business, but no, we don’t.”
“I don’t believe you,” Chris said.
“Yeah, me either. Hudson is too damn happy all the time anymore.”
I flipped my cousin off, and he laughed.
“Okay, last gift,” Chris said.
We opened them and Ford had orange hand cleaner, Sawyer had disinfecting wipes, and I had disposable dusting cloths and the wand to go with them.
“Okay, I take it back. You’re allowed to give more than one gift because these are all awesome,” Sawyer said. I had to agree. They were. And all very useful.
We opened the rest of the gifts. Sawyer had gotten me a really nice leather messenger bag, and Ford a pair of really nice mechanics gloves.
“These are really great, thanks,” Ford said.
“You’re welcome. I know you wear gloves while working, and if they don’t fit, the gift receipt is in the bag.”
Sawyer got Chris a pair of scrubs with fish all over the top, and Chris laughed when he opened them.
“Hey, you mentioned how soothing they are. Now you can take them with you from room to room.”
“I can.”
Ford got Chris a pack of compression socks and Sawyer a sweater, and thankfully, there was no horrible elf on it. “I noticed you wear a lot of sweaters,” Ford said.
“I do and I love it, thanks,” Sawyer said.
“Yeah, but compression socks? Really?” I asked, giving Ford a hard time.
“Hey, these things are the best,” Chris said as he gushed over the package of very bright socks.
“Hey, what did you get Sawyer?” Chris asked me.
“Umm, I’ll give it to him later,” I said.
“And that’s our cue to leave,” Ford said and got up. He grabbed Chris, who squeaked as he was pulled up and off the couch.
“But…but…” Ford didn’t stop. He kept walking until he was at the door and handing Chris his coat.
“Wait, your gifts,” Sawyer called out before he got up off the couch. He picked up the gifts and rushed them over to Chris and Ford. “You don’t have to leave,” Sawyer told them.
“Yes we do. You two have things to talk about,” Ford said. He held out Chris’s coat, and I chuckled when Chris looked at him like he was crazy before he shoved his arms into it. They were gone, and I was left alone with Sawyer, who was standing against the door, staring at me after he’d closed it.
“That snowy glitter is going to be everywhere for weeks.”
“Oh well. I’ll remember to not use it again next year. We were trying to make it festive for you. I know how hard things are for you this year without being with your family,” I said.
Sawyer walked to me and climbed onto my lap. “Thank you. That’s so sweet. I’m okay though. I have Chris, and now you and Ford. You three are enough. I know it’s crazy fast, but you and Ford are really good friends already.”
“Gah, I hope I’m more than a friend. I mean…you know my dick size and everything.”
I tried so hard to keep a straight face, but it didn’t work when Sawyer started laughing.
“True,” he said before leaning in and giving me a gentle kiss. “Merry Christmas, Hudson. Thanks for being my Christmas present.”
“Merry Christmas. But I’m actually not. I want to talk again about Cappuccinos. I want—” Sawyer covered my mouth with his hand, stopping me.
“Yes. I’ll do the partner thing. But you have to let me buy my partnership,” Sawyer said.
I shook my head.
“That’s how partnerships are done. I buy into it. Let me at least pay you for all of the start-up costs, and we’ll do the monthly rent thing at least.”
It was what I had wanted, so why was I hesitant?
“I have the funds, so don’t worry. I’ve done nothing but save for six years. My Jeep is ten years old. It’s long paid for. I have rent that’s half of what I was paying in Breckenridge, and I have another few hundred in everything else every month. But I have savings. Let me buy in if that’s what you want.”
I pulled his hand off my mouth. This wasn’t exactly what I planned for a Christmas Day conversation. “Okay. We’ll have something drawn up. And we’ll include a clause about me buying you out if you ever want out, for any reason.”
“Deal,” Sawyer said and held out his hand. I took it and gave it a shake before I wrapped my other hand around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.
I swiped my tongue across his lip before I sucked it in