A Bookworm for Christmas (Gay Romance)

by Trina Solet

  "It's fine. Thanks."

  Miles saluted him and went off. Keeping an eye on the doorway into the front of the store, Gavin could see him moving around, working diligently. There was no denying that Gavin had misjudged him. The way Miles supported his calf as he raised his foot, the intent look in his eyes when he was making sure Gavin wasn't in pain, those were all new sides to him. It was hard to dismiss him when he was being so caring and good. Gavin had always been afraid of this very thing, that one day Miles would show him his other side and he would be defenseless against him.

  Gavin took out his phone so he could at least answer some emails while he was sitting there. As he heard Miles crack his knuckles, he turned but couldn't see him. He remembered that sound so well. Miles would crack one hand then the other and finish by threading his long fingers together then push out for one final snap. It was kind of unnerving though Gavin knew it didn't hurt.

  Gavin pictured it perfectly as he listened, and at the end he smiled. It was weird how fond he was of all sorts of weird things because they had to do with Miles. The cracking of his knuckles, the way he got distracted when he was supposed to be organizing the shelves and started reading something that caught his eye, even that beat up leather jacket he wore which he had hung over the arm of the couch when he helped Gavin to recline there. Gavin moved over so that he could prop up his calf on the other armrest. Now he could lean his face against Miles' jacket, close his eyes and breathe in Miles' scent. He felt shameless doing that, but he couldn't resist.

  Chapter 6

  Helping out at the bookstore was like the old days, except now Gavin knew that Miles was into him. Whenever things slowed down, he went into the back to check on Gavin. Realizing Benji would need to be picked up soon, Miles went to the back again. He found that Gavin had shifted so his injured leg was up on the armrest of the couch and his head leaned on Miles' jacket.

  "A few people are strictly browsing out there, but it's quiet otherwise. You have anything for me to do back here?" Miles asked.

  Gavin pointed out some books that were packed and ready to go. "Those need to be shipped. I was going to do that..."

  "I'm on it. I can take them to the post office. I can do that when it's time to go pick up Benji from school. Would it be OK if I went to get him? How would that work anyway? Do you call the school or what?" Miles asked the string of questions while Gavin smiled at him.

  "Are you sure you don't mind going?"

  "Of course not. That little guy is fun," Miles said.

  "OK. I'll call and authorize you. And while you're gone, I'll sit at the counter and mind the store," Gavin said and dialed Benji's school.

  "Isn't Meredith coming?" Miles wondered.

  "A little later. She's taking her reading group of retirees to visit a children's hospital, give out some gifts, and read to the kids."

  "Sounds nice."

  Gavin arranged for Miles to be put on the list of people who were allowed to pick up Benji. Since he was going to the post office too, Miles decided he better get going. He reached out to get his jacket and Gavin moved to free it up. Miles noticed how close they were as he leaned over him.

  The temptation was so strong. For Miles, that one kiss wasn't nearly enough. It was just a taste, an unfulfilled promise. He wanted more, so much more than a fleeting, unexpected kiss. He needed tangible proof that he could feel right down to his bones.

  With the silence between them thick enough to slice, Miles reached out and took Gavin's hand in his. Chest heaving while he clutched Gavin's hand, Miles sat down next to him on the couch. He was lost in his blue eyes, like he might fall into them. Miles said his name softly, but that was all he could say.

  Clasping Gavin's hand against his chest so that he could feel the crazy beating of his heart, Miles tried to let him know what he was feeling. In response, Gavin squeezed his hand hard and pulled him closer. His arms tightened around Miles, bringing him to lean against Gavin's chest, feeling every breath he took like it was his own. It felt good especially since a kiss was inevitable. Then it happened. Gavin brought his hand up to rest on the back of Miles' head. Guiding him closer, he touched his lips to Miles'.

  Their first kiss was sudden, an outburst of raw need. This kiss was tentative at first then deep and tender, like it had no end. Miles' hand tightly grasped in his, Gavin was gliding his tongue over his, making the nerve endings tingle over his whole body while sparks were going off behind his eyes. They heard some customers in front and pulled away from each other slowly.

  Head down, Miles was afraid to move. Then Gavin pushed the hair out of his face, and Miles looked at him. He landed a quick kiss on Gavin's lips then stood up.

  "I better go get Benji. I'll tell him not to yell at you too much for being clumsy and getting hurt, but no promises. Behave yourself while I'm gone," Miles said all in a rush, still breathless from the kiss and then he was out of there.

  It was only while he was half way between the post office and Benji's school that Miles' brain started functioning again. That's when he remembered that he should have helped Gavin get to the register before he left. Of course Gavin did get himself there without his help before. Kissing Gavin just felt too crazy good. After wanting him for so long, it felt unreal. But it had happened twice now and Gavin hadn't shut him down.

  Miles was still smiling even when he picked up Benji, who seemed happy to see him. That is until he told him that Gavin hurt himself a little bit.

  "But, Miles, why are you smiling?" Benji asked.

  "Oh. Umm," Miles stammered until he figured out how to explain himself. "Before I came to get you, your dad and I were having fun. That's why I was smiling."

  "So it's not bad?" Benji asked.

  "No, not at all. But it does mean that you get to help at the store today," Miles told him.

  "Yey!" Benji said.

  "But you'll need to do your homework first," Miles remembered to say. "And we should pick up some sandwiches. That will help your dad get better fast."

  When they got to the store, Gavin was busy unpacking a new delivery. He was sitting behind the counter but had switched from the bar stool to the office chair. He stopped what he was doing to greet Benji and Miles. Then Miles took over unpacking the new books so Gavin could reassure Benji that he was OK.

  Carrying a takeout bag with sandwiches, Benji went over to Gavin with a mixture of worry and excitement. "I get to help today," Benji said after he hugged his dad.

  "You have to do your homework first," Gavin told him, predictably.

  "Miles already told me that," Benji whined and gave his dad the takeout bag with a huff.

  "You have a lot of books coming in," Miles said as he stashed the empty box in the back. He was trying to keep busy and not to stare at Gavin or reveal how he felt being around him after that kiss.

  "I did some last minute reordering when we started running out of a few titles that are popular right now. I don't want to miss out on the holiday sales," Gavin explained.

  "I'll shelve them after we eat," Miles told him. It was weird to go back to strictly business after that kiss, but Miles was doing his best not to dwell on any vivid memories of just how Gavin tasted or how hard his muscular arms felt when he held him so tight. Damn, so much for not dwelling. Now his heart was racing.

  "You don't have to do that. You did enough. I can wheel myself around on this office chair," Gavin started to say.

  "Or you can sit still at the register and stay out of trouble," Miles told him sternly, turning practical after losing his head for a minute there. "If you go scooting around on that chair, you'll bump your foot into something and then where will you be? Benji and I can handle things out here. Right Benji?"

  Benji agreed. "Yes. No scooting, Dad."

  Seeing that they were united against him, Gavin gave up and stayed put. "OK. No scooting."

  After lunch, it was Benji's homework time. When he was done with it, he brought his homework over to his dad to check. He approved and now Benji was free to
help out. Miles was almost finished with the new books though. Benji handed the last few to Miles then he pouted with disappointment that they were done.

  "I'm sure there's more we can do," Miles said to him and they went over to ask Gavin for more work. "So what now, boss man, what do we do?"

  "Yeah, boss man, what do we do?" Banji echoed.

  "That's boss Dad to you," Miles told him.

  "Someone messed up the travel section, you can straighten it up a little," Gavin told them, smiling at Benji's eagerness. For a moment his blue eyes flashed on Miles then he turned away and busied himself with his laptop. Good thing or Miles would have to hold his breath forever.

  Soon after that, Meredith arrived. "Why didn't you call me to come in?" she asked Gavin when he told her about his foot.

  "And disappoint the kids at the hospital? I don't think so. I had Miles here and Benji to help me," he said, and Benji looked so proud of himself.

  "Look at that. He loves helping his dad," Meredith said and made him blush.

  "OK then, I'm quitting for the day," Miles said, seeing that the place was fully staffed now.

  "You don't work for me," Gavin said. Then he added, "Which is why I appreciate what you did today. Thank you."

  "It's no problem. I had fun. How about you Benji?" Miles asked.

  "Me too," he agreed.

  Miles was putting on his jacket when Meredith motioned for him to wait.

  "You should get off that foot and put some ice on it," she told Gavin. "I'm here now so I can take care of things. You go home." She turned to Miles. "Can you drive them home?"

  "I drove myself here. I can drive..." Gavin started to say but Miles interrupted.

  "I can drive them home, no problem."

  "It's a plan," Meredith said with a pleased smile and clapped her hands together.

  "Why is everyone making decisions for me? I'm the boss," Gavin objected though it was clear that the matter was settled.

  "Right now you're the patient. Get better soon," Meredith told him.

  Chapter 7

  Gavin let himself be hustled to his car grudgingly. Miles had one of his arms over his shoulder while Benji held his hand. Then Benji made sure his dad was buckled in properly. That left Miles to secure Benji in his car seat. He managed it somehow.

  From the bookstore, it was a quick drive to Gavin's apartment building. It was a squat older building with a wide set of stairs that led to an arched doorway. Miles helped Gavin limp up those stairs and into the elevator then from the elevator to his apartment door.

  "You're coming in, right?" Gavin said when Miles hesitated on the threshold.

  Benji grabbed his hand just in case Miles was thinking of running off. "This is our apartment!" Benji announced once they were inside. He seemed very proud of it, and no wonder since it was probably his first real home after foster care.

  Miles looked around appreciatively. There were plenty of books everywhere he looked, on big bookshelves and small ones. A leather armchair stood under a tall lamp in the corner. A comfy looking couch faced a decent size TV.

  Of course Miles looked around for Gavin's bedroom. As far as he was concerned, his bedroom door might as well have a target painted on it. Trying to distract Miles from his one, true goal, Gavin drew his attention to the modest eat-in kitchen and the tiny sliver of a balcony with a lovely view of the brick wall of the neighboring building. That wall seemed close enough to touch.

  "In the summer we sit out there. We have barbeques," Gavin joked while pointing at that poor excuse for a balcony and leaning on the back of a chair for support.

  "Barbeques? When?" Benji asked as if he thought Gavin might have been having barbeques behind his back.

  "I was just kidding," Gavin told him and ruffled his hair, but Benji was still taking this barbeque issue very seriously.

  "We can have barbeques," Benji insisted while smoothing his hair back in place.

  "Sure, if we get the world's tiniest grill," Gavin told him as he settled himself on the couch.

  "Speaking of food. What are you doing about dinner?" Miles asked and looked down at his ankle as Gavin propped it up on the coffee table.

  "I'll throw something together," Gavin said with a grimace.

  "A pizza. The man at Angelo's throws the pizza," Benji said.

  "There's a guy over there who puts on quite a show. Do you want to stay and eat with us? It won't be anything major," Gavin said to Miles.

  Benji voted "Yes" and nodded at Miles to urge him to agree.

  "Sure. I'd like that. Thanks, you guys," Miles said.

  "Can we have pizza?" Benji asked.

  "We need to have something healthy," Gavin told him.

  "But Miles wants pizza too," Benji said and gave him a pleading look.

  "Actually I was thinking that you and I can make something together while your dad rests his ankle," Miles told him.

  "Pizza?" Benji said.

  "Do you know how to make a pizza?" Miles asked him while he opened Gavin's freezer and got some ice so he could make an ice pack for his ankle.

  "You throw it," Benji said.

  "You'll have to show me one of these days. But I was thinking we might make an ice pack for your dad first then a salad or something. And I'm going to need lots of help so get ready to tell me where you keep everything," Miles told him.

  "OK," Benji agreed.

  After they had Gavin's ankle on ice, Benji noticed a few drops of water where some of the ice had melted on the kitchen counter.

  "Better clean it," Benji told Miles.

  "It's just water," Miles said but Benji wasn't happy until it was wiped up.

  As they got dinner together, Benji insisted that every crumb had to be chased down right away. No wonder the kitchen was so clean. They made a salad with strips of carrots and served it with hummus on toasted pita bread triangles.

  Seeing it all set up in the middle of the kitchen table, Miles praised Benji for his hard work. "You make a mean dinner."

  "Mean?" Benji said as they all took their seats at the kitchen table.

  "Mean means nice," Miles told him with a grin.

  Benji shook his head and stared at Miles like he thought he might need to be held back a grade or two. Miles laughed.

  "I never knew little kids were so much fun," Miles said.

  "What about your niece?" Gavin asked him.

  "My sis and her family live in Philly. I don't see them that much."

  "You'll see them for Christmas, right?" Gavin said.

  "Maybe," Miles said noncommittally.

  Gavin gave him a questioning look but didn't press him about it. Miles was glad he didn't have to answer any questions about the situation with his family. It made holidays hard, but he tried not to dwell on it, especially while he was having such a good time with Gavin and Benji. They reminded him of what family dinners were supposed to be like – only love served up at the dinner table, no bigotry.

  After dinner, Miles thought he would be going home, but Benji had other plans. As soon as he was done helping to put away dinner dishes, he took Miles by the hand. "Now we watch TV," Benji announced and led him to the couch.

  Miles glanced at Gavin to make sure it was OK. He was already sitting down with his foot up. He patted the couch next to him and Benji climbed to sit beside him. Miles took it as a signal that he should join them as well.

  "I can help you watch some TV I guess since you helped out with dinner," Miles told Benji and took a seat. Turning to look over his head at Gavin, he smiled. "I'm not holding you hostage, am I?" Miles asked him. He didn't want to take advantage of Gavin's weakened condition.

  "I think you're the hostage," Gavin told him and pointed at the cartoon that was starting to play on the TV screen.

  Miles disagreed. "Nope. I'm having a great time."

  Hearing this, Benji turned to him. "You're our buddy, right?"

  "Yup. That's me."

  Benji smiled shyly and ducked his head. Seeing him like that, Gavin smoothed his hai
r and looked at his son with love. Even with his injured ankle, he seemed more at ease than Miles had ever seen him, just a happy dad spending quality time with his son. And also some random, pushy guy who just happen to horn in on their fun.

  TV time was over too soon for Benji's liking. "Let's watch something else," he said when Gavin turned the TV off at the end of the second show they watched. "Miles wants to watch something else too, don’t you?" Benji said, trying to enlist his help.

  "Do you know what time it is?" Gavin hinted as he got up off the couch with a grunt.

  "No," Benji said. He put on a stubborn face and made no attempt to look at the clock.

  "Ignorance is no excuse. You still have to go to bed now," Gavin told him.

  "What about Miles?" Benji asked and took Miles' hand like he would anchor himself to him.

  "He doesn't have to go to bed," Gavin told him.

  "But he's here and I'm not sleepy," Benji claimed.

  "Sorry. You can't stay up past your bedtime. You have school tomorrow," Gavin told him and offered him his hand so he could lead him to his bedroom to get ready for bed.

  As he let go of Miles' hand, Benji yawned then covered his mouth guiltily.

  "Yeah, you gave yourself away there, little dude," Miles told him.

  Benji still insisted, "I'm not sleepy. That was an accident."

  Gavin and Miles both laughed but that didn't save Benji from having to go and get ready for bed. Before he took Benji away, Gavin looked over his shoulder at Miles. "You can stick around if you like," he said and watched a smile light up Miles' face.

  Miles was thrilled to be invited to stay though he tried to tell himself not to get ahead of himself. While he waited, he walked around the living room to stretch his legs. Looking at the humongous bookshelf, a picture of Gavin and Benji caught his eye. Gavin was holding Benji, who looked kind of shy and had pulled in close to his dad. He looked younger there and Miles wondered if the photo was taken soon after Gavin adopted him.