A Champagne Kiss

by H J Welch

Josh placed his glass down, biting his lip as he gave himself a moment to think while helping himself to sticky barbeque ribs and corn on the cob. “Umm.” He toyed with his fork to avoid looking at Artie. “Actually, I’ve been in New York a couple of years. But my boyfriend and I split a few months ago and he got all the kids in the divorce, so…”

  He glanced out over the room filled with the friends, a pang in his chest. They all looked totally different, but they couldn’t help but remind Josh of Fletcher’s gang. How did other people manage to find like-minded souls? Josh always felt like he was on the peripheral, hovering, looking in.

  “Wow, none of his friends stayed in touch with you?” Josh looked up to see Artie looking pretty indignant. “Was it a bad breakup? Sorry to hear that, by the way.”

  Josh tried to put on his best smile. He absolutely didn’t want to ruin the party vibe. “Well, he cheated on me, so it was certainly fast. But they were all his friends first, so I guess it makes sense.”

  Artie spluttered and almost sloshed his drink. “He cheated, yet they all took his side?” He pointed to one of the hunky guys playing the dance game. “Bill’s ex messed around on him, so we dropped that fool’s ass like a log in a flood. Didn’t matter we’d known him longer. He made his bed, so we made him lie in it.”

  Bill looked over at the mention of his name and winked. He had light brown skin, short, soft-looking hair and a great body. Wow. Who cheated on a gorgeous guy like that?

  Josh wasn’t sure if he felt better or worse. Yeah – why hadn’t any of Fletcher’s friends reached out to him – not even on Facebook? After all that time he’d been with Fletcher, Josh wasn’t worth even that? Or should he look at it that he was better off without people like that in his life?

  “Bill’s a lucky guy,” Josh said, meaning it.

  Artie grinned and lightly slapped Josh’s arm. “Hey, screw those losers. You get to spend New Year’s with us instead. We’re obviously far superior.” He winked and Josh’s stomach flipped.

  Southern manners, remember!

  Artie’s face became concerned. “You weren’t alone for Christmas, were you?”

  “Oh, no,” Josh said quickly. “I was back with my family in Wisconsin. But – well – I have three brothers, two sisters and fourteen cousins. Then factor in all the aunts, uncles and grandparents, and it gets a bit hectic.”

  Artie laughed and nodded. “I bet. My family ain’t quite that large, but after a few days, I had to get home.”

  “Then I arrived back here and realized I had nothing to do.” Josh blinked and could have slapped himself. Artie was going to think he was terrible company! “It’s funny how fate works out,” he added, much cheerier. “I think that’s going to be my new year’s resolution. Get out there more. Meet new people. No more hiding away.”

  Artie tapped their glasses together again. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Hey, Artie, come let me kick your ass at this!” Bill waved their host over to the dance matt. It looked like the other hunk, Duke, had stepped outside with the twinks to smoke. Luca appeared to be trying his luck again, batting his eyelashes and flirting outrageously.

  Artie looked like he wasn’t sure about leaving Josh, but colorful Retha and Dian wandered into the kitchen area for more food and immediately included Josh in their conversation. So Artie grinned at Josh, then went to go play the game.

  When he stepped on the plastic matt with Bill, Bill hugged him to his side and kissed him on the check.

  Josh’s stomach dropped. Of course, it made sense they’d be a couple. Two hot, buff guys like that. Josh had no right to be disappointed. He had been facing a miserable night all alone stranded in the hallway. Now, he had been welcomed by this group with open arms, with more food and drink than he could possibly manage, all out of the kindness of Artie’s heart.

  So instead of wallowing, Josh made himself be grateful and smile. He continued chatting with Retha and Dian about the art class they attended at the center and the other things that went on there. Apparently, it had started as a place in the eighties for men afflicted with HIV and AIDS to come together and hang like normal guys without judgment. Now, it was a celebration of all walks of LGBT culture, bringing people together to socialize and support each other as a community.

  Josh loved that idea. Even if these guys didn’t want to meet up again after tonight, he might be brave and take himself down there. He might meet some friends of his own. There was no point in making a new year’s resolution if he wasn’t going to stick to it.

  Between Retha and Dian, Josh’s glass never ran dry. He ate until he couldn’t possibly manage anymore, and even got talked into a go on the dance matt game by the excitable Luca and Emilio. Artie made sure that Josh was never left on his own, saving him if Josh allowed the other guests to wander off and leave him alone. After a couple of hours and some liquid courage, Josh got better at joining in with whatever conversation or game was going on closest to him.

  But it had already been getting on in the evening when Josh had locked himself out of his own place. In no time at all, Artie had his TV on and they were all holding hands, counting down from ten to bring in the new year.

  They had the door to the balcony open, and as the clock struck midnight, fireworks erupted all around them as well as on the TV screen. The gaggle of friends made their circle smaller, hugging each other as they mangled the words to Auld Lang Syne.

  Josh forgot to feel sad that he was single because everyone gave each other messy kisses on the lips. Even Poppy the pug danced around their feet and snorted, demanding she get picked up to lick as many faces as possible. Josh forgot to worry that he was intruding because he felt completely accepted by this fun, loving, found-family of friends. He even forgot to feel any kind of pang that his crush on Artie was wasted, because when Artie hugged him and nuzzled his nose against Josh’s cheek, he still felt something special between them, even if it was only blossoming friendship.

  For the first time in a long time, Josh felt lucky down to his bones.

  The party roared on. They closed the balcony doors and turned up the music, dancing to chart hits and classics from the last couple of decades, the Champagne still free flowing as much as the hugs and kisses.

  Maribeth was the first to head home. “No, no,” she insisted as the youngsters tried to fuss over her and Poppy. “I’ve had a wonderful time, much obliged. But now its time for this old lesbian to go bye-bye. I’ll message the group when I’m home. No, no, just keep drinking. That’ll make me happy.”

  It wasn’t long, though, until Luca was the first to crash. He curled up on the sofa like a little cat, falling fast asleep despite the music still pumping. But when Emilio admitted defeat as well, Josh discovered the two of them also shared an apartment in the same building, as friends rather than a couple. They’d moved here because Artie already had a place. So Emilio managed to convince Retha and Dian it was bedtime by reminding them that if they helped Luca downstairs now, they would actually have a bed to sleep in.

  It was finally then that Josh questioned where he was going to sleep.

  “Time to call it a night?” Bill asked, looking between Artie and a very bleary Duke. Bill was a big guy, but so was Duke, and holding him upright looked like a bit of a struggle. “We can take your spare room, right? You got that pull-out sofa?”

  “Aren’t you sharing with Artie?” Josh realized he’d blurted the question to Bill without even thinking.

  To his complete surprise, Bill burst out laughing. “Oh, hunty, he wishes,” he said with a cackle. “Come on, Duke, let’s get you some water. Don’t you dare puke on me tonight.”

  “Duke – puke.” Duke chuckled and rubbed his eyes. “That rhymes.”

  The two other guys busied themselves, leaving Josh and Artie standing in the middle of the living room. “Oh, great, I can take the sofa, then, right? I mean, if that’s okay? I’m sure I’d be able to sleep on my doorstep after all that food. I’d pass right out
.”

  Artie looked horrified. “Of course you can take the sofa. I wouldn’t kick you out now. What the hell would my momma say to that?”

  He placed his hand on Josh’s arm and kept it there. Josh’s heart skipped a beat. Artie wanted him to stay the night. Yes, of course he was being polite. But there was something that passed between them in the look they shared. Artie’s hand was still on Josh’s arm.

  “Thank you,” Josh murmured.

  Artie smiled down at him. Josh’s heart was picking up speed.

  “So, um,” Artie said. “I’m glad we cleared that up. But well, I’m not quite ready to sleep yet. Do you want to join me outside for a bit?”

  Josh swallowed. Artie was not in fact with Bill, and although that didn’t necessarily mean he was single, Josh couldn’t help but let his imagination run away with him.

  “That sounds lovely,” he said.

  He stood, watching in a sort of daze as Artie grabbed them both coats and shoes. The jacket and sneakers were both too large on Josh, but he wrapped himself up snuggly and warm. He stepped out onto the balcony. Then Artie followed with two fresh glasses of Champagne for them to sip in the cold night air.

  New York really was the city that never slept, and on New Year’s Eve that was even more true. But there was a calmness to the night that immediately soothed Josh. They couldn’t see much other than other high-rises around them, certainly no monuments, but Josh enjoyed the view all the same.

  Especially when Artie came and stood beside him, resting on the railing in front of the bike.

  “Thank you so much for joining us tonight,” he said to Josh.

  Josh couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Artie in a sort of wondrous disbelief.

  Artie darted his gaze from left to right, then arched an eyebrow at Josh. “What?”

  “You.” Josh bit his lip, but he couldn’t stop himself from grinning. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you. I lock myself out and crash your party, and you’re out here thanking me.” He shook his head again. “Thank you. This has been an incredible evening. I’ve had a great time.”

  Artie rolled his eyes and bumped Josh’s shoulder with his own. “That’s why I’m thanking y’all, dumbass,” he said playfully. “I wasn’t sure you’d fit in with all my buddies, but you just slotted in with everyone, happy as a clam. Dian really appreciated you asking them what their pronouns are, you know? Most folk don’t bother with lil’ details like that. You were a good sport playing games and talking with everyone like we’re all old pals. I’m so happy our paths finally crossed.”

  Something fluttered through Josh’s heart as he and Artie looked at one another. Despite the abundance of bubbly, Josh felt like his lips were dry. “Funny to think we’ve been neighbors all these months but only just meeting now.”

  Artie shrugged. “That’s New York, I guess. Or any big city. You just hustle along, doing your own thing. Never knowing what’s right outside your door.”

  Josh’s heart was doing its best to thump out of his chest. “Right? But…maybe now we can say hi. Hang out again.”

  Artie frowned. “I’d be mighty upset if we didn’t. Josh – you had fun tonight, right?”

  “A ton,” Josh said earnestly. He stood up a little taller, his Champagne flute dangling precariously over the balcony railing. “I just…well, you know my last friends gave up on me. I’d hate to force myself on you and your friends if I wasn’t welcome.”

  Artie edged a fraction closer. Josh could practically taste the Champagne on his breath. “You’re welcome, Josh. You’re more than welcome.”

  The moment stretched out.

  Josh couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from Artie’s beautiful blue ones. Artie hardly blinked.

  “Dear lord, Josh,” Artie murmured. His gaze dropped as he looked at Josh’s mouth. Those long, dark eyelashes practically brushed against his cheekbones. “I’d really like to kiss you right now. But if that ain’t appropriate, you say the word.”

  Josh thought his brain might have short-circuited.

  “Appropriate?” Josh repeated. “Why wouldn’t it be appropriate?”

  Artie smiled bashfully. “You’re a guest in my home. I’d never want you to feel pressured into nothing. If this ain’t what you’d had in mind, I’ll sleep on the couch, you take the bed, and we won’t mention it again.”

  Josh couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He wanted to jump up and down, but he was also terrified he’d somehow misunderstood. “Is this what you’d had in mind?”

  Artie shook his head and blinked once. “Not at all. Until it came to midnight, and it hit me like a steam train. I wanted to kiss you so bad to see in the new year.”

  “I wanted to kiss you, too,” Josh whispered. “I thought you were with Bill.”

  Artie’s face broke into a beautiful smile. “That ol’ mule? He’d drive me crazy, god love him. No. There’s no one else I want to kiss right now, Josh. I swear.”

  Josh took a steadying breath and finally remembered to pull his Champagne flute into safety. He looked up at Artie, hope making his chest feel like a balloon. His skin may have been icy, but his heart was on fire.

  “Please,” he rasped, his voice barely audible as he kept his eyes on Artie’s handsome face.

  Artie slipped his free hand around Josh’s hip, sliding in between the coat he’d lent Josh and his shirt. Even through the cotton, the touch made Josh’s breath hitch.

  Their mouths were so close now.

  Josh wasn’t sure who moved first, but it seemed as inevitable as the start of the new year as their lips gently pressed together. A shiver surged through Josh’s body; down his throat all the way to his toes. He uttered a small, desperate sound as he pressed his body up against Artie’s firm chest. Their lips moved, their tongues darted forward, finding each other. Josh’s skin tingled and his heart raced. He wrapped his hand around Artie’s back, holding him as close as he could.

  Of all the ways he thought his night could have gone, this wasn’t even close. Josh lost himself in the kiss, the taste of the Champagne on both their mouths. He felt safe and welcomed and complete. The voice in his head that was protesting that a guy like Artie couldn’t possibly be interested in a guy like Josh was getting quieter and quieter, drowned out by the bliss he was currently experiencing in Artie’s arms.

  They broke apart, breathing heavily, their noses gently touching as they looked at one another through their eyelashes. Artie grinned at Josh.

  “You still want to sleep on the couch?”

  Josh grinned back. “Not really. And who said anything about sleeping?”

  Artie’s joy was infectious as he pressed his lips to Josh’s again. “Not me,” he murmured, tugging Josh toward the balcony door.

  The past year may have sucked a fair bit for Josh. But as he allowed Artie to lead him through the darkened apartment and into his bedroom, he had every hope that this new year was going to be his best yet.

  Thank You

  I hope you enjoyed reading this free story! If you would like to read MORE free stories from me as well as stay up to date with all my new releases, please sign up to my newsletter. I only send out mail every now and again and you can unsubscribe any time you want.

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  Thank you to my editors, John Brannelly and Tanja Ongkiehong, and to Cate Ashwood for the gorgeous cover.

  Also by the Author

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  #3 Burn

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  #5 Blaze

  Men of Hidden Creek

  Season #1 Storm

  Season #2 Ashes

  Season #3 Masterpiece

  Books by Helen Juliet

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  About the Author

  HJ Welch is a contemporary MM romance author living in London with her husband and two balls of fluff that occasionally pretend to be cats. She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. She never thought she would be any good at romance, but once she turned her hand to it she discovered she in fact adored it. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a fulltime author.

  She also writes contemporary British MM romance as Helen Juliet.

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