmas gift through the door to his workshop. He’d almost ruined the surprise yesterday when he was giving Leo a tour of the place but he’d remembered just in time.

So far, he’d gotten the hardware and thick varnish off the desk, then repaired the feet. He still had to do a thorough sanding and fresh polyurethane finish, plus new hardware.

With a week to go before Christmas, he’d have to hurry, but he wanted to see the look on Leo’s face when he saw the restored desk.

But Nick was freezing now—standing nearly naked and barefoot in an unfinished basement in the middle of December—so he jogged up the stairs.

Nick hummed to himself as he fed Jelly her nighttime meal, listening to her happy chirrups, and eagerly anticipating the hot shower in his future. If he was lucky, Leo would still be in it.

He quickly tidied the kitchen, then set the dishwasher to run.

When Nick was finished with his nightly chores, he walked up to the second floor.

He froze in the doorway, looking at Leo, lying in bed with his nose buried in a paperback book, Jelly curled up beside him. He petted her absently, pausing only to flick to the next page in his story before settling a hand on her again.

Like something he’d seen a thousand times before.

Leo looked nothing like Nicole really. And yes, they both liked books and cats and those were surface similarities but there was so much more to it. Something special about both of them. Something vibrant and loving and kind.

Leo wasn’t a replacement for the love Nick had lost but the dawning of a new, hopeful future. Someone who’d shaken him up and reminded him the world was a beautiful place and there were wonderful people in it. Someone who’d reminded him love was infinite, as long as he was open to it.

“Oh,” he whispered, overwhelmed.

Leo glanced up, beaming. “Hi!”

“Hi,” Nick said, leaning against the doorframe and taking in the cozy sight, breathless with the feelings coursing through him.

“Just hanging out in the doorway, huh?” Leo asked, clearly amused.

“For a minute, yeah.” He wanted to soak this in so he’d never forget the moment. Hopefully it would become ordinary in time. In a year or two, when every night was like this, he didn’t want to lose the wonder he felt.

The miraculous joy of a life with someone he loved.

In the morning, Leo awoke with Jelly on one side but an empty bed on the other. He frowned.

He’d slept sandwiched between them, cozy and warm in Nick’s arms, but the sheets were cool beside him and Nick was nowhere in sight. Nick had promised to play hooky from matchmaking work today, even though it was a Wednesday.

So where had he gone?

With a shrug, Leo decided he was probably downstairs in his office or something and got out of bed. Maybe he’d decided to do some work while he waited for Leo to wake up.

Leo used the bathroom, then found a pile of clothes on the dresser with a note saying, Borrow me . Plus a heart with Nick’s name.

“Aww,” Leo said, happily putting on Nick’s underwear, pajama pants, cozy tee, sweater, and socks. Jelly gave him a disgruntled look when he shooed her off the bed and made it.

Leo bounced down the steps, excited to start his day with Nick. But, to his surprise, Nick was nowhere to be found. Leo called out his name but there was no answer.

The living room was neat and tidy—all of the pillows with their freshly washed covers back in place—but empty. He couldn’t find Nick in the kitchen or home gym.

“Where did you go?” Leo muttered under his breath as he stuck his head in Nick’s office. Maybe he’d gone to pick up breakfast? That seemed like a Nick thing to do. But it was strange he hadn’t left a note.

Leo turned, freezing at the sight of the photo on Nick’s desk. It was of him. He glanced around, wondering where the photo of Nick and Nicole’s wedding had gone and he found it on a shelf with her books. He smiled, liking that Nick hadn’t hidden it away. It was a part of Nick’s life. His history. Leo didn’t want to erase Nicole from Nick’s life at all.

“I’ve got this from here,” he promised the woman in the photo quietly. “I’ll take good care of him.”

He walked to the desk and picked up the photo there, studying it. It wasn’t from the shoot they’d done for his matchmaking profile. He frowned, wondering when Nick had taken it. In the photo, Leo was dressed warmly and it had been taken at night. There were colorful lights on his face and …

“Ohh,” Leo said softly, putting the pieces together. It had been taken at the tree lighting, when Nick had barely known him. He’d taken the most beautiful photograph of Leo he’d ever seen of himself.

Leo’s throat went thick. “You romantic,” he whispered.

Jelly yowled, winding around his ankles and Leo laughed softly, setting down the frame. “You aren’t supposed to be in here,” he reminded her, lifting her and cuddling her against his chest. “Let’s go find your guy. Our guy, I guess.”

He smiled goofily to himself as he closed the office door behind him. He made a lap of the house but Nick was nowhere to be found. There had been a sprinkling of snow overnight and there were no telltale tire tracks or footprints in the driveway so clearly he hadn’t left.

“Where are you?” he muttered. He wasn’t worried Nick had freaked out and bailed. Leo knew he was in this for the long haul. Besides, it was his fucking house.

“The basement, maybe?” he asked Jelly, who he was still carrying around.

She butted her head against his chin in answer, so he kissed the top of her head and tried the door.

“Nick?” he called out.

“Leo? Don’t come down here!”

Nick sounded panicked and Leo frowned, confused as Nick appeared at the bottom of the stairs, dusting his clothing off.

“Okay?” Leo said with a small laugh.

Nick jogged up the stairs. “Seriously. Please don’t go down there.”

“Well, that’s ominous sounding,” Leo teased.

“No. No. It’s not ominous. There’s just something I don’t want you to see.”

“Umm, should I be worried? Are you a serial killer or something?”

Nick chuckled. “Uhh, no. I promise I do not have any bodies hidden anywhere. I have a surprise for you and it’s down there and I don’t want you to see it until Christmas.”

“ Oh .” Leo laughed softly. “Well, that’s acceptable.” He kissed Nick’s cheek. “I like surprises.”

“Good.” He petted Jelly. “Now, how about we get you fed?”

“Me or Jelly?” Leo asked, stepping back so Nick could shut the basement door.

“Both of you. I was thinking we’d make breakfast, then have a lazy day together. Maybe build another fire, watch a movie …”

“I love that idea!” Leo said happily. “I wanna watch the one that was filmed here last year.”

“ Merry Litmas ?” Nick asked, walking toward the kitchen.

“Yeah! That one.” Leo followed, trying not to ogle Nick’s ass in pajama pants. “Have you seen it?”

“I have but I don’t mind rewatching. It’s cheesy but good.”

“I like cheese,” Leo said.

Nick laughed, pouring food into Jelly’s bowl. “I know you do.”

Jelly launched herself out of Leo’s arms and began gobbling her food.

“Well, now that she’s fed,” Nick said. “How about breakfast for us?”

“Sold.”

Leo helped, so it wasn’t long before they sat down to fluffy, cheesy scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon.

After, they turned on the Christmas tree lights, snuggled up in front of a roaring fire, and queued up “ Merry Litmas ” on the TV.

They’d barely made it ten minutes into the movie when Nick’s phone rang. “Shit,” he muttered, glancing at the screen. “I need to get this.”

“Want me to pause?” Leo asked, reaching for the remote.

“Nah. Keep going.”

He disappeared out the French doors and Leo frowned, then looked at Jelly who had curled up in his lap.

“He is mysterious sometimes, isn’t he?” he asked and the cat cracked one eye open, then closed it again.

“Ford? Are you okay?” Nick frowned, worried that his brother-in-law had called him out of nowhere.

“Yeah, I …” Ford cleared his throat. “Sorry for calling out of the blue. I had a question.”

“Okay.”

“It’s about your matchmaking service.”

“Oh, did you want to sign up? I’ve got a new website for it. I’d love to help match you with someone.”

“No, I … I was just wondering about one of your clients.”

“Well, that’s confidential.”

“It’s just that Mason is a … friend of mine. I want to make sure this date he’s going on is safe.”

Nick frowned, puzzled. “I vet all my clients, and they always meet at a public place. Mason will be fine. He’s a sweetheart, and he totally deserves love. Honestly, I think the date I’ve got lined up is going to find him adorable .”

“You’ve got a date for him? Who?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Nick said gently.

“Then tell me when and where, at least. So I can go … keep an eye on them and make sure Mason is okay.”

Nick’s frown deepened. “Sorry, can’t do that either.”

“Then what good are you?” Ford snapped.

“Wow,” Nick said quietly, rubbing at his chest. That hurt.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that.” Ford’s tone turned remorseful.

“Maybe you did. This is the first time you’ve wanted to talk to me in a long time,” Nick pointed out.

“Yeah, I know. Shit. I just … Seeing you just makes me think of Nicole and how she’s not beside you. It’s hard.”

“I know,” he said softly. “It hasn’t been easy for me either.”

“Yeah. I’ve been a miserable bastard to everyone for too long. I’m starting to see that.”

“Charlie has been good for you,” Nick said, because that had been very clear when he saw them at the bookstore.

“Yeah, she has.”

“And Mason?” Nick suggested. “Has he been good for you too?”

Because it was starting to feel like Ford’s worry about who Mason was dating was more than concern about a friend.

There was silence for a moment. “I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m kind of confused.”

Nick chuckled. “I kind of thought you might be. You seemed like maybe you were a little upset he was going on a date?”

“Uh, well … I shouldn’t be.”

“Why not?”

“I mean, I’m— You know I’m straight, Nick. I was married to LuAnne.”

“And I was married to your sister, but you’ve always known I was bi. You can be attracted to men and women. I’m living proof.”

Ford snorted. “Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors about you and that new guy. The whole town has been talking about how you’re moving on.”

Nick winced at the hint of bitterness in Ford’s voice. Was that what this was really about? He took a moment, trying to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. “I’ll always love Nicole. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And I think she’d want me to move on. She’d want you to be happy too, and if Mason makes you happy …”

“I kind of screwed up,” Ford said. “I don’t know if he’d want to date me now.”

“Well, I don’t normally do this, but … If you want to know how he feels about you, I think I can help. Here’s what you’d need to do …”

Leo did pause the movie when Nick returned a short while later, because he looked … odd.

“Hey, what is it?” Leo asked, concerned.

Nick sat beside him, falling heavily onto the couch. “Uhh, that was Ford Donnely calling.”

“Your former brother-in-law?”

“Yeah. That’s the one. He, uh, he said he’d heard we were dating.”

“Oh no.” Leo reached out to touch Nick’s arm. “Was he upset? I can imagine it would be hard to see you moving forward with your life.”

“Well, that’s what I expected at first,” Nick said.

Leo squeezed his arm, listening intently as Nick described the conversation.

“ Interesting ,” Leo said when he got to the part about Ford’s feelings for Mason.

Nick shot him a faint grin, nodding. “I guess he’s had an awakening recently. There’s a guy he has feelings for. He was worked up about the idea of me setting up this guy on a date with someone else. I suggested that if he was so worried, maybe he should go out with him himself.”

“Aww, cute ,” Leo said. “And he seems open to it?”

“Yes, I think so,” Nick said slowly. “He’s figuring things out but it sounds like it.”

“Well, good for him. I’m glad he reached out to you.”

“Yeah, I was surprised. It’s been so long and it was awkward when we ran into each other at the bookstore. Honestly, I didn’t think he wanted anything to do with me.”

“But it seemed like a positive conversation today?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it really was. I don’t think it magically fixed everything but it’s a step in the right direction. Like maybe we could repair our relationship.”

“That’s important to you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” Nick said roughly. “He was like a brother to me. Even if we can’t get back to that point, I’d love it if we could be friends.”

Leo threaded their fingers together. “Well, I hope it works out.”

“Thanks.” Nick let out a sigh, placing his phone on the coffee table, then settling close to Leo. “Shall we get back to our movie now? I can rewind.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

A few moments later, Leo rested his head on Nick’s shoulder and let himself get swept away in the holiday romance playing out on screen.

He’d already found his happily ever after. But there could never be too much love this time of year.