They pulled up alongside the curb in front of Christians house about an hour after they'd said they'd be there. James's stomach was still in knots and he was exhausted from worrying. He shouldered his bag and shut the car door with his hip, then followed Christian up the walk.
"I'm nervous, Christian," James muttered when they reached the foot of the front steps and he watched Christian climb them. "What did they say when you told them I was your boyfriend?"
Christian turned around when he reached the front door, but just as he started to speak, the door swung wide open and his sister rushed out onto the porch. She bypassed Christian and went straight for James, who was halfway up the stairs.
"I knew it was you," Ambika said with the patented Collins smirk. "Tall, gorgeous, dark hair, blue eyes? If it wasn't you, I was going to kick his ass, to be honest."
"What?" James stopped with one step to go.
"Not surprised he didn't tell you. Especially when he didn't tell us." She rolled her eyes, wrapped him up in a hug, and continued, "He just said he was bringing his boyfriend, gave mom that description, and that's it. Left us to wonder if his mysterious boyfriend had a name or a job or, well..." She chuckled and pulled James up the last step by his elbow, then led him inside the house. "Whether he existed at all."
"He didn't tell you?" James looked at Christian's sister in turn, she shook her head.
"I guess he either thought we'd figure it out or he wanted to surprise us. Pretty sure we all figured it out. Mom hasn't said anything, but maybe she didn't want to get her hopes up." Ambika shrugged and pointed to Christian's bag at the bottom of the stairs and said, "Put your stuff there for now."
Christian was leaning against the counter with a bottle of beer in each hand. He passed one to James and clinked the necks of the bottles together.
"Hey, baby." Christian grinned at him and winked and James's heart just about leapt out of his chest and ran back out to the car.
James attempted to say 'hi', but it got stuck on the way out. He cleared his throat to repeat himself, but then Christian lifted his arm and gestured for James to come closer, and he gave up. He leaned against the counter next to Christian and tipped his beer back. His throat was suddenly very dry.
Christian dropped his arm back down and let it rest on the counter against James's lower back, which shouldn't have made him blush. "Well, Amb, did you miss me?"
Ambika rolled her eyes and stepped closer for a hug. Christian had only been touching James for a moment, but when he pulled his arm away to hug his sister, James felt the loss. It was like Christian belonged there and for that few seconds his heart had soared. Now it had dropped to his feet. What the hell had he gotten himself into?
"Can't believe you tried to keep this a secret, Christian." Ambika punched him in the arm, then jumped back out of Christian's reach. On her way out of the kitchen, she said, "Mom's only not going to murder you because it's Christmas."
"Yeah, yeah," Christian called after her as he leaned back and draped his arm around James's waist. He left his arm there, but turned his body towards James. "You okay?"
"Umm... You didn't tell them I was coming."
"No, sorry. I thought it would be—"
"A nice surprise?"
"Yeah, exactly." Christian nodded and smiled, then reached up to brush one of James's hairs off his forehead. "Are you okay though? I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I know they're kind of... a lot on a normal day."
James nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm nervous. Like... I don't know... I'm not sure how to..."
"What'd I say earlier? Follow my lead. And don't worry. It's not like you're going to screw anything up. Just act like you're in love with me. Shouldn't be difficult since I'm your favorite person."
