Magic & Mistletoe (15 page)

“I know you said your mum and dad are away, and so is your brother, so what are you doing for lunch tomorrow?”

“Abi’s parents invited me over to their house.”

“Oh, well, that’s good. I didn’t like the thought of you being on your own.”

Andrew opened one eye and squinted at Harry. He’d forgotten what it was like to have someone worry over him, to be the concern of someone other than his family and friends. He smiled and reached up to cup Harry’s jaw. “I won’t be on my own.” He stroked along the soft stubble on Harry’s cheek, feeling relaxed and happy. “Thanks for thinking about me.”

Harry smiled back.

They lapsed into a sleepy silence, and somehow Andrew remembered to add an alarm on his phone so they wouldn’t sleep through the whole of Christmas Eve. He shut his eyes, and the next thing he knew, his phone was chiming and it was seven o’clock.

Harry groaned and rubbed at his eyes. “Can’t we just stay in?” He stretched out his arms and his shirt rode up, revealing his belly.

“Tempting.” Andrew wanted to get his hands on it, so he reached over and ran his fingers along the top of Harry’s waistband.

Harry flinched and burst out laughing, shying away from Andrew’s questing fingers. “Don’t tickle someone when they’re stretching. That’s so unfair.”

“Sorry.” Andrew ran his hands up a bit farther, loving the feel of Harry’s flat belly. “If we stay in, we’ll only fall asleep.”

“Speak for yourself. I’ve got plenty of stamina.”

“Good. I have plans for later.”

Harry raised his eyebrows. “Do you, now?”

“Yes. Go splash some water on your face so it doesn’t look like you just woke up.”

“What about you? You’re hardly the picture of alertness.” Harry gestured at him as if it was obvious from Andrew’s face that he had been asleep.

When Andrew looked in the mirror, he saw why—he had cushion creases down one cheek. He rubbed at them, but they weren’t going away any time soon. Oh well, good job Harry was a sure thing.

“You ready?” Harry wandered back into the living room looking fresher than he had any right to considering he’d not long woken up.

Maybe they should stay in…. Andrew let his gaze drop to where Harry’s jeans hugged his thighs and his crotch. God, they were tight. He glanced back up to find Harry watching him. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They grabbed their coats and hats, and left for the pub. Andrew shivered as soon as they got outside. The frigid air was a shock to his system after being in the warmth all day.

“Look at the sky.” Harry stopped and looked up.

Andrew followed suit, and sighed. It was a beautiful clear night, and even with all the light pollution, there were so many stars out. “I was really hoping for a white Christmas, but I don’t think there’s much chance of that.”

“Probably not.” Harry nudged him and they started walking. “I’m glad it’s not raining, though.”

“God yes. That would have sucked.”

Their arms bumped as they walked. Andrew wondered what Harry felt about PDA. He hooked his fingers with Harry’s, holding his breath. “This okay?”

Harry glanced down at their joined hands and tightened his grip, giving Andrew’s hand a squeeze. He nodded, and when he met Andrew’s gaze, his smile was warm. “Yeah.”

As they walked down the road hand in hand, Andrew marvelled again at how easy it all was. Plenty of people were about, but no one paid them much attention. They got the odd curious look and a few smiles, but on Christmas Eve people were far too busy being happy and excited to bother about a couple of men holding hands. If only it were like that all the time.

They heard the pub before they saw it. Christmas songs blasted out into the night air, and even though it was bloody freezing, people stood outside under the heaters. Andrew nudged Harry as he spotted Alex and Lewis in a group of people. They were singing loudly and swaying. “Looks like they started early.”

Harry groaned as Lewis spotted them and waved vigorously, nearly spilling his pint on Alex. “I have a feeling they’ve been here since about two.”

“Oh God.” Andrew laughed. “This should be fun.”

Everyone greeted them loudly with drunken grins and raised their half-empty glasses. Harry introduced Andrew to the three people Andrew didn’t know and then gestured to their pint glasses. “Who wants a drink?”

Alex shook his head and pointed at the double doors leading into the pub. “Jason just went in to buy a round. Go see if he’s ordered yet.”

Harry turned to Andrew, resting his hand on Andrew’s bicep. “Are you coming?”

Before Andrew had chance to nod or say yes, Alex wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in tight to his side. “Nooo, Andrew needs to stay here. I want to talk to him about Abi.”

Andrew rolled his eyes but waved Harry off when he hesitated. “It’s fine. Go get me a pint of Kronenbourg.”

Alex was a big guy, and it was cold outside despite the numerous heaters dotted around, so it wasn’t exactly a hardship to cuddle up against him. Andrew shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to face him. “What do you want to know?”

By the time Harry came back carrying four plastic pint glasses with Jason in tow, Andrew had all but set Alex and Abi up on a date after Christmas. He’d given him her phone number—after checking with Abi first—and passed Alex’s on to her. After that he refused to get involved, telling Alex it was up to him now.

Alex had grinned happily and hugged Andrew tighter until he was virtually crushed against Alex’s chest. Harry took one look at them, laughed loudly at the way Andrew’s hat was hanging half off his head.

“I leave you alone for five minutes and look at you.” Harry handed the remaining two pints to him and then fixed Andrew’s hat, pulling it snugly down over his ears. “There. Now you won’t freeze.” Andrew raised his eyebrows, because they were outside. In December. Drinking cold lager. “Well, at least your ears will be warm.”

They stayed outside chatting until Alex and his mates finished their drinks.

“Right”—Alex rubbed his gloved hands together—“next pub.” He glanced over at Harry. “Are you two coming?”

Harry shook his head. “Nah, I think we’re gonna stay here for a few and then head back home.” Alex gave him a filthy, knowing look and winked at Andrew. Harry laughed. “I’m not sure you should be drinking any more, you pissed bastard.” Harry pulled him into a hug and slapped him on the back. “Have a good Christmas, Alex. I’ll see you in a few days.” After a round of hugs and goodbyes, only Harry, Andrew, and Jason were left.

Andrew stamped his feet to get some feeling back in them. “Can we go inside now? It’s bloody freezing out here.”

“I’m going to head off too.” Jason downed the last of his drink, which Andrew noticed was a Coke, and set the glass on one of the outside tables. “I’ve got to pick up Karen and then we’re going into town.” He clapped Andrew on the shoulder and smiled. “Happy Christmas.” The accompanying look he gave him was a sort of “I’m happy for you, but hurt him and I’ll end you” look and not something you associated with a Christmas greeting.

“Happy Christmas.” Andrew hoped his own expression conveyed “Noted, but it’s none of your business. Harry can take care of himself.” Or maybe the cold was getting to him and it was all in his head.

He drank the rest of his
very cold
beer and waited for Harry and Jason to finish hugging. “Now can we go in?”

“Yes, come on, then.” Harry gave him a gentle push towards the doors. “I never realised you were such a delicate flower.”

“Fuck off. It must be below zero out here.”

Andrew sighed in relief as they walked inside and the warmth hit him. But Jesus, as cold as it had been outside, it was bloody roasting in there. Andrew hurried to shed as many layers as he could while following Harry to a table along the far wall. It was high, with bar stools for seats, and Andrew piled his hat, coat, gloves, and scarf onto one of the spare ones and then watched Harry do the same.

“Is this better?” Harry asked.

The feeling was finally returning to Andrew’s fingers and his toes, so he nodded. “Yes. Hopefully I won’t lose any limbs now.”

He went to the bar, and when he got back, drinks in hand, he found Harry waiting for him with a big smile. “What?”

Harry pointed up at the ceiling—a bunch of mistletoe hung there. Andrew glanced around the pub at where other bunches hung at various spots on the ceiling, but the one above them looked slightly different, more alive than the others. It reminded him of the one that had mysteriously appeared outside his door. “It’s like it followed us,” he blurted.

Harry made a strangled sort of sound, then tried to cover it with a cough. Andrew was about to question Harry on it, but Harry was up and out of his seat and taking the drinks out of Andrew’s hands. He set them on the table and pulled Andrew in for a kiss.

It was hot and a little dirty, and over far too quickly for Andrew’s liking. But they were in the middle of a busy pub. He glanced around to see if anyone was looking—not that he was especially bothered, but he didn’t want tonight marred by some homophobic arsehole lurking nearby. He caught the odd disdainful look, but he and Harry were far from the only ones taking advantage of the mistletoe.

He shrugged and sat down, feeling foolish now about his mistletoe comment. Harry smiled at him, his lips red from their enthusiastic kiss, and Andrew was struck by how happy he was in this moment. He reached over and linked their fingers together. “I’m glad we got to know one another.” Glancing down at their joined hands, Andrew felt the need to apologise again. “I’m sorry for thinking you were a bit of a twat.”

Harry laughed softly and gave Andrew’s fingers a quick squeeze, then let go to take a drink of his pint. “It’s fine. I was a bit of a twat. It’s just…. I really fancied you, and it made me kind of nervous, so I always came out with stupid shit.”

Andrew laughed at that. “Yeah, the tables have turned. I’m the one who comes out with stupid shit now, not you.” Harry’s face fell. “Hey.” He went to grab Harry’s hand again, but he was already standing up.

“I’ll be back in a sec.” Harry gestured over his shoulder, basically to the wall, and muttered, “Toilet.”

Then he was gone, leaving Andrew sitting there and wondering what the hell had just happened.

CHAPTER TEN

Harry’s heart was going a mile a minute as he stumbled his way through the pub to the toilets. He didn’t need to piss, but it was the first thing that came to mind. The door to the main pub closed behind him, muting the sound of Christmas cheer, and he slumped back against the wall in the hallway. What the fuck had he been thinking? Of course Andrew liked him now he could talk like a normal person and not just blurt out the first inane thing that popped into his head.

But that wasn’t Harry; that was Melia and her magic. He thought about the guy in Waterstones and the easy way he chatted and made Andrew laugh. Maybe Andrew deserved someone like that? Harry couldn’t remember the last time he’d said something that made him cringe, but only because the magic always prevented it. It had given him a false sense of security. He’d wooed Andrew with Melia’s help and when she took it all away—which she would because Harry couldn’t imagine her sticking around for ever—what would happen then? Would Andrew realise what a fuck-up he was and decide Harry wasn’t worth his time? Harry would be devastated. Andrew was the best thing to ever happen to him, and as unwise as it might be, Harry was already heavily invested in their relationship. He liked Andrew a lot. More than a lot.

Fuck.

He contemplated calling Jason, the only person he could possibly talk to about this, but Jason was out with his girlfriend as it was Christmas Eve. Harry didn’t want to ruin his night by panicking over the phone at him.

God, Andrew was probably wondering where he’d got to, but Harry couldn’t bring himself to go back inside yet. He might end up spilling the whole story, and then Andrew would think he was crazy. Maybe a bit of fresh air would help.

He walked down to the end of the hall, past the toilets, and out through the door to the car park. Bloody hell, he’d forgotten how cold it was, and his coat and everything were inside. Tucking his hands under his armpits to keep warm, Harry lasted all of two minutes before deciding that was enough fresh air.

And he really needed to piss.

The toilets were surprisingly busy, and it took him a longer than he expected to go and relieve himself. When he finally came back out into the hallway, the door to the main part of the pub opened, letting sounds of loud laughter and music spill through. For one second Harry wondered if it was Andrew coming to see where he’d got to, but when he glanced up, he saw a familiar shock of purple hair. He tensed and plastered himself against the wall as though that would make him invisible.

Melia walked towards him, dressed in a silver vest and tight black jeans. She looked like any other girl out having fun, except for the way her eyes sparkled when she met his gaze. “What are you doing out here?” She eyed the way he hugged the wall and sighed, full of exasperation as if Harry were the worst thing ever. “I’m not that scary, am I?”

“You can do magic,” Harry replied, incredulous. “Of course you’re scary.”

“But I’ve done nothing but help you.” She pouted. Actually
pouted
, with her full bottom lip stuck right out.

Despite his heart still pounding in fright, she made Harry feel guilty. “Sorry?”

She waved him away and frowned at him. Now that was more like it.

“Why have you left poor Andrew sitting in there looking like someone killed his dog? It’s Christmas Eve. Aren’t you supposed to be happy and full of excitement? I thought this was a time of celebration for your people?”

Harry ignored the reference to
your people
. He couldn’t cope with the significance of that comment at the minute. He sighed. “Don’t you know why? You always know everything else.”

Melia smirked. “Of course I know. I just want you to explain it to me, so you can see how ridiculous you sound.” She waited, tapping her foot on the floor until Harry blew out a frustrated breath.