There isn’t a speck of dust in sight, no trinket out of place and no muffed scent to be detected. James smiles at the thought that his mother had the place cleaned, probably just in case. He switches on the heat on his way to the kitchen.
Gabriel walks further into the room. “This is beautiful.” James just hums as he unpacks some of the perishables into the fridge.
Gabriel lowers himself onto the soft sofa. “Come on, sit down with me for a little.”
“But, dinner-”
“It’s New Year’s. We’ve got all evening for dinner.” And who is James to deny such a request, settling onto the cushion next to where Gabriel sat down. They’re both wearing thick sweaters and the wool of Gabriel’s feels wonderfully soft against his skin when James lays his head on his chest.
It’s not long before he feels Gabriel’s fingers creep up his back, up into his hair. The soft touches and gentle pressure are enough to calm the anxiety that he didn’t know he was carrying. He sags against the warm body underneath him and closes his eyes.
By the time he opens them again he’s tucked fully against Gabriel’s chest, who moved to lay down sideways. In doing so he managed to pull James with him. His head is pillowed over Gabriel’s heart, where the steady, slow rhythm thumps like a soothing drum. The sun’s fully set by now.
Shadows are dancing across the walls and casting a haunting glow across the space. With a soft snort Gabriel startles awake, knocking James around a little.
The air is soft, tranquil and warm. Like nothing matters, except for this moment. Gabriel’s hands are on his back, tracing lazy circles while they bask in the quiet. In the silence, Gabriel whispers, “How about we get started on those snacks?”
And they do. Dinner isn’t as much dinner as it is a little bit of everything, bits and pieces to snack on during the evening while they wait for the clock to strike midnight. While they cook there’s a playlist on in the background and an ambient simulation of a fireplace displayed on the television.
Dinner gets made, hours pass and at the brink of midnight they find themselves once again laying down on the sofa. Fiveminutes before the fireworks James scrambles off the couch as his watch beeps with a reminder. He dashes for the champagne, while Gabriel goes to fetch a lighter from the kitchen.
With their coats hastily thrown across their shoulders and their feet clumsily shoved into their sneakers, they step outside. James glances at his watch, sees the countdown from twenty start and reaches out to Gabriel.
He finds sparkling green eyes glancing back at him. Together they whisper the countdown into existence, “…three, two, one.” The New Year isn’t sealed with a vocal acknowledgement, but with a lingering kiss and a silent promise that he’ll do everything to keep this. To keep working on expanding his boundaries and to let himself become the partner Gabriel deserves.
Multicolored fireworks light up the night sky, ringing in the year to come.
Gabriel pulls back slightly to light two of the sparklers. James’ fingers tremble as he tries to pop the cork off the champagne. When he does finally manage, it startles them both, sending them into a fit of giggles. James leans over to steal another kiss. Gabriel indulges him.
In his haste he forgot the glasses, but passing the bottle back and forth while they wave around the sparklers might be even better in the end. James snorts when he recalls what heread about the Hogmanay celebrations. He turns to Gabriel, pulling him against him with only a little bit of hesitation, and says, “You know it’s good luck for a tall, dark and handsome man to set the ‘first foot’ over the threshold?”
Gabriel snorts, undignified and without restraint. The flush might not be visible in the dark, but the warmth emanating from his cheeks is. “Is it?”
“Hmm,” James hums, arms circling Gabriel’s shoulders, “and lucky us, we’ve got both.”
44 [Gabriel] From Inverness to Limerick
January 1st
Arriving back atThe Evergreenat six in the morning wasn’t the plan. With the excitement of the countdown, the champagne and the late hour, they managed to doze off for a few hours.
For once Gabriel is grateful for James’ obsessive need for alarms and reminders, as his watch beeped around half past four with a reminder to be back onThe Adventurerby seven.
At his raised eyebrow, James just quipped, “I was going to spend the evening here anyway. With or without you. I wasn’t going to be the loser hanging around a bar solo.”
The crew greets them with bright smiles, well wishes for the new year and the announcement that brunch will be served from eleven.
It’s the perfect excuse for them to get out of their day old clothes and into some comforting loungewear. The trip to Ireland will last them about nine hours and there’s at least acouple of those to spare before brunch.
Slipping underneath the covers together happens like second nature, just like it’s getting more and more familiar to tuck James against him and underneath his chin. The position brings warmth without feeling restricting. It’s awfully easy to drift off again now that they are back on familiar territory.
James’ breathing slows down while Gabriel finds his eyes getting heavier and he’s happy to let himself succumb to the call of sleep.
When he gets jostled awake again, it’s fromThe Adventurerpulling out of Inverness. It’s still dark outside and the lights are turned off in the hallway. The open curtain provides nothing but darkness still. Between one blink and the next he drifts off again.
The next moment he blinks open his eyes, Gabriel finds brighter light filling the cabin. The light from underneath the door casts a strip of warm yellow across the wall opposite him and the man beside him is trying to wriggle free.
With a sigh and a slow stretch he turns on his back, untangling his arms from around James, who dashes toward the bathroom with surprising hurry. Gabriel huffs out a little laugh.
