Holiday Gridlock Read online

  A NineStar Press Publication

  www.ninestarpress.com

  Holiday Gridlock

  ISBN: 978-1-951057-72-5

  Copyright © 2019 by Gretchen Evans

  Cover Art by Natasha Snow Copyright © 2019

  Published in November, 2019 by NineStar Press, New Mexico, USA.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact NineStar Press at [email protected].

  Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content, which may only be suitable for mature readers.

  Holiday Gridlock

  Cruised, Book Two

  Gretchen Evans

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  December 17th

  December 23rd

  December 24th

  December 25th

  December 26th

  December 27th

  January 1st

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  To all the coffee shops I have loved, but especially Cup a Joe, Sir Walter, and Morning Times.

  December 17th

  PRESSURE SQUEEZED GABE’S sinuses like a vice. A vice might be too extreme. More like he’d walked into a wall repeatedly, and now his entire face ached.

  He blew his nose for the hundredth time. It wasn’t much relief. The best he could do was snuggle deeper into the nest of blankets he’d assembled on his couch and pray for the sweet release of death.

  The scratch of a key turning the old, cheap lock on his front door roused him. The light coming through the blinds had dimmed a lot, and the Netflix “Are you still watching?” glared at him from the TV. He must have dozed off watching Planet Earth. Thank God for Nyquil.

  No point in getting up. Only one person had a key to his apartment: Mark. If it wasn’t Mark, that meant someone was picking his lock and planned to rob him. Good. They could take whatever they wanted as long as they took this damn cold too.

  “Hello!” Mark called from the hall.

  Gabe managed to sit up, sort of. “In here,” he called out, voice cracking.

  Mark appeared in the living room doorway wearing a devastatingly handsome three-piece gray suit. Gabe was sick, not dead. He could appreciate his sexy boyfriend in almost any state. Mark gripped a brown paper Whole Foods bag in his hand.

  His boyfriend. It was a thrill to think about. How often did a gorgeous, successful man you met on a hookup app turn out to actually be gorgeous and successful? And then be as interested in you as you were in him? Their early days of hooking up in public bathrooms—and one memorable time, a parking lot—were behind them. But those were some nice memories.

  They had gone from an awkward “hey, let’s try this” to practically living in each other’s back pockets in only a few months. Gabe hadn’t had many relationships and sometimes felt a little lost at sea. But when Mark was with him, that didn’t seem to matter.

  Mark’s legs were long, and Gabe’s apartment was small, so it only took a couple steps for Mark to reach him. He dropped the groceries on the battered coffee table and bent to kiss the top of Gabe’s curls.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Gabe pulled himself up to sit a little higher. “Like shit.”

  Smiling, Mark smoothed back Gabe’s hair. Gabe stretched into it like a cat begging to be petted. It didn’t make his nightmare of a cold go away any faster, but it certainly made him feel better. He didn’t want Mark to stop but… “You’re going to get sick.”

  “Maybe, but I take my vitamins.” Mark pulled away, picking up the grocery bag as he walked toward the kitchen. “I brought you dinner.”

  Food sounded unappealing. He couldn’t taste anything. Couldn’t smell anything. It was like putting cardboard in his mouth.

  Mark slung his jacket over the top of the lonely stool Gabe had at his breakfast bar, leaving him in white shirtsleeves and a vest that hugged his waist perfectly. He propped himself against the counter, rolling up his sleeves. Gabe could see the bulge of the veins in Mark’s forearms from the couch.

  “I’m cheating a little.” He pulled a plastic tub with something gross-looking sloshing against its sides and a shrink-wrapped pack of chicken cut into bite-size pieces from the bag. “Premade stock and precooked chicken. Good chicken soup takes time, so we’ll make do with this. Add some fresh vegetables and noodles and it’s almost like the real thing.”

  There was nothing like seeing a man who made your heart pound, dressed like that, proposing to make nearly homemade chicken soup just because you were sick. How could Gabe say no to dinner now?

  He watched through the tiny opening between the breakfast bar and the kitchen as Mark quietly went about his business. Mark knew where the pots and pans were, where the cutting board and sharpest knife were kept. He knew to use the front left burner because the others were bent and the pot would wobble. Gabe hadn’t realized Mark paid so much attention to his dingy little kitchen.

  They cooked dinner together often, but usually at Mark’s much nicer condo. His kitchen had granite countertops and an oven that didn’t burn things. Watching Mark move so effortlessly around Gabe’s space settled something warm and heavy in Gabe’s chest. Something that wasn’t congestion.

  He must have dozed off again because suddenly Mark nudged his elbow with one hand and held out a steaming bowl of soup with the other.

  “Here. Eat some soup and drink some water; then you can go back to sleep.”

  Gabe sat up, his back against the armrest and legs stretched out in front of him, and took the bowl. The steam felt good against his face as he tried to smell it. “You gonna tuck me in?”

  Mark balanced his own bowl of soup as he lifted Gabe’s legs to sit on the couch. He lowered Gabe’s legs back to his lap and made sure Gabe’s feet were covered before picking up his spoon. “You are far too sick to be lascivious.”

  “Nice SAT word. And anyway, I read an article about how regular sex can help fight off colds.”

  Taking a long moment to bring the spoon to his lips, Mark delayed answering. He shot a wicked grin at Gabe after he swallowed. “I thought you were worried about getting me sick.”

  Touché.

  “How do you feel about sex with hospital masks?”

  “Decidedly unsexy.”

  “Spoil sport.”

  Gabe turned back to his soup. He couldn’t taste it, but it was warm and made his throat feel better. He managed most of it but left a lot of the noodles behind before Mark took the bowl from him.

  Sounds of running water and clinking dishes came from the kitchen as Gabe snuggled down in his blankets. He found the remote wedged between the back of the couch and the cushion and clicked on the Antarctica episode of Planet Earth. That was a good one.

  He hummed as Mark settled on the couch, putting Gabe’s legs in his lap again.

  “This the one with the whales?”

  Gabe hummed again, his eyelids sliding closed.

  “Do you want me to wake you up before I go so you can go to bed? Or do you want to sleep on the couch?” Mark’s voice was quiet, and his palm rubbed circles on Gabe’s calf, which was not going to help him stay awake.

  “How long are you staying?”

  “At least until I see some whales. That’s the only reason I came over.”

  Gabe tried for a playful kick, but even that
took too much energy. It looked more like an uncoordinated leg spasm. Mark laughed at him anyway. Gabe refused to rise to the bait. Instead, he purposefully shut his eyes and went to sleep.

  The next time he came to, it was dark outside, but a soft glow filled his apartment. Mark must have turned on a lamp. Gabe stretched his legs. Mark wasn’t on the couch with him anymore. He must have gone home.

  There was a little dip of sadness in Gabe’s chest at the thought.

  The dip didn’t last long. Mark’s legs came into view next to the couch. Gabe had to crane his neck to see the rest of him.

  “Here.” Mark held out a glass of water and two green pills.

  Gabe didn’t bother to sit up. He could swallow lying down. It was one of his hidden talents. He popped the pills and tilted the glass back. He spilled some on his shirt but couldn’t bring himself to care.

  “How did you know I needed more medicine?”

  Mark perched on the coffee table, resting his elbows on his knees and searching Gabe’s face. “Because I love you, and I pay attention. I’ve been here more than four hours and you haven’t had any. I figured it was time. Are you sure you don’t need to go to a doctor?”

  Mark had been the first to say I love you, but Gabe had said it right back. Since then, Mark dropped casual I love yous every day. Gabe was more reserved, but Mark didn’t seem to mind. Gabe thought Mark knew even though he didn’t say it all the time, he still felt it.

  He took another swig of water, managing not to spill that time. “Nah, it’s only a cold. Give it a couple of days, and I’ll be fine.”

  A deep V creased the skin between Mark’s dark eyebrows, and the small lines around his eyes deepened. Gabe wanted to kiss him. Badly. He started to pull himself up, unsure if he’d actually kiss Mark or not, but at least wanting to be on eye level with him.

  Mark cupped Gabe’s elbow and helped him sit. He didn’t look relieved by Gabe’s change of position. “I’ll take you to the doctor if you need to go. Whenever you need to go.”

  Gabe smiled, but that didn’t seem to convince Mark either. “I’ll be fine. Promise. I already feel better than I did yesterday.”

  He rose slowly as Mark pulled on the blankets wrapped around Gabe, keeping them away from Gabe’s feet so he wouldn’t trip. Mark was good at small things like that. Mark was good at everything.

  He waited, shoulder propped against the bathroom doorway, while Gabe brushed his teeth. Gabe didn’t have the energy to shower or change from one set of sweats to another to sleep in. He wanted to collapse, face first, on the bed. Instead, Gabe let Mark pull back the covers and usher him in. Like he was a child.

  It didn’t feel patronizing or condescending. It was comforting.

  “You know, I could do this every night if you’d move in with me,” Mark teased.

  Bringing up an ongoing argument with one party sick was unfair.

  “You’re taking advantage of my weakened state.” Gabe rolled on his side and hugged a pillow to his chest. “Besides, you could do this every night if you moved in here too.”

  Mark sat on the bed, tucked up against the bend in Gabe’s knees. “My place is closer to work.”

  Gabe snorted. “You don’t seem to mind the drive anymore.”

  “Yeah, but I’d rather have you at home, in a nice big bed on clean sheets, than in a bathroom.” He rubbed his broad palm from Gabe’s knee to his hip. The heat of it soaked through straight to Gabe’s skin.

  “You didn’t complain before.” Gabe’s head pounded. He wanted to go to sleep, and to get out of this conversation.

  Mark’s hand smoothed back down to his knee. “No complaints from me, just promise me you’re considering it.”

  Of course Gabe was considering it. Mark first mentioned it weeks ago, around Thanksgiving, and Gabe had shut him down quickly. But the thought kept popping back into Gabe’s mind. He thought of it when his shower ran out of hot water and when his windows rattled in the winter wind. And when he’d started feeling sick without Mark there to take care of him.

  He couldn’t spend all his time with Mark. He couldn’t move in with him.

  And he definitely couldn’t afford the rent in Mark’s neighborhood. But that didn’t stop him from thinking about it.

  Mark pressed a kiss to the crown of Gabe’s head. “I’ll come back tomorrow after work. Sleep and text me if there’s anything you need. Christmas is only eight days away.”

  The bottom dropped out of Gabe’s stomach. Christmas. Meeting Mark’s family for the first time.

  Maybe he’d stay sick all the way to next year. He could get out of it that way.

  Mark kissed him again, stroking his lips across the curve of Gabe’s ear. “Sleep, love.”

  He wasn’t getting out of this.

  December 23rd

  IT WAS POINTLESS to go to work on December 23rd, right? He’d already been out for a week, and it was the last day the office would be open before the holidays. No one would be there anyway.

  But, if no one was there, he might be able to at least catch up on email.

  Gabe sniffed, hard, to keep snot from dripping from his nose.

  Okay, he should go in for half a day, get through the email that had piled up while he was sick, then come home to rest. That would be the responsible thing to do.

  He managed a clean pair of khakis and a very wrinkled sweater from a basket of clean laundry that had been sitting on the floor since before the stupid cold had knocked him out. They smelled a little stale but better than dirty clothes. Nudging the basket with his toe, Gabe thought about putting it away.

  Responsibly going to work, actually putting away his laundry. Mark was really starting to rub off on him. He’d do it when he got home from work.

  Gabe needed to pack anyway. They were leaving for Mark’s mother’s house that evening and wouldn’t be back until the twenty-sixth. Mark, always so calm and levelheaded, had been nearly giddy about visiting for the holidays. His mother only lived a couple hours drive away, but he didn’t seem to visit often, which suddenly struck Gabe with guilt. Mark couldn’t visit his mom if he spent all his weekends, all his evenings, with Gabe.

  Meeting the family made Gabe’s stomach twist and his skin break out in a cold sweat, but he owed this to Mark.

  His phone pinged with a message.

  Good morning, love.

  A picture of Mark stretched out on dark-blue sheets, shirtless, with bedhead and a sultry smile, appeared next.

  Glad you’re feeling better. I miss having you here when I wake up.

  A smile spread across Gabe’s face until his cheeks ached. He didn’t owe this to Mark; he wanted to give it to Mark. He wanted to meet Mark’s family, even if it terrified him, because it made Mark happy.

  And because he loved Mark. There was no other way to describe how Gabe felt every time he was with Mark. Every time they texted. Even when they were apart, he felt love like a gaping hole in his chest. He didn’t think that was just his cold. If he weren’t so stupidly happy, he would say it was awful.

  He snapped a quick, terrible selfie and sent it to Mark. It must be love if he was willing to send pics that didn’t highlight his best attributes with dramatic lighting.

  trying work see u tonight

  Stupidly, stupidly happy.

  “WE DON’T HAVE to go,” Mark said, as soon as he opened his front door.

  Gabe didn’t think he looked that awful. Going to work might have been a bad idea, but he’d left early and taken a nap before coming to Mark’s. He hadn’t managed to put away his laundry though.

  He ignored Mark’s comment. “Sorry, can’t find my key.”

  Mark moved aside to let Gabe step into the wide-open living space that took up most of Mark’s condo. Windows with some sort of fancy electronic blackout shades that came down from the ceiling took up an entire wall. The kitchen and living room were divided by a large table made of real wood, which they never sat at. Everything was dark wood and gleaming silver.

  “You could
keep it on your keyring, like a normal person.”

  Gabe waved him off, dropping his duffle bag next to the table. He’d had a key to Mark’s apartment for months, like Mark had to his, but it felt strange to put it next to his own key. Like it belonged there. Like it was permanent. An uncomfortable mix of hope and anxiety kept him from making that jump. It felt more real than exchanging keys.

  Exchanging keys was utilitarian. It kept one person from getting up off the couch every time the other person came over. It was laziness. Keeping keys was a commitment.

  Wrapping his arms around Gabe from behind, Mark kissed the back of Gabe’s neck. “If you’re not feeling up to it, we don’t have to go.”

  All Gabe wanted for Christmas was to get out of awkward conversations that left him feeling unsettled and guilty.

  “I’m fine. A little stuffy, but I’m not contagious. I’ll take some cold meds and probably sleep more than usual.” He squeezed Mark’s hands where they locked around his waist. “Promise, I’m up for it.”

  Mark kissed the back of his neck again, this time with a slight flick of his tongue. Something about what he’d said suddenly struck Gabe.

  “Wait, even if I couldn’t go, you’d still go without me. Right? It’s not that we don’t have to go.”

  He tried to turn in Mark’s arms, but Mark held him too tightly. Mark’s hands started to roam and made their way under Gabe’s sweater to stroke across his stomach. The scratch of Mark’s beard against Gabe’s neck as he dragged his mouth forward to kiss the spot under Gabe’s ear was more than distracting.

  “No, I’d stay here and nurse you back to health. Like a good boyfriend should,” Mark teased.

  Guilt washed over Gabe again. He wouldn’t be the reason Mark didn’t see his family for Christmas. He really was fine.

  “We’re going. Both of us. If I make a bad impression on your mom by sneezing all over Christmas dinner, oh well.”

  Mark’s laugh, low and deep, reverberated against Gabe’s jaw, sending warm tendrils of want to his toes. “My mom will love you.” He pressed on Gabe’s hip, encouraging Gabe to turn in his arms.