Christmas Break Read Online Free PDF Page B

devoted fan.”
    I laughed. The man knew all the right words.
What a charmer. And I’d never get tired of that lopsided grin.
    “How about a Christmas breakfast?” I asked.
“I’m an incredible cook. You’ll be in shock and awe.”
    “Cool. Shock-and-awe away, sweetheart.
Afterwards, we can get to know each other even better.”
    He sat up on the side of the bed and
stretched his incredible body, and I took a few moments to study
the play of muscles across his back. Get to know each other better?
I liked that idea, even though I’d spent the last several hours
exploring every square inch of him. Yet, it wasn’t just his body I
wanted to explore. His hopes, his dreams, his successes, his
failures—I wanted to know it all.
    I also wanted this magic to extend beyond
the holidays.
    * * * * *
    Breakfast didn’t happen. Brax and I ended up
back in bed—well, technically on the couch—but we did take time to
eat. After staying in bed until late morning, Brax disappeared for
an hour and came back with a two-foot-tall artificial tree from his
frat house, while I whipped up the best Christmas dinner I’d ever
had. I loved to cook, and yesterday I’d bought a small turkey from
the sale freezer bin along with all the other fixings. Crazy, I
know, but I’d planned on celebrating alone.
    I mashed potatoes, made gravy, dressing, a
salad, and an equally awesome pumpkin pie. As a kid I’d dreamed of
Christmases like this—minus the sex part—instead of the ones I’d
grown up with where everyone drank too much, got into fights, and
dinner consisted of burgers and greasy fries. Brax and I feasted by
candlelight at the card table in my miniscule dining area, his
little Christmas tree with its single strand of multicolored lights
blinking merrily in the corner. We watched sappy classic Christmas
movies late into the evening, in between hot make-out sessions. I
loved Miracle on 34th Street, and Brax loved Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer.
    After Susan got her miracle and Rudolph flew
away into the night, Brax excused himself. He came back a few
minutes later with a small wrapped package. “This is for you. I
bought it yesterday when I knew we were having dinner
together.”
    He handed it to me. Obviously, he’d wrapped
it himself, judging by the crooked corners and ratty ribbon, which
made it the most beautifully wrapped present I’d ever been given. I
stared at it, thrilled and horrified at the same time. I didn’t
have a damn thing to give him.
    “You didn’t have to do that.” I rolled it
over in my hands, savoring the moment and not wanting to open
it.
    “I know.” He sat down next to me, his brow
furrowed and little worry crinkles around his eyes as if he were
anxious about me not liking his gift or some dumb-ass thing like
that. I’d love a sack of dog shit if he gave it to me. “Is
something wrong?”
    “I don’t have anything for you.”
    “Honey, you’ve given me the greatest gift:
one of the best Christmases I can remember, awesome company,
awesome sex, and an awesome dinner. What I gave you is nothing
compared to that.”
    Okay, I’d go with that. Guilt abolished, I
tore into the package.
    Little bits of paper flew through the air. I
opened a gold-lined jewelry box and held my breath. A small silver
grizzly holding a football dangled from a silver chain. “It’s
beautiful.”
    “Do you really like it?” Brax studied me in
earnest, as if it really mattered to him.
    “I love it. Help me put it on.”
    Brax took it from my hands. After a few
fumbled attempts caused by overlarge fingers, he managed to fasten
it around my neck. “I wanted you to remember our Christmas
together.”
    As if I could ever forget, any more than I
could forget the text message with that awful picture, but I’d be
damned if it would ruin my time with Brax. At least we had one more
night. I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom.

 
    Chapter 9
Magic
Brax
    The morning after Christmas Day I woke up to
Aubrey’s head