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After throwing on a pair of sweats and a hoodie that he pulled from the top drawer of his dresser, Ash snuck out of the bedroom, closing the door most of the way behind him, and then made his way to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. As the coffee brewed, he unlocked his phone, opened up his text message app, and scrolled back through the last dozen or so messages from Cass.

Each and every one of them made his heart soar.

I’m still floating from earlier

You’re just beautiful. Your smile. Your eyes. *happy sigh*

I can’t stop thinking about you

Soon

I promise

He felt the intention behind each word, like all Cass ever wanted to do was to show him his worth and remind him that he wasn’t alone. Ash closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he let himself replay their video call last night. His own eagerness had surprised him, as had the urge to be playful and teasing, to give Cass a show. It had been arousing as hell, too, and any nervousness he’d had had gone right out the window when he’d heard the eagerness in Cass’s voice and seen it in his eyes.

Cass had wanted him.

And he’d wanted Cass.

It hadn’t been until they’d hung up that he’d realized just exactly how bold he’d been and exactly how much he wanted to do it again, but in person. And along with that had come a huge lump of uncertainty that he’d only managed to barely keep from sending him into a spiral because they’d talked more. Not on a video call, just on the phone and then through text. And not even about anything important. They’d just talked, like they did every night, continuing to build whatever this was between them that was so amazing. Cass had talked a little more about Christmas traditions at his house, told Ash about his extended family they’d be visiting in Stockton, asked if Ash had gotten the gifts he’d sent. And Ash had opened up more, too, keeping things light, but still sharing memories about his own family and Christmas traditions.

Being able to talk about them openly and without breaking down was huge progress, he knew, even if it felt like every bit of progress he was making was fragile and terribly incremental. But Cass being there to listen somehow gave him a strength he didn’t know he possessed.

He hadn’t expected this to turn into what it had. He hadn’t expected to trust so much, to grow to be so open, to feel so comfortable with someone he’d only known for a little over a year. And yet, he did.

Only with Cass.

He pursed his lips, staring at Cass’s name on the phone screen. Then, with a silly half smile and a burst of courage, he ran a hand through his hair to smooth it, lifted his phone with one hand, and let his other hand slide up under his hoodie, about halfway to his chest, teasing a hint of bare skin at his waistband. He snapped a picture and sent it, with the text You get one present to open on Christmas Eve, right? ;)

Heat flooded his cheeks, though he didn’t expect Cass to even see his text right away, and he quickly blacked out the screen, stuck the phone in the pocket of his hoodie, and turned around to pour himself a cup of coffee.

A half hour later, just as Ash had finished cleaning up the kitchen from the night before, Bri came shuffling out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes with one hand. Silently, she made her way into the kitchen and over to Ash, and then she reached for him.

“Aw, good morning, sweet girl. Did you sleep well?” He lifted her up, and she closed her eyes and buried her head against his shoulder, mumbling something he couldn’t decipher. “We have a lot of fun planned for today with Auntie Shaina. Are you excited?”

She perked up at that, straightening and nodding. “Da!”

“Alright. First, we have to wrap presents, though. Do you remember where we put the presents we bought for Shaina and Joanna and Henry?”

Bri immediately started to squirm, asking to be put down again, and Ash laughed and lowered her feet to the ground. She took off back to the bedroom, now apparently wide awake.

It was definitely not the most efficient way to wrap presents, letting a toddler be involved. But Bri insisted on helping, as Ash had known she would. It was well after eight by the time the few small gifts they’d bought for the Wallers were wrapped, and then Bri made several trips to pile them under the tiny Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.

She clapped and smiled, her grin bright and eager. It was one of those beautiful moments—a moment where he felt joy and hope and love. He lifted her up into his arms again and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you so much for your help!”

“Da! Tay-koo! Tay-koo!” Her hands found his cheeks, and she leaned in and kissed his nose with a dramatic “Mwah!”

He laughed again and hugged her tight. “Time to get ready to go, okay? Shaina and her parents will be here soon, and we’re going to go out for breakfast and then to the aquarium and—”

“Out? Go out?” Bri’s face lit up even more, if it was possible.

Ash nodded. “Yep! So let’s get dressed, okay?”

“’Kay!” Bri nearly jumped out of his arms and took off toward the bedroom again, her chubby legs going as fast as they could carry her.

Ash grinned and started to follow her when his phone buzzed from his pocket. He pulled it out, and his feet slammed to a stop as Cass’s name popped up on the screen. A single text, and it made Ash’s throat dry and his stomach swoop.