Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
After a few more exchanges, the boys also learn that Malcolm is the son of the head chef at Nadine’s—and Teague’s idea of taking Liam out to dinner after this get-together becomes a reality when Malcolm says, “Getting a table on Christmas Eve is a lost cause,” then leans in to add, “unless you happen to know the son of the head chef—wink, wink, nudge, nudge.”
A few turns of the hour hand later, Teague and Liam are at a table by the window of one of Fairview’s nicest restaurants, every corner of it decorated with warm moody lighting that catches the spirit of the season as the sun lets go of the sky outside. The two enjoy one another’s company across the candlelit table as they feast on plates of the most delicious Italian food they’ve ever had in their lives. This particular restaurant being out of their usual price ranges, they have never bothered to come here, but Malcolm made extra sure they were taken care of. The head chef Mario Tucci even comes out from the kitchen at one point to greet them, then again to ensure everything is to their liking; of course it is.
“If this is just a hint of what we can expect living together in the spring,” says Liam after taking his last bite and sighing with pleasure, “I think I’m looking forward to the best semester I will ever have in my life.”
“I’m just glad all my credits transferred over,” laughs Teague. “If I had to retake entry level Latin again …”
“Latin?” Liam sets down his glass of water he was about to sip from. “You’re taking Latin?”
“Babe, my loving Peanut, do you realize half of the curriculum is learning about Greek and Roman mythology?”
“Your … loving … Peanut …?”
“Like, literally, questions about Hades and Poseidon and Zeus were on the midterm. I was literally tested on literal mythology. In a real college-level Latin language class.”
“You just called me ‘babe’. And ‘my loving Peanut’.”
“But no questions about which mouth to resuscitate Cerberus with. Maybe there’s no way to resuscitate a three-headed dog of the underworld. Isn’t he already kinda undead?” Teague notices Liam’s expression. “What? These are legitimate questions …”
Liam takes his boyfriend’s hands across the table. “I love you. With all my heart. I want us to endure all the years together, like that couple from Spruce. I really want that to be us years from now when we graduate. I … I want to share every single holiday together, just like this one.”
“Are you sure? You haven’t seen how drunk I get on chocolate every Valentine’s Day. Or how way-over-the-top I go when it’s someone’s birthday I care about.”
“I want it all with you.”
“And I happen to care about you a lot.” Teague’s grip tightens on Liam’s hands. “Just don’t let our Rus hear that. He’s the jealous type.” Then he leans over the table. “And I love you, too, Peanut.”
“I just … just want … I’m … you’re so …”
And then they come together. The candle nearly tips over and their silverware clatters as they share a kiss in the window of the restaurant. It will be a wonder to them both for years to come, that a deceptively simple question on a dating app would open a door to the rest of their beautiful lives. Liam, forever tongue-tied with Teague, who will forever love to be loved by his Peanut.
The End.