Winter Warmers - Dec 2020 Writing Competition

Story Two

'Maybe No More'

By Bex

Bex writes m/m romance set in imaginary landscapes as well as the modern world, sometimes with magical elements thrown in for extra fun. She can usually be found binging TV series on Netflix, drinking tea, or sleeping the day away. Bex currently lives in Wales with her two cat-shaped fur-babies and a lot of unwelcome dust bunnies.

Daniel had been watching Simon all night. This time, he would actually do it; he would tell the other man how he felt.

Maybe.

If he had a little bit more to drink, first.

The end-of-year party in work was always a blast, and the alcohol was always flowing, and the different departments always mingled more than they normally would. Which meant it was totally fine if Daniel wanted to hang out with Simon all night. Nothing wrong with that at all. No one would think it was weird.

Some of the women in Simon's department might be a little suspicious, sure, because at a welcome party a few months ago, Daniel had gotten drunk and told them he wanted to squish Simon—seriously, what had he been thinking?— but even their knowing looks wouldn't deter him. He'd been in love with the programmer since the man had first started working there two years ago. It was about time he actually said something!

Maybe.

If he checked he had nothing in his teeth again, first.

"You're staring," Tom said. Daniel didn't bother looking at his friend. He didn't want to see Tom's smug expression. "He likes you too, you know." Daniel turned at that, so fast he went a little woozy. "Did he say that? Did he tell you he likes me?"

Tom rolled his eyes. "He didn't have to. You two make googly eyes at each other every damn meeting we have. Neither of you are as subtle as you think." Daniel wished Simon made googly eyes at him. They were gorgeous eyes—a deep, dark brown, and they crinkled into little crescent moons when he smiled, and they sparked wickedly whenever he said something witty during a meeting, and man, there was no way Daniel would be able to look into those eyes and tell Simon he loved him.

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

Tom rolled his eyes again. "No you're not. Hey, Simon!" he called, and completely ignored Daniel's panicked squeak. Traitor.

Simon wandered over, drink in hand and heart-stopping smile in place. "What's up, guys?"

"Daniel has something he wants to say to you." Tom clapped Daniel on the shoulder, then simply walked off to another group of people chatting nearby. Simon turned to look at Daniel expectantly. When Daniel didn't say anything—because really, what was he supposed to say?—Simon asked, "Everything alright?"

Daniel squeaked. Then coughed. Then tried to speak normally. "Yeah, fine. I was just, um, thinking what a fun party this is."

Crescent moon eyes. "It is."

Silence.

Very awkward silence.

"Are you doing much for the holidays?" Daniel was pleased with how

normal that sounded.

"Not really." Simon shrugged. "None of my family live close by, so it'll probably be pretty quiet."

Daniel's brows twitched into a frown. "You'll be alone?"

"Yeah."

The frown deepened. "Over the holidays?"