Page 76 of The Christmas Accomplice

“Yeah.”

“I like to think a friendly snow dragon lives in there.”

“I like that,” Welton said.

Reece kissed him on the cheek. “Me, too. Come on, I’m getting cold. Let’s head back and then go to my apartment.”

“Sounds good.”

It wasn’t far back to the snowshoe kiosk, and they handed over their snowshoes, wished the attendant a Merry Christmas, and headed back to the main building of the resort. Reece had left his car in the employee lot around back, and soon he was driving them out of the resort grounds and through the small town decorated with lights. Holiday music played on the radio and they held hands and hummed along to “White Christmas,” and Welton thought no other Christmas had ever been as perfect.

Late in themorning the day after Christmas, Welton stood in the living room of his cabin in the Spruce group and took a last look around. His suitcases had been packed and waited by the door. Next to it was Dean’s smaller, carry-on sized suitcase. Dean always packed lighter than Welton for travel. Reece had said he would pick them up in one of the carts, and now Welton waited while Dean was using the downstairs bathroom.

Reece eased the golf cart to a stop at the end of the path leading to the cabin’s door, and Welton’s mouth suddenly went dry. How was he going to be able to say goodbye? Was it crazy he had such strong feelings for a man he’d just met? Would he ever be able to see Reece in person again?

The light knock on the door got Welton’s feet to move, and he opened it with a sad smile. “Hi.”

It might have been wrong for him to feel it, but Welton was grateful to see Reece looking as sad as he felt.

“It feels like forever ago since I drove you to this cabin on your first day.”

“I know.”

Reece pulled him into a strong hug, and Welton breathed in the smell of him: the light tinge of sweat, the oatmeal and shea butter body wash he knew he was going to buy in bulk the next time he went shopping back home, and the light scent of his laundry detergent.

“I had a great Christmas,” Welton said as he held Reece tight.

“I did, too, for a change. And it’s all because of you.”

“I told you so.”

Welton pulled back from Reece and looked around at Dean. “What? And, also, way to ruin a moment.”

“I told you I was going to make you his Christmas accomplice, and it happened,” Dean said. “We have to get a move on anyway to catch the shuttle to the airport.”

“Christmas accomplice?” Reece said with a frown “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Sure it does.” Dean grabbed his suitcase and slipped out the door. “I’ll be waiting in the golf cart.”

“Ignore him,” Welton said.

“Ignore who?” Reece said with a smile, kissing him.

The ride to the resort’s main building went faster than Welton had hoped, but he was happy to see Nick and Edward standing by the shuttle, waiting to say goodbye. He hugged Nick tight, gave Edward one of those awkward bro hugs made up of a combination handshake and hug, then stood before Reece one last time.

“Call me when you land, okay?”

“I will.”

“And we’ll do video chats.”

“New Year’s Eve?” Welton asked.

“For sure.” Reece kissed him, then turned him toward the shuttle, but held tight to his shoulders so he could lean down and whisper, “I can’t wait to watch you jerk off over video on New Year’s Eve.”

“Oh my God,” Welton whispered, fighting back his erection as he got onto the shuttle.

Dean had left the window seat open for him and Welton dropped into it, staring out at Reece who stared back. The shuttle doors closed, and it pulled slowly out from under the resort’s porte cochere. He quickly lost sight of Reece and rested his forehead against the cool glass, staring out at the familiar snow-covered scenery as a tear slipped free, and he wondered, again, when he would see Reece in person.