Our December
The Making of A Man
Book One
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2013 by Diane Adams
First eBook publication: 2010
Cover design by Meredith Russell
Edited by Chris Quinton
Our December
Sometimes two people fit together so well it seems their love was preordained, as if every step taken led inevitably to a happy ending. Deeply in love, Jared and Alex are such a couple, but the path to true and lasting love is rarely smooth. At fifteen, being gay isn't the best thing that ever happened to a guy. In fact, Alex Ross thinks it's down right scary. Then he meets twenty year old construction worker Jared Douglas, and Alex starts to think the gay thing might not be so bad after all.
The attraction between them is intense, but -- mindful of Alex's age -- Jared is determined to keep the sparks from igniting. The stress of controlling his feelings makes it almost a relief when Alex's father ships him off to prep school. Jared expects Alex to forget him and find a boy friend his own age; he doesn't anticipate how much it will hurt. When Alex comes home for Christmas, just turned 16, with his heart on his sleeve, Jared knows he can't continue to keep everything he feels a secret.
All Rights Reserved:
This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee. Such action is illegal and in violation of Copyright Law.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Dedication
To RJ Scott and her beautiful family and friends. Love and thanks to you all.
Trademarks
The authors acknowledge the trademarked status and owners of the following wordmarks used in this story:
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Frisbee: Wham-O Toy Corporation
iPod: Apple, Inc.
Levi's: Levi Strauss & Co.
Nikes: NIKE, Inc.
Toyota: Toyota Motor Corporation
Volkswagen: Volkswagen AG
Swiss Miss: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
Google: Google
howstuffworks.com: HowStuffWorks, Inc.
Joe's Crab Shack: Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc.
Dollar K: Dollar K Variety Store
Queer as Folk
Contents
Chapter 1 - Tangled in Light
Chapter 2 - First Impressions
Chapter 3 - Second Impressions
Chapter 4 - Rainy Day Opportunity
Chapter 5 - Boundaries
Chapter 6 - Like a Rock
Chapter 7 - Decision
Chapter 8 - Introspection
Chapter 9 - Wisdom
Chapter 10 - The Inevitable
Chapter 11 - On a Jet Plane
Chapter 12 - Visitor
Chapter 13 - Snail Mail
Chapter 14 - Letters and Lessons
Chapter 15 - New Rules
Chapter 16 - Shadowed in Love
Tangled in Light
Jared slowed to look at the house. Along the edge of the roof lights glowed in bright Christmas colors, curled in colorful paths down the porch posts and along the railings. Candy canes lit in red and white marked the path to the front steps. He and Alex spent every Thanksgiving, and the day after, decorating. Worse than a kid, Alex wanted the maximum amount of time to enjoy the Christmas season. Jared pulled into the driveway and took a few minutes to bask in the warm feelings the Christmas season always gave him before climbing out of the truck and heading inside.
Unlike the brightly lit exterior, the inside of the house was dark. Jared flipped on the light and glanced around the empty kitchen with a frown. Alex usually didn't go off somewhere without letting him know where he'd be. Leaving work first meant Alex should have started dinner. Jared felt a little ashamed at his relief upon realizing nothing simmered on the stove or warmed in the oven. Alex had a few specialties, but overall laid claim to little talent in the kitchen. Jared tried to make sure Alex rarely left the office early unless they were together.
Jared left the kitchen, walked around the massive table dominating the dining area, and into the living room lit only by the Christmas tree. The huge tree spoke of Alex's influence as much as their light-trimmed roofline did. Most of their friends had pre-lit trees with beautiful coordinated decorations of silver and blue or red and gold that accentuated their professionally decorated homes. Jared wondered at their circle of friends sometimes, how they ended up there at all. No part of Alex and Jared's house had been professionally decorated. It was just home. They had a real tree, and not even a perfect example of a real tree. The branches weren't straight and it had a couple holes. Alex called it… personality.
What's the point of having a real tree if people have to touch it to know it's real?
Alex once demanded. Unable to think of a reasonable argument Jared had given in, and over the years he had become very fond of their eccentric tree tradition.
While other, normal, people snoozed off Thanksgiving dinner, Alex and Jared had searched for a tree with the right personality. They never came home until they had one in the back of the truck, all wrapped up in a green and red net, looking like they’d landed an alien fish. Alex’s laugh, Jared’s favorite Christmas decoration, always rang out as they struggled to get the tree inside and upright in its stand. Finally in place, the tree dominated the front room, glittering with lights and tinsel and adorned with ornaments with more heart than beauty.
Lost in thought Jared gazed fondly at the tree. He touched one of the decorations he and Alex had bought together after their first Christmas as a couple. Fourteen years ago. Jared found it hard to believe his boy would turn thirty on Christmas day. His memory of Alex, just turned sixteen, with snow in his hair, lips swollen with kisses, remained as fresh as the day it happened. With a start Jared realized he knew where Alex had gone. His smile fond, Jared went to look out the sliding glass door. There, up in the huge old oak that dominated the back yard, Jared found his partner. Alex was twining white lights in the lower branches of the tree. Jared watched him for a while, eyes soft with love, before he went to start dinner.
* * * *
Leftover lights slung over his shoulder, Alex struggled down the ladder. He could have used them higher in the tree, but tradition demanded lighting only
