My Only Wish (This Year)
Stories of Us 2

Excerpt

Christmas was absolutely and unequivocally Brian’s favorite time of the year. It meant more to him than birthdays or Thanksgiving, and was even better than that last day of the semester. He couldn't put his finger on why he loved the holiday so much, but maybe the spirit of giving, which hung in the air like fog, was responsible. And though the weather outside in Shadow’s Foot, Maryland seemed permanently set on arctic, it was undoubtedly the warmest time of the year. But the reason this Christmas was even warmer than others was quickly approaching his house.

His phone buzzed excitedly on his bedside table. He pushed the answer key. “Hey.”

“Are you really gonna make me do the pebble thing every night?”

Brian laughed. “I’ll be there in a sec.” He ended the call, bounced off the bed, and bounded over to the window. As he got close, he heard a scuffling noise and, no sooner had he pushed the window up than a face appeared on the other side of the sill. “Hi,” Brian said, unable to contain his smile.

“You gonna let me in? It’s kind of freezing out here.”

Brian backed away, and his boyfriend hoisted himself in and closed the window. “Hi,” Angelo said, his unique fragrance filling the room. The scent seemed to be sweet but masculine at the same time, almost as though something feminine and something manly had come together, and whatever Angelo wore was their secret love child. But every time Brian called him on the smell, Angelo swore he never wore cologne, so whatever he smelled like was natural.

Brian felt spectacularly overdressed in a long sleeved shirt and a baggy pair of sweatpants to try to combat the cold of the night. Angelo, on the other hand, wore a flimsy pair of pajama bottoms and a grey tank top under a barely zipped jacket.

“No wonder you’re cold,” he said, swallowing his desire.

“You miss me?”

Brian didn’t have a chance to answer because Angelo crushed his mouth against Brian’s in a kiss that stole his breath, fevered, yet gentle. Angelo’s hands were everywhere, and Brian’s head was getting foggy. He had to break the kiss before he suffocated. He couldn’t breathe. He tried to shift his weight, and his knees buckled under him, but Angelo caught Brian before he fell and lifted him as if he weighed nothing.

Angelo broke the kiss long enough to lay Brian on the bed.

“Wait,” Brian panted.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…need…to…breathe.”

Angelo chuckled. “You’re making my head big, baby.”

“Your head is already big.”

Another chuckle—or was it a growl?—escaped Angelo’s throat. Brian wasn’t sure, and it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Angelo was with him. Brian turned on his side and heard rustling that he assumed was Angelo removing his jacket. The bed dipped and creaked, and then Angelo’s arm snaked across Brian’s waist, pulling them together. Even through the fabric of both their shirts, he could feel Angelo’s abs pressing into his back. Safe inside Angelo’s arms, Brian heaved a sigh.

“Whatcha thinking about?”

“I’m tired.”

Angelo smiled and pressed his full lips gently against the back of Brian’s neck.

“But I wasn’t tired until you got here.”

Angelo frowned, lips moving against Brian’s back. “Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?”

Brian laughed. “I can never sleep anymore unless you’re here with me.”

“Wow.”

“Wow, what?”

“We’ve been together for months, and you still can’t sleep unless I’m here? What do you do when you're in your dorm?”

Brian turned over and peered into Angelo’s eyes. “We're on the phone, so regardless, you're always there. I guess I just feel…safer when you're around.”

Angelo broke eye contact for a moment. When he looked back at Brian, there was something in his eyes that Brian hadn’t seen there before. He wasn't quite sure what it was, but he knew it warmed his insides. “I like being here with you," Angelo said. "It makes me feel like…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno.” In lieu of an answer, he leaned forward and kissed Brian again. This kiss was much gentler than the last, their lips barely touching, but it sent shivers racing down Brian’s spine and through his toes.

When their lips separated, Brian whispered, “How do you do that?” His eyes were still closed and his lips were parted slightly. He wanted Angelo to kiss him again.

“Do what?”

“Kiss me like I’m the only guy in the world.”

“Look at me, Bri.”

Brian opened his eyes and stared into Angelo’s once again. For the first time, he noticed how Angelo’s gray contacts stood out against the brown in his skin. He loved being around Angelo if for no other reason than he always noticed something new. Brian’s eyes traveled along his arms, the muscle beneath the flesh giving Brian wood he was secretly glad the sweatpants hid.

“You are the only guy in my world. You’re the only guy I’ve ever felt this way about.”

Brian let his eyes fall away.

“I’m serious. You’re my first. My only.”

Brian met Angelo’s eyes once more and could see no trace of deceit. He let his fingers twirl and play in Angelo’s hair for a few seconds, smiling when he felt one of the kinks from where it had been braided earlier. He turned his back and snuggled against Angelo, whose arms tightened as though by instinct.

Brian yawned deeply. “I’m really tired, baby.”

“Then go to sleep. I’ll be here as long as I can.”

“How come you’re never here when I wake up?” he asked, sleep weighing his voice.

Angelo was silent for a moment. “Because my parents would flip out if they went in my room in the morning and I wasn’t there. I just don’t wanna go through the night without seeing you.” He stroked Brian’s arm with a thumb. “Go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow. I promise.”

That was all Brian needed. Wrapped in Angelo’s arms, he drifted off to sleep.