"Babe, I'm only gonna be gone for a few days. Why can't you just be happy for me?" Krista tried to explain again to Jeff.
"I am! But this is Christmas we're talking about. Why don't I just come with you?" he suggested hopefully.
She continued to pack her duffel bag and watched her boyfriend drain another scotch. "This is the first time in years that we'll all be together and I'm actually invited. I want to bring you but my family doesn't really like… people."
"I'll be back on December 26th, okay? Besides, aren't you spending Christmas with your family?" The question brought a flicker of sadness across his face, barely noticeable unless you knew him.
"Nah, they don't wanna see little ol' me, mostly because I wanted to see you," he said through a twisted pout. Krista only half-believed him, but let it be.
"Now darling, to the airport we go!" He picked up her bag, giving her a sweet, alcohol tinged kiss.
"I think I'll drive," she laughed as she took the keys away. Jeff shrugged and sat in the passenger seat.
The ride there wasn't long, despite how it felt. For some reason he was unusually quiet and it was very unsettling. They pulled up to the drop-off curb and she put the car in park.
"I'm going to miss you baby," Jeff said in all sincerity. His hand gently touched her thigh, his fingers wandering along it. Krista put her hand on his cheek and caressed it, knowing how hard it would be for the both of them.
"I'm going to miss you too." After that, words escaped her, and none seemed to be needed. She felt him bring her head in closer, then their lips met and melted together. This wasn't demanding, it wasn't lust or desire. It was what was never said- love.
"I have to go," Krista whined. Jeff held her hand and squeezed it, making her smile.
"I'm probably gonna hang out with Chip tonight anyways," he replied, helping her out of the car.
"Replacing me already?" she teased.
"Well he is single now… I'm kidding, calm down," he finished, seeing her eyebrows raised.
"Have a great time with your family." Jeff gave her one last kiss and watched her leave.
He drove home and saw a familiar car in the driveway. He couldn't help but smile as he opened the door to his condo and found his friend already there.
"Ever the sneaky one, are we?" Jeff sat down next to Chip, who'd helped himself to a beer.
"The door was unlocked, genius. Anyways, did you already drop Krista off?"
Jeff grinned once more and took Chip's beer from him and greedily gulped down the last half of it. "Sure did. Looks like you're stuck here with me." Chip glared at the empty bottle but it technically was his after all. "Not like you're any disappointment, Mr. Davis," he chuckled.
"Oh? And what's that supposed to mean?" Jeff leaned back, biting the inside of his cheek to keep that goofy smile from returning. "Depends, what are you interpreting it as?" Chip retaliated.
The two of them laughed and each remembered why they were best friends in the first place. "So… what are you doing for Christmas? Are you still spending it with your family? I mean now that…" Jeff trailed off awkwardly.
"Now that Patty's gone? Yeah I would, but she decided that she'd take the kids across five states to see their grandparents, and she happened to conveniently forget to tell me. So no, I'm not spending it with my family," Chip sighed. He ran a hand through his hair and took another deep breath.
"Anyways, what about you? You always spend holidays with your family." Now it was Jeff's turn to feel uncomfortable. "Nah, they just got busy is all. No time for Jeff." Chip gave him an unmistakable look. "Seriously. What happened? You can tell me dude, it's not like I'm not in the shit myself."
Jeff looked somewhat surprised at the language, because it wasn't like him to say stuff like that. Then again, it wasn't like him to be alone on such a family-oriented holiday. Still, he tried to play it off. "It's nothing, really. My family and I just aren't on the best terms."
"Why do I get the feeling that there's more to it than that?" Chip prodded him on gently.
"It's nothing," he repeated, getting stern.
"There's something that you're not telling me."
"Then there has to be a reason for it."
"Jeff, what could be so bad that you're afraid to say?"
"It's. Nothing," he growled.
"Is it something that they did? I mean—"
"THEY TOLD ME NOT TO BOTHER, ALRIGHT? They said they didn't wanna see me, that I should just go on with my stupid life of 'show business'. I would be a bad influence on Maddox, or whatever." Jeff's hands were now clenched into fists and he was avoiding all eye contact.
Chip's mouth was gaping slightly, shocked at the confession. "Are you serious? Where did that come from?"
Jeff laughed bitterly. "I showed up really drunk when I was supposed to take care of Maddox. Then another time I said that I had a show to do and I couldn't get together with the rest of the family. Just the little things like that, and they told me this year that I wasn't invited and just shouldn't show up."
"It'll probably pass, I wouldn't worry—"
"I don't need any advice, Chip. I'm fine." Jeff got up and went to the kitchen, grabbing two beers from the fridge and giving one to his friend.
"Well at least you aren't the only one by himself on Christmas."
"I'll drink to that," Jeff replied and clinked the bottle with Chip's. "How about you and I go out to a bar, get trashed?"
Chip grinned and shook his hand. "I like the sound of that."
4 shots, 2 scotches, and 3 beers later, the men stumbled into Jeff's condo. "Oh dude, I am haaaaaaaaammered," Chip chortled, throwing himself onto the couch before gravity could do it for him.
"To bachelors on Christmas!" Jeff cheered, following Chip's example and falling almost on top of him. "You're n-not single," Chip reminded him.
"Do you see my girlfriend here? I sure don't! So… so it's like I'm single," he answered, getting closer to his friend and putting and arm around his shoulders. "Pshh, good enough for me!" Chip laughed. "You're reaaaaally close!"
Jeff moved even closer to emphasize it. "What's wrong with being close? Besides, you're awful cuddly." He hooked one of his feet over Chip's, who didn't move away, but looked hesitant.
"Yeah, that happens sometimes," Chip said, absentmindedly toying with Jeff's jet-black hair. "It's not even Christmas Eve yet and we're already celebrating."
"Imagine what that would entail," Jeff purred. They looked at each other for a moment before Chip spoke. "What did you have in mind?"
A devilish grin appeared on his face. "Nothing too fancy. Just hanging out with you, doin' whatever."
"I think I'd like that very much," he murmured.
Before either could say anymore, Jeff pressed against Chip and kissed him deep, his fingers getting entangled in that dark brown hair of his. Chip returned it and without thinking, opened his mouth when he felt Jeff's tongue pressed against his lips.
They were locked together, hands travelling and exploring, tongues swirling around with the other. Jeff used his teeth to tug at Chip's bottom lip with just enough pressure to make him moan under his breath. In response, he laid scorching kisses along his jaw, nipping at the younger man's neck.
"What the fuck?" They pulled apart and stared in the direction that the shrill cry from.
Krista.