EPILOGUE
Six days later
“Right.” Riley grabbed Alex’s hand and tugged him against his side. His friends all faced him with amused expressions. “I think we’re going to head home.”
Jake arched an eyebrow and pointedly checked his watch. “It’s twenty past ten. On Christmas Eve.”
“Oh, leave them alone.” Abi elbowed him in the side. “This is their first Christmas as a couple.” She beamed at Riley and then Alex. “I think it’s—”
“For fuck’s sake, don’t saycute,” Alex grumbled.
“Oh, get lost.” Abi rolled her eyes. “I was going to say I think it’s great how Ri’s mum and dad are letting the two of you stay in his room tonight.”
“We’re twenty-three, not sixteen.” But if Riley was honest, he had been a little surprised too. With living away at uni for the past four years, he’d never had cause to bring anyone back to his mum and dad’s house to sleep over. Alex had stayed all the time, but that was different. Well, it used to be different. “But yeah. They’ve been great about everything.”
Not wanting to appear rude, he resisted the urge to check his watch again, but he really wanted to be in his room alone with Alex when it struck midnight.
Clearly his impatience was showing, anyway, because Nick laughed at him and pulled him in for a hug. “Merry Christmas. Now kindly fuck off so the rest of us can get drunk without watching you check your watch every five minutes.”
Riley hugged him back and grinned. “Have I been that bad?”
“Yes, but no one gives a shit. We’re all happy for the both of you and can’t wait for the honeymoon period to be over so you don’t look like you’re just seconds from jumping each other all the time.”
“Yeah, like that’ll happen anytime soon.”
Nick groaned, but he gave Riley a final squeeze and then pulled back. “Seriously, though, I’m glad you guys sorted things out. Have a great Christmas, Ri.”
“Thanks.” He blushed and smiled wide. “You too.” Then he said goodnight to the rest of them, and when Alex had done the same, Riley led the way out of the pub. The night air had a cold bite to it, and Riley shoved his hands in his pockets. His breath misted as he breathed, and he looked up at the clear night sky. “I doubt we’re going to get snow.”
Alex huffed. “We never get snow down here.” He bumped Riley’s shoulder as they walked. “I know I’ve already asked this, but are your parents really okay with me stopping over?”
Riley laughed because that must be the fifth time Alex had asked. “Yes, Alex.” On Monday, when they got back from the cabin, one of the first things they’d done was tell their families they were together. “You know, my mum actually squealed when I told her about us.”
“Yeah.” Alex laughed. “I remember you saying.”
“So yes, both she and Dad are totally fine with you staying in my room.” He glanced Alex’s way to see him smiling to himself. “What about yours? Are they okay with you not being there tonight?”
“Yeah. I mean, Mum said she loves having me there on Christmas morning, but as long as we go over for Christmas dinner, then she’s happy. You know they think of you like a second son, anyway.”
Being a couple was a bit weird in some ways, and totally normal in others. But Riley had never been so happy, even though he sometimes felt the need to reassure himself it was real. “And they’re definitely okay with us being together now. They don’t think it’s strange or anything?”
Alex stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Honestly, Ri, everyone’s happy for us, and no one was all that surprised. My dad said he doubted he’d notice a difference, since you were there all the time anyway. Please stop worrying. It’s Christmas.” He let his hand slide down and linked their fingers for just a second before letting go. “Come on, I’m getting cold.”
Riley smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
They walked in companionable silence until they reached Riley’s street, and then Alex paused as they rounded the corner. He’d not paid much attention the last few times he’d been here, but with the cars all parked, unmoving, and the street itself quiet, everything stood out more. “Wow, they really went all out this year.”
Riley followed his gaze and laughed softly. “Yeah.”
Both sides of the street were lit up with Christmas lights—around windows, on garages, bushes, and trees. If something was stationary, then it had lights on it. “They have this neighbourhood meeting thing twice a month now––I think it’s just an excuse to go to the pub––but Mum said they all decided to decorate their houses in earnest this year. Her words, not mine.” The end result was pretty spectacular, and Riley grinned as he started walking again. “I think it looks great.”
“Me too.”
The hall light was on when Riley opened the front door to his house, and he cocked an ear to hear if anyone was still up. The TV sounded from the living room upstairs. He loved the layout of this house, weird as it was. Having the only room down here gave him much more privacy than Charlie had. He met Alex’s gaze as they kicked off their shoes and hung up their coats. “We should really go up and say hello.”
They glanced at the door to Riley’s bedroom, calling to them with promises of privacy. He’d stashed Alex’s bag in there earlier but refused to let him in. It was kind of a surprise.
“Yeah, I guess.” Alex licked his lips.
