Page 101 of Mr. Frosty Pants

“I will.” He kissed Joel’s chin and then sat back on his heels. “By the way, I hear you and my dad made a bet.”

Joel rolled his eyes.

“I’m making a bet, too. I bet we’ll be together next Christmas, and the one after that, and the one after that, and for dozens of Christmases to come. And, if I’m right, then for every Christmas we’re still together, you have to kneel in front of me and say aloud that you’re sorry you doubted me. You’ll have to say that you know I’ll love you until I die.”

Joel snorted. “That’s absurd. I never doubted you. Not really.”

“And then you’ll have to give me a blow job.”

“Right after I say those things?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Joel shivered, his cock taking interest.

“You like that?”

Joel grumbled, “Maybe.”

“I thought you would.” Casey stood up and put out his hand. “In the meantime, I’d like to seal this bet. Shake on it.”

Joel reluctantly took Casey’s hand and shook.

“And now I want to make love to you.”

Joel rolled his eyes. Who even said “make love to you” anymore? Casey Stevens, that was who. And it made Joel’s insides quiver.

“I need to shower first.”

“Go ahead then.” Casey started back toward Joel’s room, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll be waiting because I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m not either,” Joel said. “And I believe you.”

He’d never believed anyone more.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Market Square wasfull of people, lots of them happy and many of them drunk. Joel stood next to Casey with his hands stuffed into his pockets, his eyes directed up to the big, round ball of light dangling from a crane above the small stage at one end of the square. The snow had melted for the most part days before, but there were still some clumps of it here and there. Combined with the pile from the ice rink, there was plenty of “snow” for some teens to make snowballs to threaten each other with.

Pop music played over speakers spaced around the square, and a countdown clock was displayed on a big screen behind the MC from a local radio station, who periodically interrupted the revelry to announce the time left until midnight.

It was a festive atmosphere, and Joel felt loose and merry himself, having allowed Casey to buy him a few rosemary lemon drops at Tupelo Honey. But beneath it all, he felt a little sad too.

Casey was leaving the next day. And while Joel absolutely believed in the promises Casey had made to him and he felt secure in his place in Casey’s life, the reality was that only time would tell.

“There you are!” Becca cried, popping up beside him with a happy cry. She wore purple eye makeup that perfectly matched her lipstick and the scarf around her neck. Her red wool coat covered her legs, but she wore stompy, high-heeled boots that made her almost as tall as Joel for once.

He hugged her, and Casey came in for a hug too.

“Long time, no see. I missed you, Bec. Wow, you look gorgeous,” Casey said, grinning. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“We didn’t make it to the New Year.” Becca popped one of her brows. “But that’s okay. Guess who did make it?”

“Who?”

She pulled out her phone and pushed a few buttons. Leaning over her shoulder, with Casey leaning over his, they spotted RJ’s face, nostrils first, on the screen. He appeared to be in a hotel room. It was loud and crowded in Market Square to do a group FaceTime, but Joel’s heart warmed up at the sight of his old friend, a sense of familiarity washing over him.

Greetings were exchanged, and Joel listened while Becca, RJ, and Casey chatted. He threw in his own comments now and again, but, for the most part, he just enjoyed being part of something bigger than himself for a few minutes. The sensation of belonging was unfamiliar and something he didn’t want to let himself take for granted.