Anote: I am feeling a little blue but excited all at the same time, as I see the number of story post-its has shrunk to just five more chapters. I have cut out some things, like giving too many details about Erik's war experiences and i will mention it only in backstory. I think there is enough violence going on right now in the world, to warrant me writing about it in a fiction story.
I hope you have enjoyed this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 45- Happy Holidays part1
Sensing movement at the doors, Erik glanced towards the opening but was once again disappointed when a customer straggled in, drawn in no doubt by the bookstore's early bird Christmas specials.
Charles had gone off to work this morning, after unexpectedly announcing that he was going to take the month of December off. Erik was all in favor of this because the professor was working himself to the bone on some charity something something. Between that, and his lectures at the university and tutoring Erik in the evening not to mention the fact that they were now keeping each other awake half the night, things were getting a bit hairy.
He eagerly looked across again but it was only another enthusiastic Christmas shopper. Maybe Charles' Head of the department couldn't get him the time off. He didn't know why the Englishman bothered to ask. He could just quit. It's not like they needed the money.
'So what's her name?' was the friendly query that came from above.
Startled, Erik glanced up at his co-worker, who was on top of the ladder unpinning a large floating pumpkin shape. Being the two tallest workers, they naturally seem to get the decorating detail, every time there was a major holiday event.
He liked Darwin. The man was mature for his age and didn't feel the need to prattle on continuously, unlike some of his other counterparts.
'Sorry?' he asked blankly as he passed up a string of lights, 'Who?'
'Erik, I have known you for what…five months? And all of a sudden you are humming in the aisles and smiling at customers, and now you are going to get whiplash trying to see who is coming through the door; all the signs of a new romance. Good for you! Is she coming by this morning?'
Erik gripped the ladder a littler tighter than he needed to. Well this was embarrassing! He didn't like having his personal business out in the open like this. Did everyone know?
'I don't know what you are talking about,' he proceeded to protest.
Darwin smirked gleeful as Erik whipped around to check the doorway again. He didn't know why the other man was denying it, as the evidence was written all over his face. And it wasn't like anyone else would tease or make facetious remarks, because Erik's personality didn't invite such office camaraderie.
Erik glanced at him ruefully when he realized what he had done.
'And just the other day I told HIM, that it didn't matter if I was 'in and out' of this relationship. Thankfully, he isn't the type to rub my stupidity in my face,' Erik confessed quietly.
The black man nodded his head, pleased that he had been taken into the older man's confidence. He wanted to ask if it was anyone he knew, because he had seen Erik with one of two men in the past but he thought that might be pushing his luck. In any case, the mysterious 'he' would soon be making an appearance. Silence descended between them once again, as they both quietly enjoyed the light Monday morning traffic in the store, mixed in with the tasteful carols being piped through the music system. Darwin kept his face carefully averted, as the other man absently started to hum along to 'Joy to the world,' even as Erik pulled out his cell phone just in case he had missed any messages. Sadly the man fingered the blank screen before slipping it back into his pocket.
He and the professor had had a busy couple of weeks, even though what they were now, was no different from what they were before, only more so.
Their first hurdle as a couple in the form of the blood test had been successfully overcome, and they had gone home and immediately 'celebrated'. Celebrated was Charles' word, not his. He didn't know why the professor couldn't admit that they fucked until they couldn't stand up. But after a couple of days he began to see why the small man refused to describe it like that. Truthfully, it wasn't the best sex he had ever had, but Charles was his best friend, and even someone as jaded as him, began to pick up on the subtle nuances of how different it was to be sleeping with such a partner. Just knowing that Charles was delighted, every time Erik simply inhaled and exhaled, began to thaw out corners in the older man's mind and heart, that he didn't know had been frozen over.
'It's a really nice day, isn't it?' he asked Darwin out of the blue.
'Uh huh,' the dark man agreed with a knowing smile. From his vantage point, he could see the doorway better than Erik and he was first to notice a couple approaching; one with a familiar face that he usually associated with Erik. Darwin hoped this was the guy that his work colleague was with. Couples that were friends before made for the very best relationships.
He wasn't disappointed because as the newcomer called out to his co-worker, Erik's face broke out in one of his rare smiles.
All of that changed when the older man turned around.
'WHY ARE YOU HERE?!' he bellowed angrily, moving forward in a rush. Dismayed by this sudden turn of events, Darwin quickly scrambled down the ladder to intervene if needed. However, the professor seemed to have everything in order, as he knocked away Erik's hand that had been previously impolitely pointing into Emma's surprised face.
'I didn't ask her to come here!' he stated emphatically to the professor, willing Charles to believe him with every ounce of his being.
The man quietly shushed him as he folded the tall man in a gentle hug, 'I picked her up from the side of the road.'
As Erik squawked in disbelief, Charles quickly realized that he could have phrased that better.
'Steady on, old chap,' he interjected hastily, 'Ms. Frost was having car trouble and I brought her here to wait for a cab. It's freezing out there.'
Erik rolled his eyes in aggravation. Why did he have to bring her here?! The small man had almost given him a heart attack!
'Emma has been very kindly trying to explain mutual funds to me again because fortunately, she doesn't mind that I am a complete dunce when it comes to numbers. We were going to find some hot chocolate; do you want to come along?
'Like hell you are!' Erik retorted rudely, 'I absolutely forbid you to…'
A gentle cough of warning from the step ladder made him reconsider his words.
'That's alright,' Emma remarked sharply, 'I should get going. Thank you for your rescue Professor. I'll see you on the 23rd.'
She and Erik exchanged hostile stares before she glided out the store, followed by the admiring glance of every male, both young and old. However, before vanishing from sight, the blonde turned and shared a shy, but cheerful wave goodbye with the professor.
'What the fuck was that all about?!' Erik spat out in annoyance, even as Charles bestowed a withering glance of scorn on him. The professor then continued to ignore his presence as he turned to smile affably at the dark skinned man, who had helped to calm the tense conversation.
'Charles this is Darwin,' the older man introduced them grimly, 'Darwin, this is the man who I swear is trying to push all my buttons today!'
As he shook the man's outstretched hand, his co-worker grinned in understanding of the loving sentiments behind the antagonistic words. What he was really enjoying the most, was how Charles appeared to be as deaf as a post to his boyfriend's temper. Not only did it show that the young man had a very good understanding of Erik's personality, it was funny as hell to watch. 'Pleasure to meet you Charles. Erik, I am going to head down to the loading dock for another box of lights. Please excuse me.'
Erik could feel a vein throbbing in the side of his face, as Charles stared appreciatively at Darwin's graceful walk.
'You really are trying to kill me today, aren't you?' the older man whispered in a tight voice.
The professor jumped guilty and then smiled in apology when he realized he had been staring at another man. He leaned forward to place a light kiss on Erik's lips, 'Sorry…tall and lean is my body type; as you very well know.'
'WHY, did you invite Frost to your charity event?!'
'And why shouldn't I?' Charles inquired a bit tartly. He felt no desire to explain himself, to someone who was being so bossy and just so damned annoying!
The older man glowered at him, as he swarmed up the ladder to pick up from where he and Darwin left off. Charles pulled gently at the string of lights, attempting to keep it from getting tangled, as his boyfriend tacked it up to the ceiling. He frowned sadly as the silence grew heavy between them.
'I couldn't leave her there,' Charles finally offered, as the older man still refused to look down at him.
Erik exhaled noisily as he glanced down at the pair of beautiful blue eyes below him. 'I don't know what you think you are doing but be careful, she is not all that she seems. If you allow yourself to get hurt, I swear I will never forgive you!'
'I know she's not all that she appears. I can feel the darkness radiating off her in waves; the fear and self loathing under that pretty exterior.'
The older man knew he shouldn't be surprised at the smaller man's insight giving all that they had been through together, but he was. He thought for sure, that Charles had been sucked in by the polished, wealthy façade she projected to the world.
'So why then?' he asked in genuine curiosity. 'Why risk exposing yourself to something like that?'
'When I stopped at the roadside, three other men had already pulled up on the pretense of helping her. You should have seen the shock on her face, when I got out and tried to get her car to start. And then when that wouldn't work, it's my car she chose to get into, not any of those guys who were clearly interested in her.'
The older man looked skeptical.
'You think she only talked to me because of my money?'
'Well, that's why I talk to you,' Erik admitted cheekily with a smirk.
'I hope that's not it,' the professor added worriedly, ignoring Erik's little joke in his preoccupation with the matter. 'I really felt as though I touched something long forgotten inside of her.'
Charles fidgeted from side to side as his lover stared at him contemplatively. Why did he have to explain his actions to Erik? This was such a central core to his personality; didn't the older man know him at all?
'If you had sent me a little text message warning, I wouldn't have reacted like that,' Erik remarked dryly as he climbed down the steps, 'however, if she says something, or does ANYTHING to make you uncomfortable, you are to call me immediately!'
Charles nodded his head vigorously in agreement. It was why he had brought her to Erik's work in the first place. He wasn't a complete moron!
He smiled happily as Erik tilted his head back to kiss him swiftly but deeply, 'but tell me something little one, you wouldn't try this tactic on a person like Shaw would you?'
'Of course not! Didn't you say Shaw shot your mum in the head?! He's a raving psychopath!' Charles said in a matter-of-fact voice, gawking at Erik as if he was crazy for even making the suggestion.
'There is a god,' Erik mumbled sarcastically under his breath, as he picked up the ladder to move it to the next spot.
'Still, Erik in the future I would prefer that you NOT use the words 'I absolutely forbid you,' when addressing me.'
As the scholar stared him down with a determination that seemed to spring up most unexpectedly and inconveniently at times, Erik had to fight the urge to look away.
'I am not going to apologise, so don't hold your breath!' he answered testily, 'If I think you are heading into trouble, I am going to do whatever needs to be done, regardless of your feelings.'
The professor smiled faintly, knowing the truth in his heart of hearts, 'and I love you too.'