Page 26 of The Christmas Accomplice

“You were making it sound like it would be a lot of work. Did it take you a long time?”

Reece gave her a side-eye. “Not that long.”

Nick raised her eyebrows as she looked at him and still managed to cut a piece of chicken. “Seemed like you were gone for a while.”

“Not that long.”

“Kind of long.”

He sighed and sat back, half turning on the couch to face her. “What are you getting at?”

“I came to see if you might need some help,” Nick said. “And I peeked in the door and saw you and the hot gay nerd dancing.”

Reece put his face in his hands. “Oh my God.”

“No, don’t be that way! It was really sweet and adorable. I’m so glad I got to see you like that!”

His face felt like he’d shoved it into a smelter. “Oh my God.”

“Come on, why are you embarrassed? Reece, come on.” She tugged his hands down and lifted his chin to force him to look at her. “It was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Stop it.” He looked away from her. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“And ruin your moment? I’m not going to cock block you.”

He put his face in his hands again. “Oh my God. Don’t ever say that again.”

“What? Cock block?”

“Ugh. Stop it!”

Nick laughed, and he heard her cut another piece of chicken and take a drink of wine. She let him stew a few moments longer. “What’s your plan with this guy?”

He looked up and frowned. “What do you mean?”

“What’s your next step?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have a plan. I hadn’t planned on dancing with him in the first place, it just kind of happened.” He groaned and slumped back into the couch, staring at the multi-colored lights of his tree. “I have no plan, and it wouldn’t matter if I did because in less than a week, he goes back to Michigan and I stay here.”

“Yeah, and you wouldn’t want to have any fun until that time.”

“What are you suggesting?”

She set her plate aside and fixed him with a steady look. “Do you like the hot gay nerd?”

“His name is Welton Monroe.”

“Fine. Do you like Welton Monroe, the hot gay nerd?”

Reece felt a reluctant smile prop up one corner of his mouth. “Yeah, I like him.”

“Does he seem to like you back?”

Another flash fire of a blush burned across Reece’s face as he thought about feeling Welton’s erection, and he had to look away from Nick again. “Yeah. Pretty sure he likes me back.”

“Do you have fun when you spend time with him?”

“Yes, but—”

“This is not a conversation that should include ‘buts’, unless it’s the butt of your hot gay nerd. Excuse me, Welton Monroe, hot gay nerd.” She smirked. “He could be like a secret agent or something.” In a deep voice, she said, “Welton Monroe, hot gay nerd. I’ll take my browser open source, not corporate funded.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Reece said through a chuckle. “And how do you know about open sourced browsers?”

“Don’t get us off track.”

“But you’re the one who—”

“No, no, no, no, no.” Nick put up her hand palm out. “Do you have fun when you’re with him?”

Reece thought about them building a snowman together, their conversation about his challenge with the music setup, teaching Welton to do the Floss, and then slow dancing with him to Rex Garland. Did he have fun when he was with Welton? No, it wasn’t just fun. When he was with Welton, he felt whole and seen and heard. It felt like he could do anything because Welton looked at him as if he really could do anything.

“Yeah,” Reece said in a whisper. “I do.”

“Then, dammit, have fun. While he’s here, no matter how long he’s here, just relax and have fun. And maybe things can work out for you, or maybe he goes back to Michigan, but either way, you’ll know that you can feel like this for someone.” She smiled and moved her plate back onto her lap. As she cut off another bite of chicken, she said, “Besides, you could always do a video chat and watch each other masturbate.”

Reece put his face in his hands again. “Oh my God.”