What Happens at Christmas (4 page)

Justin nodded. “Good point. I hadn’t thought of that. Shame you can’t borrow anything of mine.”

They were very different sizes. Sean was a good four inches taller, and he was broader in the shoulder than Justin, who was a slim—if you were being polite, or skinny if you weren’t—five foot nine.

“Yeah, well. If you weren’t such a midget…. Ouch!” A sharp dig in the ribs shut Sean up. He retaliated by wrestling Justin to the living room floor and tickling him until he was squirming and weak with laughter.

“Gibbon.
Gibbon
!” Justin yelled, sagging with relief when Sean stopped immediately and pushed up on his arms, freeing Justin from the weight of his body.

“I can’t believe you remembered that.” Sean chuckled, breathless from exertion.

“You never forget your safeword.” Justin rolled out from under Sean, straightening his clothes.

As kids they’d spent a lot of time play-fighting, but back then Sean hadn’t known his own strength and didn’t always realise when Justin had had enough. One day, when they were about nine or ten years old, Justin’s mum had suggested they pick a word to use when the other person—usually Justin—really did want the game to stop. For some reason neither of them could remember, they’d settled on “gibbon.” They’d used it into their early teens, but it had gradually fallen into disuse when wrestling was replaced by video games or footy in the park.

Justin was standing now, and he offered a hand to Sean, who was still on the floor.

“Cheers,” Sean said as Justin hauled him up. “So, about this shopping trip….”

“You can go tomorrow while I’m at work.”

“I could…”

Justin raised his eyebrows waiting for the “but” he knew was coming.

“…but you know how shit I am with fashion. I’m still not allowed to dress myself.”

Justin laughed. “Oh, yeah. I’d almost forgotten.”

“I need to get some more clothes for everything, not just the party. I only have one pair of jeans without holes in, and most of my clothes are more suited to the tropics than London in the middle of winter. Plus I need something to wear for interviews, assuming I get some soon.”

“And you want me to help you?”

“Please?” Sean gave him a hopeful grin. “You’ve always been great at picking stuff out for me.”

As teenagers, whenever they’d had spare cash to spend on clothes, they’d always gone shopping together. Justin dressed Sean up like a mannequin and vetoed almost all of Sean’s attempts at choosing for himself. Sean had been grateful for the help, even if he grumbled. Justin had an eye for fashion, whereas Sean didn’t care what he wore. If his outfit wasn’t slightly too big jeans, a T-shirt, and trainers, then it was never at the top of Sean’s list. He always dressed for comfort, but Justin helped him do that with a bit of extra style.

Justin gave a put-upon sigh, but he couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. The chance to use Sean as a clothes horse and to spend a few hours with him half-naked in a variety of changing rooms? Yeah. No way was Justin going to turn that down. At least it would give him the excuse to legitimately study Sean’s arse, albeit through his clothes.

“Yeah. I suppose we could go tomorrow night. It’ll be hell though, late-night shopping in the run-up to Christmas. You’ll owe me big time.”

“I’ll pay you in pumpkin spice latte.”

“You know me so well.” Justin let the grin he’d been trying to suppress escape. “Okay, done. Meet me at Starbucks on Kensington High Street after work, and you can pay me in advance. I’ll need all the caffeine and sugar to get me through shopping at the end of my work week.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Sean wove his way through the crowds of shoppers. As Justin had predicted, it was manic. Christmas displays adorned every window and the decorations lighting the streets looked as though they were using half the power from the national grid. It was beautiful, but hard to appreciate when you were surrounded by stressed people laden down with carrier bags.

Starbucks was packed, of course, but Sean got there deliberately early. He ordered his coffee in a takeaway cup—just in case—but stood, sipping slowly and watching the occupied tables like a hawk. Finally his patience was rewarded. He spotted a couple of women beginning to gather up their shopping bags, and as soon as one of them pushed their chair back to stand, he made his move.

“Sorry to swoop like a total vulture, but are you leaving?” He gave the woman his most charming smile.

“Oh, um, yes.” She smiled back, looking a little dazzled.

Sean was used to that reaction from women. “Mind if I dive in?” He gestured to the table.

“Oh no, of course not. Help yourself.”

“Thanks.” He waited until they’d gathered up their stuff, and then took the table they’d vacated. While he was waiting, he got out his phone and scrolled through his emails. There was nothing new of interest—just the usual junk or marketing emails, which he quickly deleted.

The sound of a child laughing in delight made him look up. A little boy was giggling at the man opposite him. The man—his dad, Sean assumed—had a splodge of whipped cream on the end of his nose.

“I want one too,” the boy said.

His dad dipped his finger in the cream on top of his coffee and dotted it on the boy’s nose. The child giggled again.

Sean was amused at their antics, but an ache spread in his chest. He thought back to his own childhood. It was so many years since he’d had a fun, easy relationship with his father—almost too long ago to remember. He knew they’d played football in the park together. Sean had a vague sense of sunshine and smiles, and of feeling happy. But when his mum died when he was eleven, everything had changed. His dad had become withdrawn and distant when Sean had needed him most. That was when Justin’s family had become a substitute for Sean’s own. Justin’s mum, Liz, had minded him every day after school. As Sean’s dad worked increasingly long hours, retreating into his job as a way of holding the rest of the world at bay, Sean spent more and more time with Justin and his family. It was easy there, and there was love and laughter, unlike in his own home.

Sean stared at the phone in his hand, considering sending a message to his dad. He hadn’t been in contact with him for weeks. His dad didn’t even know he was back in the country. Sean knew he ought to get in touch, maybe go back to spend Christmas with him. But he wasn’t even sure if he’d be welcome.

He’d put off telling his dad he was gay until a month before he left the country. Sean knew it was a cowardly way to deal with it, but he’d been so afraid of his dad’s reaction. It wasn’t that he thought his dad would be violent—Sean was bigger than him, anyway—but he couldn’t face the inevitable negativity. Sean’s dad had made it abundantly clear during his teen years how much he disapproved of Justin.

I don’t know why you hang around with that little queer… People will talk, you know… Don’t want them to get the wrong idea.

Sean tightened his grip on his coffee cup, the cardboard buckling as he squeezed.

“Hi.” Justin’s slightly breathless greeting pulled Sean out of his uncomfortable musings. “Sorry I’m late. The Tube was hell on wheels. The first one was so full I couldn’t get on, so I had to wait for the next train.”

“It’s fine.”

Justin’s pale cheeks were pink from the cold and the tips of his blond hair peeked out of the charcoal beanie he’d pulled low over his ears. He looked adorable. “Sit down. I’ll go and get you your coffee.”

Sean was back a few minutes later, still empty-handed. “I’ve ordered, but you need to listen out for your name of the day.”

Justin glared at him suspiciously. “Oh God. What did you call me this time?”

Sean grinned. “You’ll know it when you hear it.”

This was an old joke. Justin started it years ago by ordering their drinks under the name “Dick” and nearly dying from a paroxysm of laughing when the barista yelled it out across the crowded coffee shop. After that they’d run through all other possible rude-sounding names, before branching out into character names from favourite TV programmes, books, and movies.

“Well, whatever it is, I hope they hurry up. I’m desperate for that coffee.”

Sean slid his half-empty cup across the table. “It’s not pumpkin spice… it’s mocha, but you can share while you’re waiting.”

“Thanks.” Justin took the paper cup and cradled it almost reverently in his slender fingers as he took a sip.

Just at that moment, one of the servers yelled out completely deadpan, “Pumpkin spice latte for Draco!”

Justin promptly choked on his mouthful. Face pink, he spluttered and grabbed for a paper napkin that lay on the table.

Sean laughed. “I told you you’d know. Go and get it, then.”

He was still chuckling when Justin slid back into his chair with his coffee.

“One of the women waiting for her drink told me I look like him,” he said.

“Course you do. That’s why it’s funny.”

“Wanker.”

“Come on, Draco’s hot.”

Justin huffed. But he was too busy scooping whipped cream into his mouth with the stirrer to complain anymore. Sean watched, distracted by Justin’s lips and the tip of his tongue as he licked cream from the corner of his mouth.

“What?” Justin had stopped and was looking at Sean inquiringly.

“Nothing.” Sean’s cheeks heated as he looked away, focusing on the child and his father, who were getting ready to leave. The dad was helping the little boy into gloves and a hat, ready to head out into the chill of the winter evening.

“What are you doing for Christmas this year?” Sean asked Justin.

“Well… I was supposed to be spending it with Andy. But that’s obviously off the table now.” A shadow of hurt crossed his features, and Sean wished he hadn’t asked the question. “So now I’m flying up to see my parents,” Justin continued. “I’ve got time off between Christmas and New Year, so I’m going to Scotland for a few days. Mum’s been on at me to visit ever since they moved, and I haven’t managed to get up there yet.”

Justin’s parents had recently relocated to the Scottish Highlands. They’d taken early retirement, bought a place up there, and set up a B & B.

“Nice.” Sean tried not to sound wistful. He’d always envied Justin his family. Two loving parents, who accepted him for who he was. He couldn’t imagine how that would feel.

“Should be.” Justin smiled. “Suzie’ll be there too, and I haven’t seen her since the summer.” Suzie was Justin’s older sister.

“Where’s she living now?”

“Near Manchester.” Justin took a sip of the coffee he’d finally unearthed from beneath its mound of cream. “How about you? You got plans?”

Sean shrugged. Carefully avoiding Justin’s gaze, he kept his voice light. “Not sure. I guess I’ll go and see my dad.” He didn’t use the word “home.” It hadn’t felt like home for a long time, not even while he was still living there.

“Yeah?” Justin’s sympathetic tone told Sean he knew exactly how Sean felt about it.

Sean didn’t want to have this conversation. He picked up his cup and drained what was left in it. “Come on, drink up. We’ve got shopping to do.”

The shops were mayhem. Sean stayed close to Justin, who swept ahead of him like a man on a mission.

“We’re doing your interview clothes first,” Justin informed him.

Justin took clothes off racks, and Sean obediently offered his arms to carry the stuff he picked out. He didn’t bother to make any suggestions. Experience had taught him that he was better off keeping quiet and letting Justin get on with it.

Once Sean was weighed down with several suits, ties, and shirts, Justin jerked his head towards the changing rooms. “Let’s go dress you up.”

A cute male shop assistant with dyed black hair checked how many garments they had with them and gave Justin a token. “There’s a cubicle free at the far end. You going in together?” His gaze took them both in, lingering a little too long for a straight boy.

“Yes. He can’t be trusted to make his own fashion decisions,” Justin said.

“My boyfriend’s the same,” the shop assistant said with a smile.

“We’re not—” Sean began, but Justin cut him off smoothly.

“Good thing they have us then, isn’t it?” Justin grinned at the guy and patted Sean on the arse, making him jump. “Come on, babe.”

“What the hell was that?” Sean asked as Justin whisked the curtain closed behind them.

“That was us practising for tomorrow night. You’re going to be my boyfriend, remember? I thought it might be good to get into character early.”

That sounded dangerous. Sean wondered what Justin had in mind.

Justin lifted the pile of clothes out of Sean’s arms and started hanging them on the hooks on the wall. “Now strip.”

Sean stripped obediently. There wasn’t really enough room for two men in the tiny cubicle, and as he bent over to ease his jeans off his feet, his arse bumped against Justin. “Sorry,” he muttered.

He straightened up, nipples tightening in the cool air. Justin raked his gaze over Sean assessingly. Sean found himself tensing his abs—which was ridiculous; his stomach was pretty flat at the best of times.

“Try these first.” Justin held out a pair of charcoal suit trousers and a greyish-purple shirt.

Sean wasn’t convinced by the shirt, but what did he know? He put them on.

“And put this tie on too.” The tie was silver and a slightly different shade of purple in a diamond pattern.

Finally, Justin helped Sean into the suit jacket.

Sean stared at his reflection. He looked pretty good. Justin stood behind him. He lifted the jacket to examine the cut of the trousers over his arse.

“They’re a good fit on you.” Justin smoothed a hand over the curve of one of Sean’s buttocks, and Sean bit back a sound of surprise. His dick tingled with interest, and he locked that down fast. “The shirt and tie look good too.”

“So, is this a keeper?” Sean asked.

“Slow down there,” Justin said. “We can’t make rash decisions until you’ve tried on more combinations. Keep these trousers on, but try some of the other shirts first.”