that way.” Justin seemed to perk up at that. “I guess I’ll see what happens with the weather overnight before I make a final decision, but I think I’ll hold off on packing till tomorrow morning. I’ll get up early and see what’s what.”
Sean couldn’t help a flicker of excitement at the prospect of Justin staying here after all. He felt a bit bad hoping that the promised snow would materialise, because he knew Justin would be disappointed not to see his family. Despite what he’d said to Justin, Sean hadn’t been relishing the idea of spending Christmas alone.
The universe came down firmly on Sean’s side. He woke to the sound of the kettle in the kitchen and Justin padding about in his socks.
When he looked at the clock on the TV, it was already half past nine. If Justin was flying out today, he should be on his way to the airport by now.
Sean sat up, yawned, and stretched till his back cracked. He climbed off the sofa bed, dragged a blanket around his shoulders, and went to open the curtains. “Wow!”
The city was covered with a thick white blanket of snow. It was still falling from the slate grey sky in feathery flakes that swirled hypnotically. There looked to be at least four inches already, judging by the tyres of the cars parked in the street below, and the clouds were heavy with more.
Justin came through from the kitchen and joined Sean at the window. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were awake or I’d have made coffee for you too. You can share mine if you want.”
Sean smiled at the giant mug in Justin’s hands. “Looks like you’ve got enough for two anyway.” He looked back out at the white rooftops. He couldn’t remember when he’d last seen snow like this in England. It must’ve been several years, and never before Christmas. “So, you’re not travelling today, then?”
“No.” Justin sighed. “All flights are cancelled. I could go and wait and maybe fly out later today, or tomorrow. But Mum called me earlier, and apparently the roads are terrible up there. They did say they’d try and get to the airport if I could get a flight, but I told them not to risk it. I’m staying.”
“That sucks,” Sean said.
“Charming. I thought you’d be glad of the company.” Justin nudged him.
“You know what I mean, dickhead.” Sean nudged him back. “I know you were looking forward to seeing them.”
“Oi, watch my coffee!” Justin put the mug down on the windowsill where the steam rose, clouding the glass like a warm breath. He met Sean’s gaze and there was a softness to his features that made Sean’s breath catch. “It’s not so bad. I can visit them another time. I’m glad I get to stay here with you.”
“Me too,” Sean said gruffly.
“So.” Justin’s voice turned brisk. “We need a plan. The cupboards are bare, and I don’t know what you were planning to eat for the next few days, but I’m buggered if I’ll eat frozen pizza or Pot Noodle for Christmas dinner. If we’re spending Christmas here, we’re going to do it properly.”
“That’s going to involve me cooking, right?” Sean raised an eyebrow.
Justin’s skills in the kitchen were limited to making wicked coffee and heating things up.
“I think it will go better if you’re in charge. But I’m really good at peeling things.” Justin’s grin was hopeful, and happiness rose in Sean as he started to think about how much fun it would be spending Christmas with him.
“We’ll need decorations too.” Sean sat down on the edge of the sofa bed and picked up a pad of paper and a pen from the coffee table.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a list.”
“Of course you are.” Justin moved to sit beside him, coffee mug in his hands. The bed creaked under the added weight. He leaned in to see, and Sean could smell the scent of his hair. He wanted to turn and bury his nose in it, put an arm around Justin, and pull him close.
Instead he started writing: Turkey? Or chicken? Potatoes,
Sean couldn’t help a flicker of excitement at the prospect of Justin staying here after all. He felt a bit bad hoping that the promised snow would materialise, because he knew Justin would be disappointed not to see his family. Despite what he’d said to Justin, Sean hadn’t been relishing the idea of spending Christmas alone.
The universe came down firmly on Sean’s side. He woke to the sound of the kettle in the kitchen and Justin padding about in his socks.
When he looked at the clock on the TV, it was already half past nine. If Justin was flying out today, he should be on his way to the airport by now.
Sean sat up, yawned, and stretched till his back cracked. He climbed off the sofa bed, dragged a blanket around his shoulders, and went to open the curtains. “Wow!”
The city was covered with a thick white blanket of snow. It was still falling from the slate grey sky in feathery flakes that swirled hypnotically. There looked to be at least four inches already, judging by the tyres of the cars parked in the street below, and the clouds were heavy with more.
Justin came through from the kitchen and joined Sean at the window. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were awake or I’d have made coffee for you too. You can share mine if you want.”
Sean smiled at the giant mug in Justin’s hands. “Looks like you’ve got enough for two anyway.” He looked back out at the white rooftops. He couldn’t remember when he’d last seen snow like this in England. It must’ve been several years, and never before Christmas. “So, you’re not travelling today, then?”
“No.” Justin sighed. “All flights are cancelled. I could go and wait and maybe fly out later today, or tomorrow. But Mum called me earlier, and apparently the roads are terrible up there. They did say they’d try and get to the airport if I could get a flight, but I told them not to risk it. I’m staying.”
“That sucks,” Sean said.
“Charming. I thought you’d be glad of the company.” Justin nudged him.
“You know what I mean, dickhead.” Sean nudged him back. “I know you were looking forward to seeing them.”
“Oi, watch my coffee!” Justin put the mug down on the windowsill where the steam rose, clouding the glass like a warm breath. He met Sean’s gaze and there was a softness to his features that made Sean’s breath catch. “It’s not so bad. I can visit them another time. I’m glad I get to stay here with you.”
“Me too,” Sean said gruffly.
“So.” Justin’s voice turned brisk. “We need a plan. The cupboards are bare, and I don’t know what you were planning to eat for the next few days, but I’m buggered if I’ll eat frozen pizza or Pot Noodle for Christmas dinner. If we’re spending Christmas here, we’re going to do it properly.”
“That’s going to involve me cooking, right?” Sean raised an eyebrow.
Justin’s skills in the kitchen were limited to making wicked coffee and heating things up.
“I think it will go better if you’re in charge. But I’m really good at peeling things.” Justin’s grin was hopeful, and happiness rose in Sean as he started to think about how much fun it would be spending Christmas with him.
“We’ll need decorations too.” Sean sat down on the edge of the sofa bed and picked up a pad of paper and a pen from the coffee table.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a list.”
“Of course you are.” Justin moved to sit beside him, coffee mug in his hands. The bed creaked under the added weight. He leaned in to see, and Sean could smell the scent of his hair. He wanted to turn and bury his nose in it, put an arm around Justin, and pull him close.
Instead he started writing: Turkey? Or chicken? Potatoes,
Similar Books
