Chapter Twenty-Six

Aiden and Will See In The New Year

Friday, December 30

Aiden switched off the engine and gazed at the three-story blue-and-white house. Two huge trees stood in front of it, and wooden steps led up to the front porch, on which sat a jolly, round Santa with a great smile. On the door was a wreath covered in blue lights, and a layer of snow lay on the veranda railing. Someone had cleared a path from the sidewalk to the house, and the driveway was filled with cars.

"When do your folks take the decorations down?"

Will chuckled. "When Mom says they've been up long enough, which is usually the day after New Year's." He pointed to the highest window set in the apex of the front gable. "That's my room."

"Did you grow up here?"

"We moved here when I was twelve," Will told him. He grinned. "I can't wait to see their faces. I love surprising them."

Aiden snorted. "Pull this kinda surprise on my mom, and she'd shit a brick." Although Will's dad had stressed there was no need for them to schedule a visit, Will had suggested spending New Year's with his family.

Aiden liked the idea that Will wanted them to meet him. He was also curious to meet Will's parents.

Curious—and nervous as hell.

"Will there be room for us?" he asked. "Seeing as they don't know we're coming."

"Plenty—there are seven bedrooms. Mom and Dad each have a study, but there are sofa beds in both rooms. Ethan's room became Mom's craft room once he moved out. There's only Emma left now, since Dee got married last year."

Aiden shivered. "Why are we sitting out here in my truck when we could be inside, drinking hot chocolate?"

"Because I wanted to do this without an audience." Will twisted in his seat, cupped Aiden's cheek with a gloved hand, and leaned in to kiss him, a slow, sweet kiss that sent a rush of warmth flooding through him.

"Do I get to sleep with you?" he murmured against Will's lips.

Will smiled. "Sleep? Yes. My parents will be okay with that—at least, they'd better be, seeing as Ethan and Dee have already blazed that particular trail." His fingers were gentle on Aiden's face. "And in case I haven't told you yet, thank you for driving us here, especially because it means you'll be going back on your own."

Aiden huffed. "I'm gonna have music blasting out the speakers the whole time. And you should be thankful. I'm sparing you more than five hours in the company of the brides-to-be, because you know , all you'd hear is dress this, flowers that, music, bridesmaids…"

Will laughed. "Seems as if I got off lightly."

"Speaking of getting off… Are we only going to be sleeping under your parents' roof?"

Will stroked his chin. "Now, let me see. There'll be my parents, my grandmother, Ethan and his wife Marley, Dee and her husband Gavin, you, me, and Emma." He rolled his eyes. "What do you think?"

"So we don't get to let the New Year in with a bang?" Aiden quipped.

Will narrowed his gaze. "You packed that ball gag, didn't you?"

"Maybe?" Aiden chuckled. "Well, you did buy it for me for Christmas, didn't you?"

"Sure—as a joke gift." He chuckled. "Or should that be a gag gift?"

"You're hilarious." Aiden trailed a finger along Will's thigh, heading north. "And we did have fun with it, didn't we?"

Will let out a snort. "Yes, you did."

A squeal filled the air. "Will Bryant, you sneaky little—"

Aiden laughed. "That's gotta be your mom." He grabbed the box of cookies from the back seat. "Can't forget these." A present from his mom to Will's.

He'd never let Will see his nerves, not in a million years. Sure, it was daunting. A teacher for a mom, a professor for a dad…Aiden wanted to make a good impression, because dammit , this was important.

You're no slouch in the brains department, you just remember that. They don't give degrees in Physics to just anyone, right?

Will had said more than once that they would love him.

He should know, right?

And right then, Will's mom was walking over to the truck, bundled up in a thick coat, galoshes, and a knitted hat complete with ear flaps, beaming at them.

Yeah, it was going to be okay.

Dad handed Will a cup of hot chocolate. "You seem to have lost a boyfriend."

He chuckled. "He's in Mom's study. I guess they're talking teaching—again." From the dining room came laughter and raised voices. Will smiled. "Ethan's got everyone playing Clue again, doesn't he?" It was another family tradition.

"So why are you in here and not there?"

"I could ask you the same question, but I already know the answer." Will snorted. "Ethan is way too competitive. Every game becomes a battle to be won. And I was hoping for a little peace and quiet. I haven't stopped talking since we got here."

"Well, what did you expect when you bring home your first boyfriend?"

He blinked. "Who said he's my first?"

"He's the first who was important enough for you to let us meet him," Dad retorted. "So… are we going to have another teacher in the family?"

Will burst out laughing. "I swear… you and Louise are out of the same mold."

"That's Aiden's mom?"

"Yes." Will peered at his dad. "Did Ethan tell you what's been going on these last few weeks?"

Dad huffed. "Are you kidding? He's as secretive as you." He frowned. "So what has been happening?"

Will began with Becca's shock announcement, and told the story all the way through to Kristen's proposal. Dad listened, occasionally laughing and gasping. When Will was done, Dad shook his head.

"Wow. It's like something out of a movie." Then he narrowed his gaze. "Hey, wait a minute—what were you implying before? Same mold? Can you really see me or your mother suggesting you two get married? With everything you've got planned?"

"Maybe not, but—"

"But nothing. All I'm saying is that after watching the pair of you, I get the feeling Aiden is here to stay." He cocked his head. "I'm right, aren't I?"

Will smiled. "I hope so. It's early days."

"I'm glad. I like him. Your mom does too, and not just because he brought cookies. Those were delicious." Dad grinned. "They were also gone before I could blink." He paused. "Can I ask… with all these visits to Milwaukee, all these wedding preparations, when did you find time to study?"

He chuckled. "Don't worry, Dad. The exams went just fine. And Aiden and me, we've discussed my plans for the future."

"So he knows what to expect?"

Will nodded. "He's behind me, one hundred percent." He glanced at Dad. "Just like Mom was for you, when you were at school. You both lived off her teaching salary, didn't you?"

Dad smiled. "She was my rock." His eyes gleamed. "Could Aiden be yours?"

Will grinned. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?" He sipped his hot chocolate.

"It's serious, isn't it?" Before Will could come up with a reply, Dad held up his hand. "I'm not going to tell you you're too young to fall in love. You're old enough to know your own mind, your own emotions. I also know that when you want something, you go for it. So what I'm saying is… if your mom and I can be of help—financially, at least—we're only too willing to support you and Aiden." He smiled. "We've been there, remember?"

"Don't you think you've done enough?" Will sighed. "You and Mom have been putting money aside for my studies ever since I told you I wanted to work for NASA."

"No one ever said getting a good education was cheap. And you have the potential to be a bright star in NASA's firmament, so whatever it takes to get you there?" He shrugged. "We'll do it, happily." He leaned back in his armchair. "How long do we have the pleasure of your company?"

"A few days, then I'll be back at school." He chuckled. "Aiden too."

He wasn't looking forward to being separated, now there were no excuses to make the trip to Milwaukee, and he wasn't sure how long he could go without Aiden's hugs and kisses.

And the rest.

Saturday, December 31

11:55p.m.

Aiden watched Will's mom— Rachel, remember? She said to call her Rachel —buzzing around the room, making sure everyone had a glass of whatever they were going to toast the New Year in with before the ball dropped.

"It's not exactly a tradition, more a superstition," Will whispered. "She thinks it's bad luck not to have a drink ready."

"Aw, Mom. Coke? Really?" Emma whined, as Rachel handed her a glass.

Aiden liked Will's little sister. She reminded him of Becca. Both of them were feisty, with a wicked tongue and an even more wicked sense of humor.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yes, really. You're seventeen."

"Aw, please? Can't I have something harder?"

"Sure you can—in four years' time."

Emma snorted. "You think I'm gonna wait that long before I take a drink? Mom, what planet are you on?"

Rachel's lips twitched. "I don't think I'm being unrealistic or even overly idealistic in wanting you to refrain from alcohol until you're of legal age."

"Can I remind both of you that it's almost midnight?" Will's Dad—David—shook his head. "Can't you hug it out so we can go into 2023 on a good note?"

Emma grinned. "Sure, Dad. It'd be an even better start to the year if I had some of Ethan's hard cider."

"Dream on, kid." Ethan sat on one of the huge couches with his wife Marley, and next to them were Dee and her husband Gavin, all of them watching the TV where scenes from New York's Time Square were showing.

Aiden slipped his arm around Will's waist. "You were right. Your family is really cool."

Will turned to him, his eyes shining. "I know, right?"

"Well, if you want to get the New Year off to a fantastic start, I guess now is a good time to share our news." Ethan's face glowed. "Mom? Dad? How do you feel about becoming grandparents? We were thinking June might be nice for it."

New York was forgotten as the room erupted into an explosion of congratulations, and Aiden got caught up in the swell of emotion—until Will hollered.

"Hey, the countdown's started!"

Everyone joined in, getting louder the closer they got to midnight, and when ‘Happy New Year!" burst from the speakers, Aiden clinked glasses with Will.

"To 2023."

Will chuckled. "To a degree, with the promise of more to come."

Aiden couldn't resist the siren call of those lips. "To us."

Will took Aiden's glass, deposited it on the side table along with his own, then took Aiden in his arms.

When Will's mouth was inches from his, Aiden smiled. "I thought you didn't want an audience."

"I changed my mind." Will's lips met his, and Aiden met the kiss with equal enthusiasm.

Someone started the applause, but Aiden didn't see who it was—he was too busy kissing the man who had come to mean everything to him.

The man he would do anything to hold onto.