Archie
Archie had barely finishedhis morning coffee when Brogan tossed him a grin and said, “Get dressed. We’re going away for the day.” No explanation, no hints—just that mischievous sparkle in his eye that meant something good was coming. Archie threw on jeans, a cozy sweater, and his favorite boots, curiosity buzzing in his chest.
They drove through town in Brogan’s van, snow falling again in soft, lazy flakes. The windshield wipers squeaked every few seconds, and the heater hummed low. Archie watched the world blur past, wondering where they were headed. He didn’t ask—he liked the surprise, especially when Brogan was the one planning it.
When they pulled up in front of a large hotel with stone pillars and twinkling lights strung across the awning, Archie blinked. “Wait… are we staying here?”
Brogan just smirked. “You’ll see.”
Inside everything smelled like eucalyptus and warm vanilla. A woman at the front desk greeted them and led them down a quiet hallway to a private room with two padded massage tables, soft music playing overhead, and dim lighting that made everything feel calm and intimate.
Archie looked around, a little stunned. “We’re getting massages?”
“Couple’s massage,” Brogan said, already kicking off his shoes. “You’ve never had one, right?”
Archie shook his head, still taking it all in. “Nope. This feels… fancy.”
They settled onto the tables, side by side, and the massage therapists got to work. Warm oil, gentle pressure, and the kind of silence that didn’t need filling. Archie melted into the table, eyes half-closed, feeling muscles he didn’t even know were tense loosen.
“This is ridiculous,” he mumbled, voice muffled by the headrest. “In the best way.”
Brogan chuckled. “Told you. You deserve a little pampering.”
Archie turned his head slightly, catching Brogan’s relaxed expression. “You’re just trying to butter me up so I’ll agree to more surprises.”
“Maybe,” Brogan said. “Is it working?”
Archie smiled. “Yeah. It’s working.”
After the massage, they were led to a private bath suite—walls painted a soft cream, candles flickering on every surface, and a gigantic round tub already filled with bubbles and steaming water. Archie’s jaw dropped.
“This is insane,” he said, stepping inside. “Like, movie-level romantic.”
Brogan grinned. “Come on. Let’s make it our movie.”
They shrugged off their heavy robes and slid into the tub, bubbles clinging to their shoulders, steam curling around their faces. Archie leaned back against Brogan’s chest, the warmth soaking into his bones. He’d never done anything like this before—never felt so spoiled, so seen.
“This is the kind of thing I thought only happened in magazines,” Archie whispered.
Brogan wrapped his arms around him, pressing a kiss to his temple. “You’re worth it. Every bit of it.”
Archie turned and kissed him, taking his time. The kiss said thank you without words. They stayed like that—hugging, kissing, talking about nothing and everything until the water cooled and the candles burned low.If this is what love looks like, I never want to miss a moment of it.
Archie kicked off his boots the second they got home from the spa, still feeling like his bones had turned to warm jelly. The massage, the bubble bath, the quiet—it had all been perfect. Brogan looked just as blissed out, hair a little damp, cheeks pink from the cold. Archie grinned as he walked into the living room, the glow of the Christmas tree casting soft shadows across the walls.
“I’ve got one present for each of us,” Archie announced, voice playful.
Brogan raised an eyebrow. “From you to you and me?”
“Exactly,” Archie said, digging under the tree and pulling out two neatly wrapped boxes. “Christmas Eve tradition. I just made it up.”
They sat cross-legged on the rug, the tree lights twinkling above them. Archie handed Brogan his box, wrapped in shiny red paper with a gold bow that had taken him way too long to get right. Brogan tore into it like a kid, and when he pulled out the matching Christmas pajamas—bright red with goofy reindeer dancing across the fabric—he burst out laughing.
“No way,” Brogan said, holding them up. “This is amazing.”
Archie opened his own and held up the twin pair. “Thought we could be festive and ridiculous.”
“I love it,” Brogan said, already standing to change. “Right here?”
