Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I tore off the wrapping, and Noah raised the lid and grinned as he joked, “You got us paperwork.”
I picked up the official-looking document and started to read it, and then I looked up at Hudson and whispered, “Oh my god. You bought Noah and me the building that our business is in.”
He looked down at his folded hands and said shyly, “I didn’t know how to present it, or what to wrap besides the deed, but yeah. I did. You two were concerned about what would happen when your lease ran out next year, and now you don’t have to worry.”
I grabbed him in a hug and exclaimed, “This is the most thoughtful gift ever, Sonny! But your name should be on the deed, too. You’re our silent partner, and the business is yours as much as it is ours.”
“Nah. It’s your thing, yours and Noah’s,” he said, as I let go of him and Noah gave him a hug.
“Thank you! I’m just blown away by this,” Noah said. “I can’t even imagine how much it must have cost.”
Hudson shrugged and looked a little embarrassed. “I used the trust fund I got when I turned twenty-five. I know that sounds ridiculously spoiled, but I’m glad I was able to do this for you.”
Noah glanced at the document and pointed out, “You bought it for us before we were a throuple.”
Hudson nodded. “It wasn’t contingent on the three of us getting together or anything. It was just my way of taking care of the two people who mean the most to me in this world.”
I teared up and grabbed him in another embrace and said, “You’re amazing, Sonny. I wish I had stronger words than thank you to tell you how grateful I am.”
He hated being the center of attention like this, so when I let go of him and dried my eyes, he murmured, “Can we open some more presents?”
I got up and gathered some boxes from under the tree. As I handed them two gifts each and sat back down on the couch, Hudson told me, “You already gave us this vacation.”
I shrugged and explained, “These are just for fun. I wanted you to have stuff to unwrap on Christmas morning.” They tore off the wrapping paper to reveal boxes of fancy Belgian chocolates, and a game for each of them. I’d gotten Twister for Noah, and a rare Murder She Wrote board game for Hudson, which I’d stumbled across in a thrift shop. Hudson had started binging that show a couple of months ago and was low-key obsessed. “I thought we could play the games together while we’re here at the cabin,” I added. “Naked Twister with the three of us sounded like a damn good time.”
They were all smiles as they thanked me. Then Noah got up and said, “My turn. So, my gifts to you come with a disclaimer—you’re going to accuse me of being a hipster, but this is about sharing something I truly love with both of you.”
He placed a big, wrapped box on the coffee table before handing us a pair of large gift bags. Hudson told me to go ahead and open the box, which was for both of us, and I tore off the paper to reveal a portable record player. The gift bags turned out to be full of vintage vinyl albums, and I exclaimed, “I love this, thank you! I want to play one right now.”
Hudson started to unbox the record player as he said, “This is really cool. Thank you, Noah.”
Our boyfriend looked really pleased as he murmured, “I’m so glad you like it.”
We spent all day in our pajamas, playing board games, eating way too much good food, and listening to records. We also talked, and kissed, and cuddled in front of the fire, and after dinner I said softly, “This was perfect. Can we celebrate Christmas like this every year?”
Hudson looked up from the back of the album cover he was reading and asked, “Which part?”
“All of it—pajamas, a cabin, games, music.”
“Absolutely,” Noah said. “It’s not over yet, though. Hudson and I still have a surprise for you.”
I sat up and asked, “You do?”
Noah nodded, and both he and Hudson got up. “We just need a couple of minutes to get ready. Wait here.” They both seemed excited as they hurried to the bedroom.
When they returned, they were dressed in sweaters and jeans, along with the knit hats and scarves I’d given them. Noah was carrying a cardboard box, which he placed on an end table as Hudson moved an upholstered chair to the center of the room.
They asked me to take a seat, so I moved to the chair and clapped my hands with delight as Noah turned the box around. On the back of it, they’d written: Christmas Variety Show (because we love you, Kel).