Take a Chance
The Flanagan Sisters #5
Claire Boston
Table of Contents
About Take a Chance
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also By Claire Boston
Copyright
About Take a Chance
Max’s perfect Christmas plan turns into a nightmare when his boyfriend dumps him. Devastated, he seizes the chance to make a colleague’s Christmas wish come true by giving him the opportunity to experience his first white Christmas.
Liam has been crushing on Max since he started work a month ago. Now he’s been given the perfect opportunity to spend a week with the man of his dreams. There’s only one problem – he hasn’t told his new workmates he’s gay.
This might be a Christmas to remember, or one to forget – if Liam is brave enough to take a chance.
Chapter 1
Max tapped his foot in time to the Christmas carol playing from the cubicle next to his, the sound cheery enough to give his day a desperately needed lift.
“It’s Secret Santa time,” Helen called.
Around him people groaned, but he clapped his hands and leapt to his feet. “Oh, let me pick first!”
Helen beamed and hurried over, shuffling the bits of paper in the box. “What do you want for Christmas, Max?”
He grinned. “I’ve got what I want — a man who loves me.” OK, so he and Sam were having a couple of disagreements, but he had the solution to that. The perfect Christmas gift would fix everything.
Helen sighed, with a hand on her heart as he drew out a name and checked who he’d got. Joseph would be easy to buy for.
“What about you?” he asked.
“I want what you’ve got —” She winked. “— but failing that a massage would go down just fine.”
There was no way she’d get a massage from her Secret Santa, but perhaps they could all pitch in. He’d have a word with the others. Helen shooed him away before she moved to the next person.
“Liam, did you get the memo about the Secret Santa?” she asked.
Max leaned against the cubicle wall —careful not to knock down the tinsel— keen to see Liam’s reaction. The sun-bleached blond Australian had only been with the company for a month. Aside from noticing his solidly built frame —a good foot taller than Max’s five feet two— and his sexy designer stubble, Max had been too busy with the software project that had to be completed by the end of the year to get to know him. He should have made the effort. It was hard being a newbie and he looked like someone worthwhile getting to know.
But not in that way. Max was totally happy with Sam.
“Yeah.” The word was drawn out in Liam’s Aussie accent as he took a slip of paper.
Max sighed inwardly. He was a sucker for accents. Pity Sam didn’t have one.
“What’s the limit?”
“Ten dollars,” he answered. “If you need a hand coming up with gift ideas, let me know. I can usually pick something for everyone.”
Liam gave him a slow smile. “Thanks, mate.”
He ignored his racing heart —so what if the guy was sexy?— and waved Liam’s thanks aside. “Only person I’d have trouble with is you. What do you want for Christmas?”
A frown flittered across Liam’s face, chased by a touch of sadness. “Well, a flight home is out of the budget,” he said. “I’d settle for something typically Texan.”
Max’s empathy kicked in. Being alone on the holidays was something he’d had firsthand experience with. Though on the streets, he’d soon found a new family. “Is this your first Christmas away from home?”
“Yeah. First time in the northern hemisphere for Christmas and I chose the wrong city for a white one.”
Yeah, it rarely snowed in Houston. “Do you get snow at all in Australia?”
Liam shook his head. “Not where I’m from. We head to the beach for Christmas.”
Max laughed. “I’m going to my sister’s in Minnesota and I’ll probably freeze my ass off.”
Liam wrinkled his nose. “Sounds nice.”
Max pressed his lips firmly together. Now was not the time to invite a stranger to Minnesota, especially not this year. With that in mind, he said, “We’ll see. Let me know if you need a hand with the Secret Santa.” He turned back to his desk and opened the search engine. He had a gift to buy.
***
Max was bouncing with energy when he returned to his apartment that night. He and Sam would be in Minnesota for a week, which was the perfect length of time to get away and focus on each other. They’d both been busy and they needed to get back to how they were when they first hooked up three months ago — lots of intense nights together.
He threw his keys on the kitchen table and wrapped the plane ticket in a festive box. Christmas was three weeks away, but he wanted to give Sam the gift now so they could prepare. They had to buy winter gear.
He opened a bottle of red wine and then started cooking chili. Sam would be hungry when he arrived and chili was as adventurous as he got.
No dating site would match them together. They were so different in every way: appearance, employment, hobbies and family background, but somehow they made it work. Thanks in large part to the fantastic sex.
He switched on the radio and bopped around the kitchen as he cooked, keeping the spice to a minimum for Sam’s liking, and then set the table. When the chili was ready, he let it simmer on the stove and checked his watch. Right on time. Sam should be knocking on the door any minute.
He didn’t bother changing out of his gray suit. Sam loved helping him out of it.
***
Max checked his watch for the sixth time in half an hour. Could Sam have been in an accident? He listened to the traffic report on the radio, but it was just the usual rush-hour jams. His finger hovered over his phone’s call button, remembering the tirade Sam unleashed the last time Max had called to find out where he was.
But what if something was wrong?
He sent a short text. If Sam didn’t respond within half an hour, he’d call. Concern flitting over his skin as he checked the food.
***
The clock finally ticked over to seven-thirty and Max hit the call button, his chest tight. What if the person who answered was a paramedic, or a police officer? Maybe Sam had been injured at work and no one knew to call him.
“Hey, Max!”
Relief flooded through him. Sam was OK. Music and voices blared in the background. He frowned. “Where are you?”
“I can’t hear you!” Sam yelled. “The Cider House is pumping.”
Max’s heart sank. “What are you doing at the Cider House?” The gay bar was a popular pick-up joint.
“Hang on.”
He waited until the noise dimmed.
“What’s up?”
Max did his best to keep his voice casual and upbeat. “I was wondering where you were. You were coming to dinner tonight.”
“Shoot. I forgot. Why don’t you join us here?”
He rubbed his chest. “Who’s us?” Some of Sam’s friends were idiots.
“Brodie and Jake.”
Yep, those two. He was sure Jake liked Sam as more than a friend. “I’ve got dinner ready,” he said, trying to be cheerful. “I made your favorite.”
“Too bad I’ll miss it. So, you’re not coming?”
He closed his eyes. He wanted to see his boyfriend, but was it worth the hassle of having to put up with his friends?
“I gotta go. Call me if you chang
e your mind.”
Before he could answer, he was listening to silence. He let out a shaky breath as he put down his phone and turned off the pot of bubbling chili, his appetite gone. He slumped into the nearest chair, his kitchen feeling emptier than normal. Was it wrong to want a boyfriend who gave a damn about him? Who remembered their dates and wanted to spend time together?
Tonight was supposed to be about clearing the air, talking about the few little issues they were having and giving Sam his present. If they just talked, everything would work out.
But Sam hadn’t even cared enough to remember.
He squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to find someone who loved him. Was that too much to ask?
Maybe it was.
Maybe he shouldn’t have bought two tickets to Minnesota.
***
Pounding on Max’s door ripped him from his sleep. It was pitch black.
What the hell?
His heart thudding in time to the second burst of knocks, he pulled on some track pants and raced to check who it was. The apartment building was pretty safe, but he’d had a couple of run-ins with his neighbors. The vision through the peephole had him flinging open the door, joy replacing the concern. Sam had come to apologize.
Sam swayed. “Maxie,” he slurred. “How about a little sugar?”
Disappointment kicked him in the gut. This wasn’t an apology, it was a booty call — a sloppy, smelly drunk booty call.
He stepped back as Sam stumbled forward, grabbing him and pressing his lips hard against Max’s. Beer breath swept into his mouth and pummeled the back of his throat. He fought the urge not to gag and managed to push him away, closing the door so he didn’t wake the neighbors.
“You’re drunk.” He headed for the kitchen to get Sam some water.
“Aw, I’ve just had a few.”
Yeah, a few too many. “Sit.” He handed Sam the glass.
Sam dropped into the chair and gulped the water and slammed the glass back on to the table. “What’s that?” He pointed to his present.
Max didn’t want to give it to him now, not while he was drunk. “It’s a gift.”
Sam’s eyes widened in a mock innocent expression. “Is it for me?”
He couldn’t lie to him. “Yes. It’s your Christmas present.”
Sam grabbed it before he could be stopped. “Gimme.” He ripped off the wrapping and opened the box. He scowled, taking out the piece of paper. “What is it?”
“It’s a flight to Minnesota. We can have Christmas together at my sister’s — have some time away.”
Sam grimaced. “Why would I want to?”
All of the breath left his lungs in a gasp. “I thought you’d like to meet my family and since you don’t have any plans for Christmas…”
Sam was shaking his head. “Sounds like you’re getting serious.” He stood up and retreated a couple of steps.
Max frowned. “We’ve been dating for months.”
“Dating?” Sam gaped at him, his mouth and eyes wide. “You’re my fuck buddy.”
His heart twisted as he sank into the nearest chair. “What the hell?”
“I’ll have dinner, or go to the movies, if that’s what it takes to get you into bed, but it’s just sex.”
“You said you loved me.” He blinked rapidly, refusing to let any tears form as a lump lodged in his throat.
Sam shrugged. “Whatever it takes.”
Max couldn’t believe it. They’d been to shows and movies together, eaten in nice restaurants, gone to the baseball. That’s what dating was. Didn’t Sam realize what he was saying? The lump in his throat expanded. Sam had to go before the tears broke free. “Get out.” He pointed to the door.
“Why are you mad?”
Fury vaporized the tears. He leapt out of the chair and backed Sam toward the door. “Get the hell out of my place.” He emphasized each word by poking Sam hard in the chest. Their relationship was a lie. Max flung open the door and pushed Sam out. “And don’t call me ever again.”
He slammed it and then stared at it as all the hurt pummeled him like the fists of his high school bullies.
He had no one to love.
And no one loved him.
He crumpled to the floor and hugged his knees.
And let the tears fall.
Chapter 2
Max groaned as he woke the next morning. His head throbbed, his eyes ached and his heart was a bruised and battered piece of meat. But he couldn’t call in sick. The software roll out had to be completed before Christmas. He couldn’t afford to take off a single day.
No matter how shit he felt.
He dragged himself out of bed and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. He was nothing but a skinny, pathetic, black homo. His father’s words rang in his head. You’re useless as a man, you pathetic fag.
He took a deep breath and turned away. It had been a long time since he’d allowed his father into his head and he wasn’t going to start now. What he needed was to get together with friends and remind himself he was worth something, even if Sam hadn’t thought so.
He showered and took his time getting dressed. His favorite charcoal gray suit that he’d had custom made to perfectly fit his small frame, a crisp white shirt that peeked out the edges of his jacket cuffs, and a vibrant pink tie that proved he wasn’t ashamed of who he was. He adjusted the tie so it fit just right. He felt marginally better already.
On the way in he stopped at the coffee shop to get his usual gingerbread latte.
“Good morning, Max.” His favorite barista greeted him as she handed him his latte without him placing an order.
He forced a smile. “Morning, Shenae.”
Her face creased and she grabbed a double chocolate brownie from the display. She came around the counter to give it to him, along with a big hug. “You look like you could do with one of these.”
Some of his sorrow lifted and he hugged her back. People did care. “Thanks.”
He continued to work and paused as the elevator opened at his floor. If he was quick, he might avoid running into anyone before he reached his desk.
“Morning, Max,” Helen chirped as he walked past.
“Morning.” He kept moving, hoping she wouldn’t follow him.
No such luck.
“What’s wrong with you today?” she asked, the concern clear on her face. “You look as if someone told you Santa isn’t real.”
He rolled his eyes. “He’s not real.”
“You know what I mean.” Helen pulled a chair around and sat down. “What gives?”
He squeezed his eyes closed. He couldn’t do this at work.
“Hell. Did someone die? Tell me what happened.”
He hesitated. It was still early and the office was only half full. It would be best if he got it over and done with, before she hounded him about it. He braced himself. “It appears I was mistaken about dating Sam.”
“What?”
“Apparently, we were nothing more than fuck buddies.” The words tasted sour in his mouth as he sunk into his office chair.
“Sam said that?” She gaped at him.
He nodded, his lungs tightening as if they were a vice.
“What a complete douchebag! You’re better off without him.” She hugged him. “I’m sorry.”
“Why is it so hard to find someone?” That question had been circling around his head all night. Every past boyfriend hadn’t stuck around long. Was he too effeminate? Too needy?
She squeezed his hand. “You have the most friends of anyone. You’re always here for us, whenever we need you.”
Friends, but no one special. “You know what I mean.” He wanted the love of a partner, someone who would be there for him through all the good and bad times, someone to prove to him that he was worthwhile. He paused. Where had that come from? He thought he’d got over his parents kicking him out of home long ago.
“Seriously, what’s wrong with the guys you’ve been dating?” She huffed. “If you were straight, I wo
uld have snapped you up long ago.”
The pain in his chest lost its sharp edge. “Thanks, honey.”
She hugged him again. “A bunch of us are going out for drinks tonight. Why don’t you come? We can cheer you up.”
He refused to mope about Sam. “Yeah.” She was right. He did have good friends and spending a night with them would remind him of all that he did have.
***
By the end of the day the sting from Sam’s words had lost its potency. His friends had rallied around him and badmouthed Sam with amusing and creative insults. He was replaying the best of them when a tap on his cubicle frame pulled him out of his reverie. The smile stayed attached and, as he looked up at a nervous Liam, it broadened.
“What can I help you with?”
Liam shifted and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up a little. “Can I take you up on your offer?” he asked. “To find a gift for my Secret Santa?”
“Sure.” Max studied the guy. He was sexy in an unassuming way, as if he didn’t realize how his black pants hugged his hips or the way the emerald green tie brought out the green in his eyes.
Down boy. You’re not looking for a rebound.
But it didn’t hurt to look.
“Max, are you coming?” Helen called.
He pushed back his chair to see past the cubicle walls to where his friends waited. “Be right there.” He turned back to Liam. “Who did you get?”
Liam showed him the slip of paper. Helen.
“Easy peasy.” He waved his hand. “We’re heading out to get a drink. Why don’t you come too and we’ll hit the mall afterward? We can buy both our gifts.”
Liam glanced over to Helen and then back. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t. It’ll be fun.”
“All right, thanks.” Liam beamed and his grin was so full of joy it warmed Max, melting more of the sadness. Maybe this was what he was good at, making friends —being a good friend— maybe he didn’t need anything more. Max gestured for Liam to lead the way and found himself admiring the way his jacket showed off his strong shoulders. Here was a guy who would make you feel safe when he held you. He shook his head. What was wrong with him? Last night he’d split up with a guy he thought he’d loved. He shouldn’t be attracted to someone else so soon.
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