“Merry Christmas to you guys, too,” I tell them.
We launch into catching up, Hanlon and I sitting shoulder to shoulder while our parents yammer on. At one point, Lana knocks her shoulder into my dad’s and gushes.
“I just love seeing our boys back together again. Has it been wonderful making up for lost time?”
“Yeah, Mom. It’s been nice,” Hanlon says, avoiding my gaze as he fights his smile.
“Boys, put your arms around each other and let me take a screenshot. I haven’t gotten a picture of the two of you together in quite some time.”
Hanlon finally looks over at me, a brow raised in question, and I give him a small nod.
He wraps his arm around my waist as I throw my arm across his shoulders. I hold the phone out, and we smile at the camera, our parents beaming the entire time.
“So, Hanlon,” my dad says, “Stone treating you well?”
“No, Dad, I’ve thrown him to the wolves,” I deadpan. “Don’t you see how torn up he is?”
“Ha-ha,” my dad replies. “How has it been managing the cold with your symptoms? Are you eating more than frozen pizza and beer? Are you getting enough sleep? I know having roommates can be tough.”
Hanlon and I share a quick glance because neither of us told them we’re living together. It would just produce more questions that we aren’t ready to answer.
“It’s been fine, really,” Hanlon says, trying to be polite, but I know he gets annoyed quickly when they bring up his diagnosis.
“And you’re not outside for long periods of time, right?” Lana asks. “I mean, you do mostly office stuff, yes?”
“Um, not exactly, but really, it’s all good.”
I drop my arm from Hanlon’s shoulders and rub his back out of view of our parents.
“Well, we’re really sorry we couldn’t make it out there to spend Christmas with you guys,” Lana says.
“It’s okay, we understand,” I tell her, knowingshewouldn’t understand why we don’t want them out here right now anyway.
“We’ll let you boys get back to work, but don’t be strangers. Call anytime,” my dad says.
“Will do,” Hanlon and I answer at the same time.
Lana laughs. “Look at that; it’s like they never missed a beat.”
I slide my hand lower from Hanlon’s back down to his ass,insidehis pants, and squeeze.
He lets out a tiny gasp, and I immediately start talking to cover it up.
“Yep, closer than ever,” I say with a smile.
Hanlon discreetly drives his elbow into my ribs, making my smile widen. Hedidblow me while I was on the phone with Dad the other day.
“Okay, well, we’ve gotta run. Love you guys,” Hanlon says in a strained voice.
Once we get off the phone, he pushes me back into my office and kicks the door shut, driving me hard against the wall.
“Think that’s funny?” he asks, his hands frantically trying to get to my skin.
When he makes contact, my head drops back, and my lips part on a sigh. “I think it’s payback.”
“Hmm,” he hums, sucking on my neck before claiming my mouth. He pulls away a second later. “My dick is so fucking hard for you,” he says, palming himself through his snow pants, seeking relief.
“That’s good news for me, considering what I want to do as soon as we get home.”
