Page 111 of Under the Mistletoe with You

He stirs the ancient packet risotto, which is just about starting to smell like real risotto he might want to eat.

‘Am I the first trans guy you’ve slept with?’he asks, and Christopher nods.‘But you’ve slept with men and women, right?’

‘Not loads of either, but yes.You’re not the first trans person I’ve slept with.’

‘Well, everyone has their own preferences,’ he says, trying to keep this as matter-of-fact as possible.‘Your mouth on my cock was pretty good.Penetration is a maybe, we can talk about that if you want to do it, else we can just use hands and mouths.I also like to top if you are into that, but I don’t have a strap with me.’

This conversation is always awkward, but the way Christopher is trying to be so serious and stay present in the moment, rather than turning into a gigantic beet like he normally does, is kind of endearing.‘I don’t have one either,’ he says, which Nash takes to mean a strap.

‘Oh well, that’ll be someone else’s first with you.Is there stuff you don’t like?’

Christopher blinks a few times, as though this might be the first time someone has asked him.Fuck, he hopes it’s not.‘Err, not that I can think of.I’ll just say, in the moment.’

‘Are you sure, Calloway?You’re not really asay it in the momentkind of man.’

He smiles, a little embarrassed.‘I will endeavour to be.’

The watery risotto starts to bubble, and Nash turns the heat down, beginning the laborious constant stirring you have to do even with the packet stuff.

‘And,’ Christopher continues, ‘just tell me if I’m not doing anything right or saying the wrong thing.’

‘I will.’

The thing is, as uncomfortable as Christopher looks, Nash would quite like to kiss him after this.Too many cis guys don’t take a moment to ask basic questions about his body and his wants, which is one of many reasons why he doesn’t seek them out anymore.But against all the odds, Christopher keeps standing out.

And it’s not that alone that makes Nash want Christopher more, but it does make him respect him more.Perhaps eventrusthim more.There’s a lot of trusting he’s had to do in the last few days, so why not let them have fun, too?

Nash is just about to reach up and grab Christopher’s collar, push him up against the kitchen door, when his phone starts to buzz.At first he thinks it’s the timer going off, but in fact it’s Kurt.

Time to face the music and forget about making out with the hot English man for a bit.There’s nothing like his impending work crisis to numb his desire.

‘I need to take this,’ Nash says, staring at his phone.‘Can you deal with the risotto?’

‘Yes, just stir, right?’Christopher responds.

‘Until it looks like risotto, yeah.’

Nash dips out of the kitchen and pulls the bedroom door closed.‘Hey Kurt.Not sitting on my doorstep today, are you?’

‘Not today, unfortunately for your doorstep.Happy Christmas Eve.’

‘And to you.Are you driving home?’

Kurt grew up in the Bay Area, where his entire family still lives, even his many siblings – Nash tried to memorise all their names at first, but they just keep sprouting up, like hydra heads.In the end he just resolved to pretend he knows who anyone is whenever he needs to.

‘Yeah, man.The car’s loaded with gifts and I am ready to hug my Bubbe.Auntie Catalina is cooking this year, so you know it’ll be a good one.’

‘So, you’re making me your last work call of the season?’

‘God, no offence, but I hope so.Look, I know they pushed back negotiations, which is a good thing for both of us.But I also know they’ll be back in the office and ready to talk on the 29th, which means you and I need to be on the same page by the 28th, right?’

‘Right.’

That’s an even bigger relief.This weather has to let up soon.He’ll be back in LA way before the 29th.His mind whirs over the logistics, and he half wishes he could click off the call to check the forecast for the next few days.

‘Is there anything else you want to say?’Kurt nudges him.

‘Not right now,’ Nash says, a little too shortly.His mind is still thinking about flights.