Page 73 of Need Him

“It will be. You and Lindsay have everything planned. Nothing would dare go wrong.” Gareth chuckled when Ben glared at him.

“There’s nothing wrong with being organised.” Ben folded his arms and pouted.

“I agree, but this is your Christmas Eve party as much as anyone’s. You have to enjoy it as well.”

Ben dropped his arms. “I know. I just want it all to go well.”

Gareth enfolded Ben in his arms and held tightly. “It will. Relax.”

The doorbell rang, and Ben raced to it with Gareth’s laughter following him. He whipped open the door without checking to see who it was.

“Lindsay!”

“Happy Christmas Eve,” she said, holding up several bags. “I brought the cinnamon rolls I said I would bake and the game.”

Ben fist-bumped the air. “I get first dibs on the rolls.”

“Are you going to let her come in, sweetheart?” Gareth’s voice brought Ben out of his excited bubble, and he saw Lindsay was still standing on the porch.

“Ah, sorry. Come in, come in.”

He pushed the door shut, but a foot landed in the way. “Don’t shut us out.”

Ben opened it again and saw Victor and Preston carrying two large boxes. “What have you brought?”

Preston rolled his eyes. “Gifts and beer.”

“Then, by all means,” Ben waved his arm, “come on in.”

“Where do you want these going?” Preston asked.

“Beer in the kitchen, gifts in the living room, please,” Ben called. “Lindsay, rolls in my tummy, please!”

Everyone laughed, and Ben danced into the kitchen, grabbing a roll from the plate Lindsay had just set up. He took a huge bite and groaned at the flaky cinnamon taste. “These are delicious. You should sell them.”

“Nah. I just make them for fun. I wanted to open a bakery when I was younger, but I chose the monetary safety of organisation rather than the debt instability of opening my own business.”

“You could do it in your spare time, though. Just take on what you want to do. A hobby or something like that,” Ben said.

Gareth slid his arms around Ben’s waist. “You just want her to keep you in sweet treats.”

Ben grinned. “Maybe.”

Gareth wiped a finger over Ben’s chin and slid it into his own mouth. “Tasty.” He winked, and Ben’s cheeks heated.

“I’ve got our list, Ben. I’ll just go through and check we have everything we said we wanted,” Lindsay said, holding a clipboard.

“I’ll help…” Ben started, but a voice calling his name stopped his offer. “Hold that thought.”

He wandered into the living room and gasped at the number of gifts already piled high near the Christmas tree. “Are we going to have room for everything?” He wrinkled his nose and tapped his chin. “Maybe we could use the hallway if there’s too many for in here.”

The doorbell went again, and Gareth shouted, “I’ll get it!”

Ben was still considering the options for the present pile when Toby came barrelling towards him for a hug.

“Ben! Happy Christmas!”

Ben returned the embrace and greeting. “Thank you for coming all this way.”