Home for Christmas

Chapter 1-2

Just that morning, he’d awoken in a great mood. With only one final left for the semester—for his easiest class—and a big party to attend that evening, the day had held the promise of fun and relaxation. Just exactly what he needed before the drive home the next day.

But walking to class had been the beginning of the end. He’d just passed the campus library when he turned a corner and saw him. Shock slammed into him and his breath caught in his chest. Danny. His ex-boyfriend. The man who’d dropped him the first week of the semester, claiming he wasn’t ready for a serious relationship. The same man who’d moved a platinum blond freshman into his rental house the very next week. He hadn’t crossed paths with Danny in months. Now there he was, his tongue down the blond’s throat, practically f*****g him against the brick building.

Joe pivoted on his heels, eager to make a quick retreat.

“Joe?”

Shit. Maybe he could pretend he hadn’t heard? He took a step.

“Joe! Hey, it’s Danny!”

Double s**t. Joe took a deep breath and turned, a fake smile plastered across his face. “Hey, Danny…um, didn’t see you there.” His voice sounded weak. Pathetic.

Danny grinned, his arm around the blond’s shoulders, pulling him close. “You remember Jamie, right?”

Jamie. Blond. Young. Perfect skin. Joe definitely remembered Jamie. He cleared his throat. “Yeah…uh, hi, Jamie. Nice to see you again.”

Jamie beamed, his blue eyes twinkling. “Hi! Oh, today is so exciting,” he announced, fairly bubbling over with joy.

It was the last day of the semester, so a lot of people were in celebratory moods, but Joe sensed there was another reason for Jamie to be so happy. “Sure…sure it is. You must have something exciting planned for the break?”

Jamie and Danny smiled at each other. “Actually, Joe,” Danny said, “we do have plans. Big plans. We’re getting married tomorrow.”

Fuck. Joe had walked right into that one, he realized, as he stared at the two men, his brain trying to make sense of the situation. Married? But Danny had said he hadn’t wanted to be in a relationship. This didn’t make any…fuck. It had all been a lie. Danny had wanted a serious relationship. Just not with Joe.

He felt sick, and he swiveled his head, searching for the nearest trash can. Joe was pretty sure he was going to puke, but he held it together in front of them. “Congrats,” he offered through gritted teeth. “That’s just…just great. I have to get to class. Final today.”

Joe strode away, not even caring he was heading in the wrong direction. He finally saw a trash can and heaved up his breakfast. He straightened and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His stomach roiled, making him pretty sure he’d never eat another bear claw.

His skin felt clammy and he shivered under his winter jacket, but he pulled himself together as best he could and found his way to class. The professor was not happy Joe was late, but luckily they hadn’t started the test yet. He dove in and tried to lose himself in the questions and answers, forgetting all about Danny and his “happily ever after” wedding.

Joe was pretty sure he passed, but knew he hadn’t done as well as he should have. After class, he grabbed a 7Up, hoping it would settle his stomach, and made his way to his dorm.

When he opened the door, he noticed his roommate already packing.

“Hey, man. How’d the last final go?” Roger asked, his eyes widening. “You look like shit.”

Joe shrugged. “Not great, but at least it’s over.” He dropped his backpack on his small student desk. “You leaving soon?” Joe swung his gaze to the suitcase. “Thought you were staying for the party.”

“Yeah, I was planning on leaving tomorrow, but my dad called and said they were in for bad weather tomorrow and it would be good to get there early.”

Joe nodded. “Probably a good idea. Not me, though. I need the party, especially after running into Danny today.”

Roger stopped packing. “You saw Danny?”

Joe shot him a wry smile. “And his blond boy toy.”

“Damn, sorry you had to see them.”

“No biggie. Except, well…they’re getting married.” His gaze fell to his shoes. “Tomorrow.”

“No s**t?”

“Damn, all I wanted was one fun day before I had to head home and deal with a new stepdad. What the hell is up with people and marriage lately?”

Roger shrugged and stuffed another shirt into his suitcase. “Hey, I’m gonna grab a slice of pizza from the student union. Want one?”

The thought shook Joe to his toes. He groaned and braced his hands on his desk. “Please don’t mention food.”

“Okay. No food. I’ll be back in a few.” Roger headed out the door, leaving the rest of his belongings strewn over his bed.

Joe groaned again as he slunk into the chair and leaned his head onto his desk. Whenever he was stressed, his stomach did a tap dance, and he could already feel the rhythm starting.

Joe usually loved Christmas. Loved the whole decorating-the-tree thing and even watching classic holiday movies with his mom. She kept cider on the stove, filling the house with the scents of apples and cinnamon, and he always looked forward to that when he walked in the door. But not this year.

Thanksgiving had changed everything. That’s when he’d met his mother’s boyfriend, Michael. He’d tried to quell his shiver, but failed. The guy was nice enough, but he’d been a little too touchy-feely with his mom, and Joe had secretly hoped it was a temporary thing.

For most of his life, it had been just him and his mother. She’d even made the decision not to date too early after the divorce. Somehow that decision had turned into months, then years before she’d actually gone forward with a date. She’d met Michael and invited him to Thanksgiving, where she’d introduced him to Joe.

Michael hadn’t been at all the kind of guy Joe thought his mom would go for, but she’d seemed happy. The man was a giant. At least six feet, four inches and built like a tank. He’d played football in college, and even though that was years ago, he still appeared to have that kind of strength. He was a high school football coach now.

By the time Joe’d left to go back to school, he’d grudgingly admitted he liked the man—a little. But when his mom had called last week with the news of their elopement, Joe had very nearly fainted. All his life, his mom had been rock steady, shouldering the worries of the world without complaint. Stable. Dependable. Set in her ways. That was his mom. Marrying someone she’d known less than six weeks? Not his mom.

As he sat in his empty dorm room, trying to not think about Danny and Jamie and their impending wedded bliss, his phone chimed, notifying him of a new text. He pulled it from his pocket and groaned out loud when he read it.

Need you to pick up Karen and Kris tonight and bring them to the house.

Who the f**k were Karen and Kris? And he had a party to attend tonight.

So he’d called his mom. Apparently, twins Karen and Kris were sophomores at his college and Michael was their uncle. Supposedly Michael’s brother was going to be out of town for the holidays, so the twins would spend the break with the newly married couple.

Of course they would, because one new person in Joe’s home wasn’t enough.

* * * *

Now, he got up from his bed, the promise he’d made a moment ago to his mother still ringing through his mind. This day just kept getting better and better. Not only was his ex getting married, but he was going to miss the end-of-semester blow out in order to chauffer two girls he’d never met to his house, where he’d need to entertain them and spend his entire Christmas break with them.

Joe wasn’t a violent guy by any means, but he seriously wanted to hit something.

He stretched his back and legs. God, all he had wanted to do was blow off some steam. Maybe get laid. f**k, he hadn’t dated since Danny had dumped him. Hadn’t even hooked up with anyone, either.

Joe gazed into the mirror above his dresser, checking his reflection. He wasn’t gorgeous, but he wasn’t hideous either. Dark brown hair, short on the sides and longer on top so it feathered to the side. Brown eyes. Dimples in both cheeks. His nose was a little bigger than he liked, but his face had grown into it—finally. He had a nice smile, at least according to his mom. Nice teeth, too, thanks to four years of braces. He was in pretty good shape, mostly because his roommate was a work-out fiend who dragged him to the gym most mornings. Ugh. That was something he wouldn’t miss during the break.

Regardless, he thought once again of his foiled plans for this evening. s**t, he’d really needed that party. He’d really needed to let loose and maybe meet a guy. Well, he’d just have to make the best of this rotten situation. Perhaps he might still be able to get out while being at home for the holidays. Hit a bar or two with his friends. Maybe even salvage some of his break.

Just then, Roger arrived with his pizza, bringing an extra slice for Joe. “I know you said you didn’t want anything, but hey, if you really don’t, I can eat it later.”

Joe c****d his head and gave his roommate a smile. His nausea was gone and he was ready for food. And lucky for him, greasy pepperoni pizza fit the bill.