A Christmas Reunion (Gay Romance) E-Book

Trina Solet

• Herausgeber: Trina Solet
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Sparks fly when Holden and Ryan meet up again for the holidays after years of being apart.
Holden and his little boy are Christmas shopping when they run into Ryan. He is more gorgeous than ever, and Holden thinks a hot guy like that could never be interested in an ordinary guy with a kid.
On the other hand, Ryan always thought Holden was straight. But now that he's back in Ryan's life, Holden has a few things to tell him.
After believing they could only be friends, they might be ready to finally share their real feelings. As they reconnect and rediscover each other, they spend the holidays together and become inseparable. But are they ready for a lifetime with each other? Can they really become a family?

Leseprobe

A Christmas Reunion (Gay Romance) By Trina Solet

Copyright © 2018 by Trina Solet

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales or actual events is entirely coincidental.

All sexual activity takes place between persons eighteen years of age or older.

This novel contains material intended for mature readers.

Cover image is only for illustrative purposes. Any person depicted is a model.

A Christmas Reunion

Gay Romance

Trina Solet

Chapter 1

It was a sunny, winter day, just right for spending some time outdoors. After he finished work on a new marketing campaign, Ryan decided to go into town and walk around Lafayette Plaza and see if he could get some Christmas shopping done. At first he didn't have much luck. All he did was browse. Trying to decide where to go next, he scanned the storefronts up ahead.

That's where Ryan saw them. He just stopped in the middle of the busy sidewalk and stared while people rushed past him loaded down with their holiday shopping. A bearded man and a little boy were looking at a window display, and Ryan couldn't take his eyes off the man. Despite the beard, it really was him.

Holden was so gorgeous with his gray eyes and dark hair and that beard, which did look good on him. He had a little boy by his side, maybe six years old. A cute kid with dark eyes and light brown hair, he had to be Holden's son though there wasn't much of a resemblance. The boy looked eagerly all around at the storefronts festively decorated for the holidays. No one else was with them, but Ryan could guess that by now Holden and Nicky must be married, and that little boy must be their son.

Ryan's chest tightened at the thought that Holden was taken, forever out of his reach, but he forced a deep breath into his lungs and plastered on a smile. His cheerful facade went up just in time. Holden had noticed him. On seeing him, Holden's eyes went wide while he smiled so big and bright that he made Ryan's heart ache for him all over again.

Now Holden was coming toward him, extending his hand, smiling the whole time. "I can't believe it. Ryan, it's so good to see you."

"You're a much bigger surprise," Ryan told him.

"Yeah, I moved back to town. This is my son, Jordan. Jordy, this is a friend of mine, Ryan."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Jordan said before Ryan could.

"I wanted to say it first. Nice to meet you too," Ryan told him.

Holden laughed. "We've been meeting a lot of new people since we came here and moved into our new apartment. He's had a lot of practice. Do you live here in town?"

"I have a little house out in Sherrydale with a home office. It's a nice area," Ryan told him like he expected he might want to visit, or maybe move in. "So what are you guys up to."

Jordan answered for them. "Christmas shopping!"

"I'm keeping you from important stuff then," Ryan said. He hated to end this encounter, but he didn't want to hold them up, not when Jordan was rearing to go.

"No, you're not keeping us," Holden said. "The stores will be open for a while. Actually we were going to grab something to eat. Jordy needs an after school snack. Do you want to join us?"

"I'm in first grade," Jordan bragged. "Want to have a snack with us?"

"I could have a snack," Ryan said, glad that he would get to spend a little more time with Holden and his little boy.

They walked around the plaza at a leisurely pace, and that suited Ryan just fine. His mind was still trying to catch up to seeing Ryan again and his heart was beating too fast. It was just like in college. He didn't know how to not get carried away around that man.

Strolling side by side, looking for a place to eat that wasn't too crowded, they came across a storefront display of leather goods. Jordan stopped when he noticed a pair of light blue gloves. "Does mom like that color?"

Holden had to think about it. "We'll ask Grandma, but Nicky might not need too many warm things. We'll see."

Ryan thought that was a little odd, but he didn't want to ask. Why didn't she need warm things? Ryan was freezing.

"It needs to snow more," Jordan said as they walked on and he pointed to the piles of slush here and there, all that was left from the last snowfall.

Sunny but with a sharp bite of winter in the air, the day was bright with sunlight gleaming off windows with their Christmas themed displays. The streets were crowded with shoppers, but the three of them stuck together and then made their way inside a place called Flamewich. They specialized in sandwiches grilled over an open flame, and Ryan couldn't think of anything better to warm them up. He really wasn't a fan of cold weather. He felt like he wouldn't warm up properly until June.

Pretty soon they were walking out of there with their orders wrapped in brown paper and smelling delicious. Jordan got a chicken melt, and Holden a fire grilled tomato and cheese. The smoky smell of the place pushed Ryan over the edge, and he had to have a bacon with swiss on rye. He liked to eat healthy and keep fit, so he vowed to make it up to his body with some extra laps through the neighborhood even if that meant freezing to death.

Nodding toward some store windows that were decorated with painted on snowmen and Santas, Jordan said to his dad, "We should do that to our windows!"

"Who should? I barely managed to paint some clouds," Holden told his little boy.

"Dad put clouds in my room when he was painting," Jordan explained to Ryan.

"Sounds nice," Ryan told him, but he wondered about his mom. Why didn't she help with the painting? Ryan remembered that Nicky wanted to study fashion design and that she sketched Holden once. Ryan coveted that sketch so much. It was good and Holden was so beautiful. She could definitely draw more than a cloud.

Ryan was dying to ask about her, but he hesitated in case it was a thorny subject that might upset Jordan.

Eating and walking, they made their way through the plaza, just window-shopping until they reached a toy store and Jordan came to a screeching halt in front. His pleading face told them that he absolutely had to go in or he would burst. They were just about done eating, and Jordan finished his last two bites in a hurry.

Holden turned to Ryan. "Do you mind if we go in here?"

"It's fine. I can get something for my brother," Ryan said jokingly, but Holden looked confused.

"Isn't your brother older than you? Do you have another brother?"

"No. Just the one. My brother, Todd, is actually married now. I still can't believe it. And they're talking about starting a family. He's going to have the same maturity level as his kids. They'll love him," Ryan predicted.

"Having a kid is great. I can vouch for that," Holden said and he smiled at Jordan, who was huffing impatiently, waiting to go inside. After a nod from his dad, he pulled the toy store door open so they could all go in.

It didn't take long for Jordan to pick out the things he wanted, but there was always something more. "I want too many things," Jordan said.

To keep him from feeling overwhelmed, Ryan made a proposition. "You can help me shop for my brother." Ryan got his phone out and found that video of Todd trying to do a back flip and then falling into a kiddy pool at his neighbors' house.

Jordan laughed but Holden wasn't amused. "That looks dangerous." Holden was such a parent now.

"I told you his kids would love him," Ryan said.

"I can find something good for that guy," Jordan assured him now that he knew what kind of guy Todd was. Taking his mission seriously, he stalked the isles on a hunt for a perfect gift for Todd.

The first thing he came across was a small trampoline. Jordan jumped in place and pointed to it excitedly. Todd would love it too, and then he would break something and end up in the hospital.

Ryan hated to burst Jordan's bubble, but it had to be done. "A trampoline is the last thing Todd needs. Something safer."

Deflated, Jordan pouted a little then pushed on. Soon he found something else that got him excited. "This. He can have fun with them and not hurt himself," Jordan said while showing him a set of plastic bowling pins with funny faces and two angry looking balls.

"That does look like fun," Ryan said. "I'm buying that."

Jordan looked so happy, but Holden was skeptical. "Really?"

Waiting until Jordan was busy with another toy, Ryan leaned closer to Holden so he could tell him his plan. Being so near him, Ryan had a lot of trouble concentrating, but he managed to say, "This isn't for Todd, but it did give me an idea for what to get him. I'll get Todd a real bowling set he can use in his yard."

"What are you going to do with this one?" Holden wondered eyeing the funny looking bowling set.

"Can I give it to Jordan as a thank you for giving me the idea?" Ryan asked.

"You don't have to do that," Holden told him.

"I'd really like to, if you don't mind," Ryan said. Now that he had met Jordan he felt bad about the way he used to think about Holden and Nicky's child. To him, their baby was the reason Holden disappeared from his life. Seeing the actual little boy made him feel regretful for his attitude. Since he couldn't say the words without saying too much, this small gift was his way of apologizing.

Holden looked unsure, but then he relented. "Thank you. That's really nice of you."

"We'll make it a surprise, right? Is it OK to mail it to you?" Ryan asked, keeping his voice down.

"I'm sure we'll see each other again. Or maybe you're going away for the holidays?" Holden said and his brow furrowed.

"I'll be in town," Ryan said and Holden smiled.

"Then we should get together again, maybe for coffee tomorrow so we can catch up?" Holden stared at Ryan like he thought there was a chance he might refuse.

There was no chance of that. Ryan would have cleared his schedule no matter what. "Sure. Let's meet up for lunch," Ryan said so he could get a little more time with him.

"Great. I'm in the Summerset building so..."

Ryan cut in with an idea. "Ando's is near there. We can get something spicy to warm us up."

"Sounds good. We'll meet for lunch," Holden said and gave him another great smile.

They were staring at each other for a long moment before they noticed that someone else had joined their staring contest. It was Jordan. He had come over to give his dad a very serious look. "I think I need more presents, Dad."

At the end of the day, they got some shopping done and Ryan got a taste of something he could never have. If only he could stop wanting Holden. They said goodbye and Ryan left for home with a warm feeling inside. The whole time driving to his house, he told himself to stop dreaming, to face reality.

His mind went back to his first year of college, meeting Holden and falling for him more every day. Holden was straight though, but Ryan held out some hope that maybe he wasn't. He convinced himself that he saw hints of something, signs of attraction in Holden's mysterious, gray eyes.

Nicky was just Holden's best friend then and Ryan liked her too. The three of them sometimes hung out together, and Ryan never noticed there was anything going on between her and Holden. Or maybe he didn't want to see.

Then he heard the news. No. It was only a rumor and he refused to believe it. But it turned out to be true. Nicky was pregnant with Holden's child. The truth of it hit Ryan hard, so hard that he left for the summer without speaking to Holden about it.

It was unthinkable to stay in town and see them together, and he couldn't really be happy for them. It hurt too much that they were having a baby and that they were going to be a family. It hurt to know he would never have that with Holden, that he would never be his. Ryan was stupid to fall for him so hard when Holden could never feel the same way.

The whole summer, he licked his wounds, nursed his broken heart and didn't stay in touch and neither did Holden. When Ryan came back at the beginning of the term, Holden and Nicky had moved away to start their new life together.

For the thousandth time, Ryan tried to remind himself that he didn't lose Holden because he never had him. But that feeling of loss was still with him. He just couldn't shake the dream of him, that hopeless yearning that just wouldn't die.

And now Holden was back in town with his little boy. Jordan was such a sweet kid, and Holden was a happy dad. As for Ryan and Holden, they were just not meant to be, but maybe they could be friends.

Tomorrow he would get to see Holden again, and test out that idea. Was he going to a casual lunch with an old friend, or was it an invitation for Holden to turn his whole world upside down?

Chapter 2

"Look. We did good shopping today," Jordy said to the doorman, Mr. Dodd, as they went into the lobby of their apartment building.

"Do you need any help with your packages, Mr. Bauer?" Mr. Dodd asked Holden.

Jordy answered for him. "No. Dad has me to help him."

"You mean 'no thank you'," Holden told him.

"No thank you, Mr. Dodd!" Jordy called out as they went to the elevators. Once inside, he stood on his toes so he could press the button for the 11th floor.

Going up, Holden kept smiling to himself. Running into Ryan Donnelly did that to him. He was such an incredible guy, and not just because he was so tall and good-looking. Those piercing blue eyes, sandy hair and chiseled features still haunted Holden's dreams even after not seeing him for more than six years. Now just casually spending a little time with him had put Holden in this stupid, happy trance.

All through that evening and afterward when he was supervising some homework Jordy remembered at the last minute, Holden didn't regain his equilibrium. Why was he getting carried away after one chance meeting? He never had a shot at Ryan any more than he did back in their college days. Holden knew that, but the sweet feeling of spending time with him just wouldn't go away.

Though he was lost in thought, Holden noticed that Jordy had a crafty look on his face. "What's up?" Holden asked him.

"Nothing," Jordy said, but he was acting guilty.

They were supposed to be watching a little TV together before Jordy went to bed, but only his kid was paying attention to what was on the screen. As Holden started to pay attention too, he realized what time it was. Seeing it was ten minutes past his bedtime, he gave Jordy a sideways look.

"So you know it's past your bedtime," he said.

"Maybe," Jordy said.

"That earns you a scratchy kiss," Holden told him and he kissed his little face and made him squeal.

"Scratchy!"

All set to send Jordy to go get ready for bed, Holden saw that he had a call. It was Hailey, his younger sister. This year he was worried he might not even see her over the holidays. Lansdale was the last place she wanted to be. When it was time for her to go to college, she couldn't wait to get away from their parents. And once she made her escape, she only came back for quick visits.

Their father had moved away with his second wife. Their mother was the reason Hailey avoided Lansdale. Holden didn't blame her, but he was going to miss his little sister now that she wasn't as likely to visit him. She was the only fully supportive person in his family, so he was always glad to hear from her.

He let her talk to Jordy first, but not for too long. After they chatted for a bit, Jordy went to get his things together for tomorrow.

"He was supposed to be getting ready for bed, but I dropped the ball," Holden said as soon as he was on the phone with her.

"I still can't believe you moved back there. You're a good dad. I couldn't cope with being that close to Mom," Hailey said.

"We aren't next door to Mom. It's a couple of hours drive from here," Holden pointed out.

"Anywhere within a day's drive of Crestwood is too close for me," she said. Crestwood was an exclusive, ritzy community where Mom had a house. Holden still hadn't visited her since their move "Have you made plans to go over there yet?" Hailey wanted to know.

"Not yet. One of these days. Probably around Christmas."

"Just don't let her ruin your holidays," Hailey told him. "How are things going otherwise? You settling in?"

"Getting there. Jordy likes his school. Oh, we ran into Ryan Donnelly when we were out shopping," Holden told her, and just saying his name made his heart beat faster.

"Oh God. How does he look? Still muscley and gorgeous?" Hailey asked eagerly.

"Yes. Maybe even more gorgeous," Holden said as he pictured him the way he had looked today, gray scarf around his neck, coat buttoned up, eyes as blue and clear as a perfect winter sky.

"Ugh. I could never believe you got to be friends with someone so hot. I was so jealous. Have you come out to him yet?" Hailey asked.

"No. And it's not like he would care." Holden sighed. He remembered how eager he had been to tell him back then, but then one thing and then another kept him in the closet. It was just as well. Ryan was out of his league.

"Don't sell yourself short," Hailey told him like she knew what he was thinking. "Maybe he'll fall in love with your beard."

"Is that all I have going for me?" Holden asked her. He did keep in shape, but he was never going to be a stud.

"Depends on whether he's into beards. If he isn't, shave," Hailey advised.

Beard or no beard, Holden knew he didn't stand a chance. "I'm going to get friend-zoned so hard, I just know it. Ryan was really nice though. We're having lunch tomorrow, just to reconnect and catch up."

"Way to go, big bro," Hailey praised him. "You make sure to reconnect with him hard."

"Umm. Yeah."

They ended the call and Holden went to see if Jordy was getting ready for bed or if he got distracted. It was kind of both. Standing on his stepstool in front of the bathroom sink, Jordy was brushing his teeth and looking in the mirror to see the toothpaste foam grow.

"Look how much I..." Jordy started to say and the toothpaste foam blob fell into the sink. "Oh. It's gone. I had a lot of toothpaste bubbles, Dad."

"I saw. Now rinse," Holden told him. Once that was done, he took his son to bed. "Did you put your homework in you backpack?"

"I did, but I ripped one, but only a little," Jordy said as he climbed under the covers. "Today doesn't count as making friends, does it?"

"What?"

"Aunt Hailey said it was good I made friends at school, but you have to make friends too," Jordan explained. "But I don't think Ryan counts, Dad. You said he was your friend already."

"Oh, OK. I'll try to do better," Holden told him with a chuckle.

"Can Ryan be my friend too? He can be my biggest friend of all my friends," Jordy said.

"I don't see why not. Now go to sleep. Goodnight and have a fun, happy dream," Holden told him and kissed his little head.

Holden handed him his Business Bunny to cuddle with. That was a bunny wearing a suit and tie that Hailey had gotten him when Holden got his first corporate job. It wasn't the kind of work he wanted to be doing, but he wanted to give Jordy a good life. A job was just a job, but his kid was everything to him.

As Holden turned off the light, Jordy smiled, scrunched up in bed and hugged his pillow and his bunny. He was such a joy to Holden and worth every deception and every sacrifice he made for him.

Chapter 3

As he walked to meet Ryan for lunch, Holden was seeing a part of town he hadn't visited since he moved back. He used to know Lansdale so well from running around town to escape his parents fighting, but six years made a lot of difference.

Even on a freezing cold day like this, plenty of other people were taking advantage of their lunch breaks to do some shopping. Among them he spotted a familiar figure waiting for him right outside the restaurant.

Holden waved then hurried to join him. "You hate the cold and you waited out here for me?"

"I guess I'm not smart enough to get in out of the cold," Ryan joked. "Let's go talk over some food."

Going in, Holden watched Ryan unwind his scarf and unbutton his coat. He was dying to check out his impressive physique as soon as that coat was off, but decided not to ogle him. Or at least not to be so obvious about it. "Thanks for making time to have lunch with me. I know you had to drive into town for this."

"I have to eat too," Ryan said as he pointed out an empty table.

Without staring, Holden took in his broad shoulders and perfectly toned body. Ryan looked amazing. As they sat down and then waited for their orders, they had plenty of stories to exchange. They caught up and shared news about their family and friends then started talking about work.

"You said you work from home," Holden said.

"I work for a marketing firm. I oversee the internet stuff mostly. It can get thorny especially when clients want a big social media push."

"Sounds interesting."

Ryan denied it with a chuckle. "It's not. What about you?"

"I work for HR at Salter Inc." That definitely wasn't interesting.

"Hiring and firing?" Ryan asked.

"Not yet. There's a freeze on firing until after New Years. Firing people around the holidays is bad for PR." Holden talked about the college he transferred to and juggling classes with being a new dad.

"That must have been a huge challenge."

"I had help from Hailey and Nicky's mom. She came over whenever she could. And my dad was helping financially until I got my degree," Holden told him.

"And Nicky?" Ryan said since Holden didn't mention her.

"Nicky and I were never really together," Holden admitted.

"So..." Ryan trailed off like he didn't want to pry.

Holden didn't know how much he should say. He decided to keep it simple. "Things didn't work out, and now I have sole custody of Jordy."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I liked Nicky."

"She was great. She moved to Santa Fe. She's happy there," Holden said.

"And you moved here."

"I came back here for a job and so Jordy could be close to his grandmother. Not my mom. Nicky's mom. She moved back here to take over the family business. She missed Jordy terribly and he missed her. When I needed to find a new job, I saw a chance to relocate back here that way Jordy could spend more time with her."

"I'm glad you're back," Ryan told him and gave him a beaming smile.

Holden smiled right back, feeling so lucky just to be sitting across from someone who looked like him even if they were just friends.