With Trent's help, Ted boxed the biscuits as best as he was able into a dozen or so tiny boxes that featured a cheery snowman pattern. Ted put all but two of the biscuit boxes into a Richmond tote and handed the other two to Trent. "For you and Maddy."
Trent smiled as their fingers touched. "She'll love these. Thank you."
"Thank you," Ted replied. "I should probably drop these off at Higgins' house sooner rather than later. Would you like to come with me?"
Though Trent knew he wouldn't be unwelcome if he showed up with Ted, it still felt like it could potentially cause a stir that could get one or both of them in trouble, professionally. "Thanks, but I should probably head home. I still need to clean up all the wrapping paper from Maddy's presents this morning."
Ted nodded in understanding. "Spend all that time making 'em look nice and kids just rip through that stuff without admiring the effort you put into making those corners look sharp."
"Exactly," Trent said, making small talk because it was so much easier than talking about the situation they had inadvertently gotten themselves in.
"Can I walk you home?" Ted asked. "I think I'm headed back near your neighborhood and we both know I'm an expert at directions now."
Trent collected his notebook from the table. Ted put his Santa hat back on and held the door open for Trent.
They didn't have far to go and were fairly silent on the walk. Few people were out and about and only a couple acknowledged their presence, though each got called a wanker from different passersby. Ted wished them all a Merry Christmas anyway.
The two men were hyperaware of the space between them, making sure if anyone else was nearby that they maintained a respectable distance apart (only to drift into each other's personal space when no one else was around). It was tame, but it was something for them and them alone in case this was the last time they could be together like this.
"Um, that's me," Trent said, pointing ahead to a rather nondescript gray building with a pale blue door.
Ted nodded and followed Trent to the door. "If you walk someone home, you walk them to the door. That's how I was raised. I won't follow you in, I promise," he said with a half smile. "Just door-to-door service." Trent nodded. "Thank you, again, for today. It's been a weird year and it was nice getting to spend some time getting to know you, Trent. Oh hey, mistletoe!" Ted closed his eyes and laughed. "Henry thought it was 'Missile Toad' and for a solid year kept asking why there wasn't an amphibian armed with a Christmas bazooka for sale in the toy department, but I—"
The kiss, initiated by Trent, was brief. He pulled away nearly as quickly as he leaned in because the mustache was a lot (not in a bad way, just in a different way than he was used to because Isaiah never had facial hair) and he wasn't sure if he should have done it in the first place.
He was glad he had, though, when Ted opened his eyes and stared back at him with an intensity akin to that of a man preparing to take down an entire army on his own.
"I do know it's the law to kiss someone under mistletoe, and you seem like a stickler for rules. But I would not mind in the slightest if you decided to do that again on your own free will. Or if I could do that for you, as it were."
"Noted," Trent said, his cheeks flushing. "Listen… if the offer is still available, I should like to accompany you to Mr. Higgins' home."
"This feels like we're in an Austen novel and that pleases me to no end." Trent cocked his head at Ted, waiting for an actual answer. "Oh! Yes. I should like for you to accompany me, good sir." Ted made a faux tip of his Santa hat.
Trent couldn't help but smile as he held up the biscuits from Ted. "Let me just pop upstairs for a second to drop these off. Are you okay waiting here? I'll only be a minute."
"I would wait a full five minutes for you, Mr. Crimm." Ted curtsied.
"This is a bad idea, isn't it?" Trent mumbled more to himself than to Ted, but expected Ted to respond anyway.
"Probably. I have been told I embarrass people in public whether I mean to or not."
Trent scaled the steps to his floor in record time and managed to get his key into his lock correctly after only three times. "Calm down, Crimm," he muttered to himself.
After placing the two biscuit boxes on the kitchen counter, Trent pulled his notebook out of his pocket and placed it next to the biscuits. Today was off the record anyway. And right now he wasn't Trent Crimm, The Independent—he was Trent Crimm, about to be seen socially in public with Ted Lasso. And he was determined to be okay with that because, though he wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, even he couldn't deny how happy he was right then.
In for a penny, in for a pound, Trent thought to himself as he grabbed a Santa hat he used as decoration off the back of his desk chair and tugged it over his thick hair.
"Well, hello there, Mr. Claus, North Pole. I like your glasses. And your hat," Ted said as he ran his finger along the rim of the hat/Trent's forehead. "See, I was waiting for a fine looking fella to come back down from his flat. But if you would like to have a turn with me under this here mistletoe, I think he would eventually forgive me."
"Oh, would I?" Trent asked.
"What?! Trent? Is that you? YOU'RE Santa?!"
"You've still got your Santa hat on too, Ted," Trent deadpanned.
"Keen observation there, sir. I admire your investigative journalist abilities, among other things," Ted said. "Better whip out that notebook for this scoop—Coach Ted Lasso, from America is gonna kiss Trent Crimm, The Independent. Both are wearing Santa hats, but neither of whom are actually Santa."
"I left the notebook upstairs, Ted." Ted's face shifted from slight shock to utterly smitten and Trent knew that he had done and said the right thing. "But, on the record, today has been one of the best days I've had in a long time. One of the best Christmases, certainly. And that's because of you. Santa hat and all."
Ted did kiss Trent Crimm. He kissed him hard with the level of enthusiasm and gratitude only Ted Lasso possessed.