Synopsis
It’s the most horrible time of the year.
Smooches under mistletoes and tacky reindeer decorations.
Newly single, Davey has had enough of wasting his love and having his heart broken. Better to be single, he decides. No more dates. No more falling in love. No more dreaming of happy ever afters. Those are for movies.
He’s resolute.
And then Avery steps into his life, bringing care, compassion, and tenderness in his path.
Davey’s so tempted to hope again. But can an online date and a brief encounter turn into anything other than an ephemeral sexual encounter?
Is there a future for them? Will Avery stay? And most importantly, can Davey bear to offer up his heart to the season’s love—just one more time?
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“What—what are you doing here?” He was lost for words. “How did you find me?”
Avery’s grin disappeared as he let the bouquet drop to his side. “I got your address from work. It took a lot of convincing and they should probably be charged with something for giving away private information, but it brought me here, so I’m not complaining.”
Davey shook his head in confusion. “But, what are you doing here?”
“You told me to go be happy. In your message. So, that’s what I’m doing.”
Davey’s legs felt like jelly. Had he heard right?
“And these are for you,” he said, passing the bouquet to Davey, who took the flowers from his hands and inhaled their aroma.
“How did you know?”
Avery chuckled. “Nothing a good Facebook stalking won’t do,” he answered.
“But why?” Davey felt as if his mind was playing tricks on him. These things didn’t happen to him. These things happened in movies. These things happened to other people. Not to him. Not to desperate, hopeless romantic Davey. Never him.
“You know yesterday, when you told me about your ex. About your exes. I’m so sorry they never appreciated you, because you’re the best human I’ve met. You’re sane, you’re logical, you’re unique and quirky. You’re not the lousy company you think you are. You’re the best company I’ve had.” Avery was blushing, and from the heat in Davey’s cheeks, he assumed he was too.
“But you’re in love with Kyle,” he said, trying to bring the man to his senses. Surely he didn’t mean all those things. Those were not words meant for him.
Avery dipped his head. “It’s true, I’ve still got feelings for him. We were together for seven years. You can’t just erase the feelings we felt all this time. But he still hurt me. He still neglected me and tortured me with his constant judgment of my life. And we never wanted the same things. He caused me so much hurt I could never go back to him.”
Davey wanted to cuddle him and never let him go, but he restrained himself. He had made himself a promise. “But you were considering it. You were thinking about him, yesterday, when we were together,” Davey accused him, and he hated himself for it as much as he admired his courage to defend his heart.
Avery shook his hand. “No, that’s not what that was. Kyle and I, we had a long conversation. He was trying to remind me all the good times and why we were good together. When I was with you, I was remembering all those things and trying to think of a time that I didn’t feel all those things with you, in your company. It was just my brain coming to the realization that I wanted to be with you. It was hard to find out that after seven years, I no longer felt anything for the man I’d spent most of my adult life with. But I feel like I’ve known you my entire life, Davey, and I know there’s so many things we don’t know about each other, but I still feel like I’m with a friend, a best friend, when I’m with you. You make me smile and laugh and you make my heart beat a million times faster when you look at me. I don’t want Kyle back. I want to build a future with you,” he said and, as an afterthought, added, “if you want that too.”
Davey felt hot, way too hot to be encompassed in the small hallway, listening to things he always dreamed of, but never thought would be spoken in in sincerity in real life.
“I would like that, too,” he said finally.
Avery took a step forward and leaned closer. His kiss was soft and affectionate. He could feel the need in it, and he hoped he was reciprocating. Because he did need Avery, no matter how he lied to himself.
When they released each other’s lips Davey cupped Avery’s face and whispered to him.
“I lied as well. I would never go back to my ex, either. I—feel like a better person when I’m with you. And I also feel as if I’ve known you for years. My heart does. I think it recognized you from another lifetime the minute I set my eyes on you.”
Prize: A Christmas Hamper filled with goodies including a $5 Amazon gift card.
Chris Ethan is a book whore. He enjoys selling his feelings for money and other pleasures and is blatantly unashamed to do so for as long as he breathes. Chris Ethan is also a persona for Rhys Christopher Ethan, author of fantasy and sci-fi. He uses Chris Ethan to share stories of adult queer romance with those who need it. Before you delve into his books however, be warned. He likes putting his characters through shitstorms and hates anything conventional. But then there’s that darned happy-ever-after. Also, he likes swearing. Deal with it!
Social links:
Website: http://www.rcethan.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rhys_Ethan
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rcethan1
