Under the Mistletoe

December 7, 2019

☀️ = Sol
🏋🏼‍♂️ = Alex
😈 = Byron
💕 = Lachlan

~•~

It's midnight, and tears leak down Byron's cheeks as he clicks send, the report disappearing from his computer screen.

"We did it," he whispers, glancing at Penny and Alex, who sit around the desk looking exhausted but relieved.

Alex reaches for his hand, squeezing tightly and dragging Byron in for a firm kiss. Byron moves happily into his arms, settling into Alex's lap.

"I'm fucking leaving next year," he mutters, shaking his head. "Sorry, Pen. But that... that was fucked."

"Don't ever apologise." Penny shakes her head, standing up to stretch her aching muscles. "I'm thinking of moving on, too. This office has become a nightmare."

Byron can't help but agree. He's not staying here. After his four weeks break, he's putting a transfer in, and if it isn't granted he'll quit. Nothing's going to keep him here.

"Oh! By the way, if I need it can I use your partner as my lawyer?" Penny asks as she picks up her coat and pulls it on. Byron tilts his head, hopping off Alex so the three of them can head out. "You know. For—" Penny raises her fist, "—Eric."

Byron startles himself by laughing, and Penny arches a brow.

"Do you really think Eric will be telling anyone a girl punched him? He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to me."

Penny purses her lips, pushing the button for the elevator. Her face breaks into a grin pretty quick though and she laughs with Byron.

"I guess you're right, hey. Wow, my cats going to be glad to see me. She's never been left alone for so long."

"Yeah," Alex agrees, hooking an arm around Byron's waist, "Lachlan will be glad to—"

The way he cuts himself off worries Byron. He peers up at his lover, who's face drains. Alex unhooks his arm and pats his thighs and ass, cursing.

"Babe—?"

"Shit. Byron. Lachlan." Alex spins around, holding his pant pockets and searching the office. "Where did I put my phone?"

Byron's throat goes dry but he can't quite remember why the thought of Lachlan makes his heart skip a beat. He pulls his own phone from his pocket, having tucked it in there on Do Not Disturb when everything went to shit.

When he clicks the home button though, the screen doesn't light up. Byron curses and looks at Alex, who has a hand over his mouth and the other braced against the wall.

"Alex? Lex, what—?" as he speaks, Byron's gaze flickers to the calendar by the elevator.

6th of December.

Lachlan's six-months.

Byron thinks he must be dreaming. Everything distorts and spins, and his skin crawls as he realises exactly what they forgot. Or, rather, what he forgot.

"Okay," Byron whispers as the elevator dings. He grabs Alex's elbow and pulls him in with him and Penny, who hasn't said a word as if she's realised the extent of their fuck up, too. "Okay, Lex, it's okay—"