That was how Noah found himself standing on James’ doorstep, trying to figure out how Aspen had assignedhim, of all people, to be the one to help James. As he rang the doorbell, clutching the bottle of wine Aspen had thrust in his hands as they left their apartment building, he tried to channel Charlie, Aspen, Rachel, and even Blair. One of them would probably know what to say to James, as he answered the door looking more frazzled than Noah had ever seen him.
If worst came to worst, he would just tell him to keep it Gordy Simple. That hadn’t failed Noah yet.
Chapter 12
Noah
Noah wondered if 32 was too late in life to be adopted.
As he wandered through James’ house, looking at all the photos of James as a gender affirmed adult, smiling with his arm around his mom’s back or his head resting on her shoulder, Noah couldn’t help but compare it to his own house.
“No baby photos?” he asked, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible.
“Mom took them all down.”
Yeah, Noah had figured as much. The few times he’d heard James talk about his mom, and from what he’d heard from Aspen, James’ mom was an amazing woman. She’d supported James through his transition, was James and Leon’s biggest fan, and had also fought and beaten cancer.
“Do…your parents still have yours up?” James asked gently.
“Yeah. When I was home for Christmas, they managed to use my pronouns at least, but my name was still wrong on the stocking and at least half of the gifts.”
James looked a little overwhelmed by this revelation, so Noah didn’t say anything about how his dad had introduced him to Braxton’s fiancée with his dead name or how, at the grocery store later that same day, he’d overheard his mom tell someoneon the phone how excited her “daughter” was to be an “aunt.” He’d assumed his parents probably slipped up more often when he wasn’t around, but those didn’t feel like slip-ups. It felt like when he wasn’t around, his parents didn’t even try.
James changed the subject to Aspen and Leon, who were out exploring a pop-up museum in the city. Usually, that would be more appealing than Valentine’s Day drama, but the theme of the museum was Torture Throughout the Ages, and Noah was glad to have been spared from that.
Besides, James’ drama wasn’treallydrama. He was just stupidly in love with Leon and was nervous to tell him.
“I still need to finish my gift for Leon,” James said as he opened the bottle of wine. “While also trying to figure out if I’m doing too much–or too little…or somehow both, because it feels like it might be both.”
Noah thought about how Charlie reacted anytime Aspen claimed they were being
“too much.”
He poured them both generous glasses of wine and waited until James had taken a healthy sip to say, “I know what you mean, but given what little I’ve seen of your relationship, I think it’s safe to say you’re not at risk of doing too much, so why don’t we focus on adding more to it?”
James grimaced. “I don’t know…it’s definitely possible that it’s too much. It… Well, let me just show you.”
Noah followed James up the stairs, prepared to find a cute, sentimental gift and easily talk James off the ledge.
Instead…
“Yes, I’m aware that it looks like a Hallmark threw up in here,” James said, an edge to his voice.
Noah slowly looked around the room, at the bundle of balloons and the explosion of tissue paper, tinsel, ribbon, and other crafting supplies. He’d thought Aspen had gone a littleoverboard decorating Noah’s apartment, bringing over blankets, throw pillows, candles, and a heart-shaped soap dispenser. This was…somehow more than that.
“It does,” Noah said slowly. “But do you want to tell me about it anyway?”
James explained, with rising panic, that he had made Leon a memory book of all the shows, restaurants, and events they’d attended during their friendship and relationship. He’d planned to hang some of the leftover ticket stubs and takeout menus from the basket handle like a mobile, while also stuffing the basket full of Leon’s favorite snacks. There had been a bit of a logistical snafu, though, as it appeared James had enough supplies and presents to stuff three, possibly four baskets.
Noah was eternally grateful that he, Aspen, and Charlie had promised they wouldn’t be exchanging gifts. Although Noah knew without a shadow of a doubt that Aspen was still going to do something cheesy. Hell, he was pretty sure Charlie might as well, but Noah didn’t feel any pressure to go empty the store aisles of chocolates or balloons. Maybe he would just copy James’ idea and share some of his favorite memories with Aspen and Charlie.
It’s like you just don’t care. I do all these big gestures for you, and the best you can do is this stupid bear?
That had been his ex, Morgan, shortly before they broke up with him at his office picnic. They hadn’t liked the bear he bought for them for their six-month anniversary, even though he thought they had said they liked stuffed animals. Noah didn’t really see the point in celebrating anniversaries, but it seemed important to them, so he’d at least tried.
Aspen liked stuffed animals, and anytime Noah bought them one, they paraded around with it for several days. He wasn’t sure if they liked celebrating anniversaries. They were nearing their six months, but instead of a celebration, they were going to havetheir long-awaited talk. Maybe Noah would get them another stuffed animal? Unless that would be weird. Would it seem like he was trying to bribe Aspen?
Noah shook away the thought and instead tried to assure James it wasn’t the end of the world if he had to make two baskets instead of one. He even offered to take Leon out for coffee the following afternoon so James could decorate his apartment with the remaining decorations as a surprise. Noah loved it when Aspen did that for him. He wasn’t sure if it was romantic or not, but it was a kind gesture, right? His exes had done nice things for him, too, although they always seemed to fade over time, as they grew tired of Noah and his inability to give the right gestures back.
