Merry Cherry Christmas

There were glittery wreaths on lampposts and greenery with red berries in planters that held flowers in the summer. Store windows looked like Christmas explosions, and shoppers bustled by with bags, reminding Max that he had to get his family’s presents before he went home because there were way more options in Toronto.

They sat next to each other on a two-seater as the streetcar made its way south in fits and starts. It got crowded fast, catching every red, people squeezing on and off at every stop.

Max finally broke as they inched toward College Street. “You said you’ll be alone over the holidays? You don’t want to head home to BC?” And what are your parents packing for? Why aren’t you going?

Jeremy’s smile was tight-lipped. “They’re going to Hawaii with Sean. Taking a cruise around the islands and stuff. They’re spending a lot on me being here, and with my exam schedule, I can’t go anyway. It’s totally fine.”

“Right.” Max nodded and pretended he believed for a nanosecond that anything about the situation with Jeremy’s folks was “totally fine.” He shifted, his knee jammed into the seat in front, imagining Jeremy in his barebones little dorm room on a deserted campus for weeks.

Max didn’t like that idea one little bit. In fact, he hated it.

How could he help? He automatically began formulating a plan, flipping through options in his mind like the different plays on a football field.

“The best way to meet up with guys who are around over the holidays is a dating app. Well, ‘dating’ can be a little euphemistic. Have you signed up for any?”

Wide-eyed, Jeremy shook his head. “I’ve looked at them in the app store, but…”

Strangely, Max was glad to hear he hadn’t cruised for guys online. Which made zero sense, since if he wanted to help Jeremy get laid, this was going to help. He pulled out his phone and pointed to an icon. “This one’s good if you want to check it out.”

“Uh-huh. Okay!” Jeremy squeaked. “So, that’s exciting about going to law school,” he said, clearly eager to change the subject.

“I guess.” Now it was Max’s turn to be reticent.

Jeremy frowned. “You don’t sound too sure.”

Busted. He laughed it off. “Just stressed about the LSAT.”

Truth was, he hadn’t discussed his doubts with anyone, not even his sister or Honey. But Jeremy had told him all sorts of things. He’d trusted Max with his secrets even though they’d just met. Maybe Max could confide in him too.

It was kind of nice that Jeremy was new—that he didn’t know all about Max already and have preconceived notions. He wouldn’t judge him the way Max’s family and friends might. Not that they were judgy. Max was probably being totally unfair to them.

But he was supposed to be Jeremy’s fairy godfather—confident and in charge. Captain of the team. He wasn’t about to dump all his internal drama on the kid he was helping out.

Jeremy said, “I get not wanting to talk about it. There’s a lot I usually keep to myself. Until I basically have a nervous breakdown and unload all my crap on unsuspecting good Samaritans. You’re welcome.”

Max smiled. “Oh, you’ve done that before?”

“Actually, you were my first.”

The words were innocent, but they stirred a tug of lust that made Max’s balls tingle. He’d never had a virgin kink, but he had to admit there was something about Jeremy that drew him in. Maybe it was because Jeremy was physically smaller, and Max typically went for muscular guys more his own size. He wanted to take care of Jeremy in a way he wasn’t used to. Not paired with sex, at least.

He’d always been a mentor on the field and in the locker room, but that was about brotherhood and the team. He’d never let himself think of teammates as sexy. But it was different with Jeremy. The idea of being his first made his dick throb.

“Have you always wanted to be a lawyer?”

“Yeah. Probably a boring story.”

Jeremy shrugged. “We’re going to be here a while.”

Metal screeched as the streetcar slowed at Dundas. All the restaurants and shops had signs in Chinese and English, and people thronged the sidewalks at the heart of Chinatown on a Saturday afternoon. Some pushed their way off the streetcar as others squeezed on. A bulky purse smacked Max on the head, the woman apologizing profusely as he waved her off with a smile.

He realized he couldn’t remember the last time he’d told someone about his mom. The guys knew she died when he was a kid, but it wasn’t like they’d sat down and had a deep and meaningful conversation about it. Not that there was any reason to have one now with Jeremy on the Spadina streetcar. Weird that he kind of wanted to?

“The thing with becoming a lawyer has a lot to do with my mom. She died in a car accident when I was nine. She was a lawyer with Legal Aid.”