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I’m pretty sure he knows I’ll say I’m only with him for the Kings at every game if this is what I get. Though I know we’re not going to have the chance to spend so many hours sweaty and wrapped around each other in a few weeks. And how fucking insane is it that I know we’ll still be together long after?
I’ve had to take some breaks now and then to check my messages and make the occasional call to a client, but nothing major has gone down since Monday.
“I invited Eian.” Harrison’s words have a screeching sound going off in my brain.
“What?” I shout.
“You heard me. And you were right. After everything that’s happened in the last week, I know for a fact Theo and Iris can keep it a secret and they’ll understand the gravity of it. I also know they deserve it. I want them to know their family.”
He stands and takes our empty plates to the sink, immediately starting to rinse them while I can only gape at his back.
“But I thought…” I trail off. I thought he’d kinda dismissed what I’d said when he explained the whole story to me.
He puts the dishes in the dishwasher, closes it, and grabs a towel to dry off his hands. Then turns and leans back against the counter, crossing one ankle over the other and looking at me expectantly. There’s no dread or fear in his gaze, only patience.
I walk to him and wrap my arms around him. “Harrison,” I whisper with my face pressed to the side of his neck. “I’ll be next to you for all of it.”
“Thank you, baby.” He sighs. He pushes me back a bit then cups my cheeks. Looking right into my eyes, I know what he’s about to say before he says it. “I love you.”
The biggest grin ever stretches my cheeks. I jump and wrap my arms around his neck. Attacking his mouth I say the words so they come out as ‘Iwoveyouwoo’. He chuckles and looks decades younger with a glint of happiness in his eyes when I finally lean back. “I love you, Harrison,” I say again.
“Are we insane?” he asks, still smiling recklessly.
“Oh, we one hundred percent are insane, but I don’t care as long as we’re insane together.”
“That's great, baby because I don’t think I could stop even if I wanted to.” I hug him, long and hard and we even sway a little. I let out a chuckle then my eyes land on the living room couch across the room and I see all the cushions strewn all over the place.
“When are they all getting here?”
“Iris, Ma, Theo, and Mike are getting here in an hour, I think. Eian is getting here around five.”
“Got it, and they’re bringing dinner, right?” I ask because I don’t think either Harrison or I can pull off a Christmas Eve dinner.
“Yeah, Ma and Theo took care of it all.”
“Good, then we better hide all the evidence of our fuckfest. I’m not ready for Iris to know what we were up to all over the house.”
He snorts. “I already drained the jacuzzi and it’s filling up now. The rest should be easy enough.”
* * *
And it is.By the time Harrison’s family gets here, the place is as tidy as it was the day we got here. A housekeeper will come by over the weekend to put it back to its perfect glory, and it’ll be necessary because we make a huge mess. Oscar, Theo’s gorgeous gray Great Dane, and Tony, Mike’s huge and hairy light brown Tibetan Mastiff make themselves at home on the couch and I can see after a few minutes how much fur they’re leaving all over it. In the meantime, Mike, Iris, and I get to work putting up all the decorations they brought over from Manhattan.
Once I decided I was coming here with Harrison, I started worrying about presents but when I asked, he told me they don’t exchange presents at Christmas, all they give each other is uninterrupted time, which is far more important and necessary for them. I let out a huge sigh of relief and hope my time will be enough to make Iris happy. Even though she’s made her acceptance of me very clear, she’s the one I’m worried about when it comes to welcoming me into their family. And that’s why I appreciate even more the time I get to spend with her and Mike on decorations.
When we’re done Mike disappears for a while and comes back with Nan behind him. Both of them are carrying boxes.
“I know you said no presents,” he says placating his boyfriend. “But I got everyone matching Christmas pajamas.” I can see Harrison frown from the other side of the room. “They’re good quality, Harry, I swear,” Mike says and my man does cringe at his own pompous reaction.
I see Nan throw her son a telling look, she must’ve known about this present beforehand because she stashes a bigger box than the other behind the tree without Mike seeing. I’m guessing it’s for the man who’s coming in a few hours.
At four o’clock, we’re all seated in the living room wearing our very festive red and white pajamas. I’m ready to watch some football cuddled up next to my man.
“I’m getting some hot chocolate,” Mike says as he stands. It’ll be his fourth cup, the guy is almost as much in love with Theo’s sweets as he’s in love with Theo—Harrison told me yesterday about Theo’s actual profession and business, it was a surprise, to say the fucking least. “Anyone want anything from the kitchen?” We all call out our orders.
I can see him start to pile all the cups and glasses in his huge arms from where I’m sitting when I notice a shadow on the patio. As if in slow motion I know disaster is about to ensue when the middle patio door starts to slide open right as Mike is about to walk in front of it. Tony and Oscar both let out deep loud barks at the same time.
A shout of warning gets lodged in my throat when I see Eian sneak in. Mike realizes it, drops all the drinks, then promptly tackles the man to the ground.
