Merry Cherry Christmas

“You’ll get in.”

Max groaned. “I dunno. Maybe.”

“Definitely.” Jeremy truly had no doubts. Max’s application was stellar. He’d get in. Jeremy had bought him a glass-blown apple for when he did but didn’t want to jinx it by giving it to him until it was official. He hoped Max liked the gift of a deluxe mixology kit that Jeremy had put under the tree, along with presents for the rest of the family. Bartending was temporary, but Max had really gotten into making cocktails.

Late that night when everyone else was in bed, Jeremy helped Max wrap presents since Max was determined not to wait until the very last minute this year. The fire blazed and carols played on the TV. Jeremy noticed something by the mantel he somehow hadn’t spotted earlier. He stepped closer, running his finger over the glittery cursive letters on red felt. “There’s a stocking for me.”

Max was concentrating on taping the wrapping paper shut on one end of the box. “Yeah, of course. You had one last year too. Everyone who’s here for Christmas gets a stocking.”

“But my name’s on this one.” He tentatively scratched at one of the letters. “Like, permanently.”

Max came over, peering at it with a smile. He squeezed Jeremy’s shoulders. “Looks good to me. Like it belongs there.”

Jeremy’s throat was too thick, his eyes burning. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

They shared a kiss by the crackling fire, “Silent Night” filling the warm silence.

Upstairs, Jeremy shut the door to Max’s room behind him. It still felt strangely momentous even though they’d shared the bed at Max’s apartment plenty of times, and sometimes the narrow twin bed in his dorm. Scared, lonely Jeremy of a year ago seemed a lifetime away.

Max stripped off his sweater by the double bed. Old football trophies gleamed on the bookcase in the low light. Their gazes met, and heat rushed through Jeremy at the hunger in Max’s eyes.

“Think we can be quiet enough?” Max whispered.

Jeremy grinned, then lifted his finger to his lips. “Shh.”

THE END