Why the Straight One? - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

"Oh no. Oh no. Holy shit!" This was the moment I woke up to realize that both of us were shirtless.
"Oh thank god." I fell back onto my pillow, relieved beyond belief. We both still had our pants on at least.
Don't get me wrong, I'd have no problem with the scenario I had imagined happening, it's just that I didn't want to be drunk when it did. And having a memory of it would be nice. As things were, I couldn't even remember how I had gotten shirtless in the first place.
I looked over at Thomas who didn't appear to be asleep by the way he was breathing, but who made no reaction to my hyperventilating. It was only then that I realized just how badly my head hurt. I closed my eyes and lay there for a while, trying to imagine the pain away. Finally, tired of the silence that filled the room, I decided to speak first.
"Good morning." He shifted slightly, but continued to lay with his back facing me.
"Morning." He mumbled, and I wondered if his head hurt anywhere near as badly as mine.
"How did you sleep?" I guess I was asking this kind of question because I wanted assurance that we were okay. It seemed like anytime he had ever been vulnerable with me, it had been followed up by him trying to shut me out, and the way he was avoiding facing me felt like a reoccurrence of that.
"I didn't." He sighed and rolled over onto his back. "How's your head?"
"Awful. I should never have let myself drink that much." I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the continuous pounding.
"Yeah, you don't-"
"Handle alcohol well. I know. But how..." I cast around for the right way of saying this, looking from his bare chest to mine, and desperately searching for some sort of memory.
"You don't remember?" I shook my head and instantly regretted it as that only intensified the pain in my head. Everything felt fuzzy, especially my memory.
"Well, it was all your doing. It appears that alcohol brings out quite a bit after all." He smiled at my embarrassment, but something about it felt off. I didn't give it any thought though, as I had other things on my mind.
"Wow...I really shouldn't drink. Did I..." I trailed off, too embarrassed to ask what I was thinking. Had I tried to turn our kiss into anything else? I mean, obviously I started to, I guess. Alcohol brought out too many of my hidden thoughts apparently.
"Nothing happened." Perhaps he meant to reassure me, but it only added to my shame. I buried my head in my hands, hoping to shut out everything including the constant pounding from within.
Just then, Thomas' phone rang, and I've never been so happy to hear that sound in my life. He muttered something about how early it was, and I felt the bed dip as he got out to check his phone.
"Jonathan? Kind of early for you, I figured you'd still be sleeping." He stepped a little bit away for privacy, standing in front of the window as he talked.
Now that was a picture worthy moment if ever there was one. The light was streaming in just perfectly, accentuating each and every muscle of his chest. Damn! How the hell did I not notice his back when we had just been lying in bed together? It was in that moment hat I seriously considered working out.
He must have felt my eyes on him, because he looked over at me. Our eyes met for a moment, before I looked away. When I looked back up at him, he had moved and was looking around on the floor for his shirt while he talked. Why did everything have to be so awkward right now?
I didn't pay much attention to anything he was saying, and was trying very hard not to keep staring at him. I don't know what he thought a shirt would do, because I had no problem staring at him with one on. Actually, I was going to have a problem if I didn't stop staring at him.
"I'm going to get breakfast." I called out to him, and he nodded to show that he heard. Once outside the room, I took a deep breath before heading downstairs.
"Merry Christmas, son." How my dad managed to look so lively after last night, I will never know. I'm sure I looked absolutely awful if I looked anything like I felt.
"Merry Christmas to you to, dad. And you, mom." She smiled from where she sat at the table across from my dad.
"Oh, honey, some flowers got delivered for you." She pointed towards the kitchen counter where a bouquet of flowers sat in a vase.
"Did Thomas get those for you for Christmas or something?" My dad asked, admiring how beautifully arranged they were. As if Thomas could pick out anything half as tasteful as that!
"Other way around. I ordered them for his birthday." I hurried towards the counter, and rushed up the stairs, vase in hand. If Thomas wanted to act like flowers weren't manly enough for him, he could suck my dick.
"Happy Birthday, Tommy!" I practically yelled as soon as I opened the door, and I was glad to see that he was off the phone. He looked between me and the flowers for a solid five seconds before walking towards me.
"I didn't expect any kind of present." He looked like he still didn't know what to make of what my present was, so I held them out to him.
"They are beautiful, Alex." He took them from me, and I tried to ignore the way our hands brushed against each other in the process.
"I half expected you to think they were too feminine for you."
"Well, I can't say I've ever been given flowers before, but it's sweet. And very thoughtful of you." He set the vase on the dresser nearby, and I noticed just how carefully he did so. That in itself was worth it for me.
"Thank you." He kissed my cheek gently, then grabbed my hand and headed out of the room. The kiss on the cheek was a little disappointing, but it wasn't often that we held hands so I didn't mind so much.
The day was spent opening presents, eating, and just sitting around the house. I hadn't snowed, but it was cold enough to need to bundle up. I took Thomas on a walk to show him around my childhood neighborhood, and I think my mom started to realize that maybe I actually liked Thomas when she caught us kissing right outside the back door.
Either that or maybe something in how polite Thomas was to her, but something changed her mind, because the next thing I knew she was mad at me for not telling her it was his birthday. She and dad made him a cake while we weren't around the house, and seeing them so proud of their creation stirred up quite a few suppressed emotions deep within me. I'd give anything to have my parents be back together, even if I didn't live at home anymore. It had been my dream for years.
Thomas was overwhelmed by my family caring so much about his birthday. Even Bethany wished him a happy birthday, which he definitely wasn't expecting. Bethany hadn't really related much to anyone all vacation. Mom said it was because she has recently broken up with her boyfriend. When I asked her about it she brushed it off as nothing.
My Christmas present for Thomas was a new copy of "The Count Of Monte Cristo" and the look in his eyes was enough of a Christmas present for me. For a prince who you'd imagine was given everything, Thomas seemed so touched by every small gesture from us.
He also seemed to get lost in his thoughts a lot more today. He'd come out of them looking confused and sometimes with tears in his eyes. It hurt so bad to see but when I asked him about it, he said he was fine. But his ack of sleep and emotions said otherwise.
"Your present for me can be reading me this book like you promised." I sat with my legs crossed on the bed. His lack of sleep the last two nights was beginning to show in and around his eyes, but as soon as I mentioned present, his eyes lit up.
"Oh, but I actually do have a present for you. It just didn't work for under a Christmas tree." I waited for him explain further, but he just got up off the bed and walked towards the door to put on his shoes.
"It requires shoes?"
"Yep." Ah well, I sighed and got out of bed.
"Okay, I think people are in bed so don't be super loud or start singing or something." He warned, and I felt slightly offended. That is, until I tripped in the living room.
"And where exactly are you two going?" Oh yeah, my dad was sleeping in the living room since my mom still thought we had separate rooms.
"Out." Was Thomas' simple answer.
"But it's Christmas. Isn't everything closed?"
"Not for a prince." Oh yeah. I forgot that I was a prince too.
"Ah, that makes sense. Can I come with?" My dad sat up hopefully, and even in the darkness I could see the smile on his face.
"That would be...third wheeling in the extreme." Thomas was trying not to laugh at the idea of taking my dad wherever he was going to take me. "This is kind of like a date." He 'whispered' to my dad.
"Never mind then. Don't do anything stupid." With these parting words, he lay back down on the couch and closed his eyes.
"So, where are we going?" I asked as soon as we stepped outside of the house.
"To the car." I didn't bother replying, but fixed him with an icy stare.
"Oh cut it out! If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Just get in and be patient."
"Patience and I don't get along."
"Try." He backed out of the driveway, and I could tell by his face that I wasn't going to get anything else out of him.
We drove in silence for a little while, until I decided that it was about time we had music. It hasn't been awkward silence, I just couldn't handle a quiet car ride.
"You've been runnin' round, runnin' round, runnin' round throwin' that dirt all on my name. 'Cause—"
"Oh please! Not that shit." Thomas turned down the volume, and I glared at him.
"Fine, I'll pick a new song. Not because I agree that that amazing song is shit, but because I believe in compromise. Now, turn it back up." He obeyed reluctantly, and I switched the song.
"Found you when your heart was broke
I filled your cup until—"
"If I wanted to hear all this, I would turn on the freakin radio! Don't you have any good music?"
"You are hearing my good music right now. I have Taylor Swift."
"Oh, hell no."
"Katy Perry, Ariana—"
"Don't you have anyone who is remotely good and doesn't just have catchy pop songs?" But...catchy pop songs are life.
"I'll see if I have anything that isn't catchy or awesome." He rolled his eyes, but seemed happier now that I was going to try and find 'good' music.
"Party girls don't get hurt."
"It's about time." Thomas leaned back in his seat, finally happy with my music choice. God, he was way too picky.
We stopped a few minutes later, and I looked around in surprise. He had parked in front of a McDonald's. I have to say I was a little disappointed. It just seemed like an odd place to go on the night of Christmas.
I tried to not let my disappointment show, and it was only when he ordered fries and ice cream that realization dawned on me. I would have kissed him right then and there, but he was still paying and the employee might have considered it annoying. That didn't stop me from kissing him as soon as we sat down though.
"Just like our wedding night! I can't believe you thought of this."
"So you don't think it's dumb?" His cheeks were tinged slightly pink. I couldn't believe he was nervous about something as special as this.
"Are you kidding me? This is the sweetest thing you could have done for a Christmas present." With my free hand, I cupped his cheek. As I kissed him I couldn't help but remember the last time we were here, ten months ago. All I had wanted to do then was kiss him, and I couldn't believe that this was actually happening. That Thomas and I were actually becoming more comfortable with each other.
"The ice cream is gonna melt." Thomas reminded me, and I pulled away reluctantly.
"I'm still very proud to say that I introduced you to this." I said as we are our fries and ice cream together.
"And I am eternally grateful."
A little while later, we were back in the car, and Thomas didn't seem to eager to leave just yet. I stared at the building for a while before turning my attention back to Thomas, who was looking blankly at the steering wheel in front of him. I sighed, wishing there was something I could do. He was doing this so much recently, and I knew it couldn't be good.
"Thanks for thinking of this." I put my hand in his cheek to get his attention, and he shifted his gaze to look at me.
"I thought it seemed better than trying to find some present for you. I don't know enough about what you would want yet." Yet. I loved that word just then. It meant that he was willing to find out in the future. Our future.
Whoever invented middle consoles is the world's biggest cock block. Like, seriously, kissing is a little hard when you ribs are being attacked by something between you. Of course, I could have just jumped over it onto Thomas' side of the car, but I wasn't exactly sure where we were at as far as making out went. Actually, what the hell.
Thomas was definitely surprised when I started moving over, but made no protest. In fact, he scooted his seat back further to make more room. Briefly the thought that maybe he was uncomfortable with this after the last time I was on top of him, flashed through my mind, but then his hands were on my ass and I knew it wasn't bothering him at all.
My hands were in his hair, his moving along my body. The fact that we were in a cramped car didn't bother me at all. Thomas had never kissed me like this before, and when he pulled away, I was panting for breath.
"We can't just make out in front of a McDonald's." Thomas got out between breaths.
"Why not? We seemed to be doing pretty good so far."
"Yeah, but we really should—" I cut him off by connecting our lips again, and it was a little while before he pulled away again.
"We should go home." I sighed, but realized he was right. Why did he have to be so sensible?
"Your lips tasted like fries." I informed him as he started to drive us home.
"Well, yours tasted like ice cream." I gasped, and placed my hand in my heart dramatically.
"It was meant to be!"
"Alex."
"What?"
"Shut up."