Salubrious part 49

Eight months later

It was almost Christmas. Charlie was getting into the holiday spirit with Allan, especially since it was almost their one year anniversary.

Charlie was so excited to have their first Christmas together as a couple. Allan was running errands but they were going to meet up for dinner later for Christmas Eve.

They had had so many trials, so many tests, so many different things that threatened not only their relationship but their lives (mainly Allan’s stalker landlord).

Charlie looked at his left hand where he wore the promise ring Allan got him for their three month anniversary.

It was a gold band with a etching of:

C & A ♾️

He loved it. He remembered that Allan had been secretly working to custom order his promise ring, like the night he and Allan met Pim’s girlfriend, Katrina.

Allan and Pim had gone to the bathroom at the McDonald’s but, they were secretly looking at rings for Charlie.

When he found out Pim and Allan had been secretly planning this for weeks he flipped out.

“I was like, what the hell would my best friend be helping my boyfriend with in the bathroom? I’m pretty sure Allan can piss all by himself!” Charlie laughed, and Pim rolled his eyes.

Allan looked bemused. “Yeah we just had to meet in every bathroom wherever we were. Wawa, McDonald’s, gas stations…we weren’t too picky. Were we Pim?”

Pim blushed, shaking his head at Charlie, “Oh my gosh, no, that sounds so wrong. Charlie that’s not what…”

Charlie laughed good naturedly, “Dude, I get it. You wanted to steal my boyfriend. That’s so fucked up. I’ll forgive you.”

Pim growled, “Charlie!”

“It’s okay, buddy, I’m messing around, Pim. Allan is lowkey fucking around too. You see his little impish smile over there,” Charlie pointed to Allan, which made the latter look almost shy and coy.

Allan shook his head, “No I’m being serious. There was a truck stop bathroom that was really gross…”

Pim and Charlie shouted, “Allan!”

Allan grinned. “You both love me.”

Charlie replied, “Keep it up, dear. You’ll get yourself in deep trouble if you keep it up,”

Katrina came in suddenly after a smoke break. “That’s what he said! Keep it up!”

The guys all laughed.

Charlie chuckled at the memories they all had together.

He decided to go all out for this Christmas and got a real tree, which he did not chop down himself (for fear of dying again), and got groceries for their dinner the next day.

Allan has begged him to make a special dinner together.

“Charlie, I wanna stuff the turkey with you…” Allan said with big puppy dog eyes.

“Cut it out with that cheap trick. Fuck,” Charlie felt himself buckling as Allan made his eyes big and puffed up his lip, “That’s my weakness, bro, you know this. And what you just said sounded vaguely sexual…”

Allan whined, hanging onto Charlie’s arm.

“But you stuff things so good, like…”

Charlie frowned, “Don’t say it..”

Allan grinned maliciously, “Like how good you stuff me…”

Charlie did a face palm, “Goddamnit. You said it.”

Allan stood up, laughing, “You adore me. You know you’ll do it. Because you can’t help but get entranced by my siren song.”

Charlie chuckled, “You suck dude. You suck so bad.”

Allan leaned forward and booped Charlie’s nose. “So do you, apparently.”

Charlie grimaced, holding back laughter. “Love you,” he said quietly.

Allan leaned into kiss him chastely on the mouth, and Charlie kissed back.

“I love you, Charlie.”

Charlie finished his errands and started getting the house ready for the holiday. He had already bought a special gift for Allan, which would be hopefully the ultimate surprise, making their future together even more cemented.

Allan was calling as Charlie was organizing and putting away groceries, decorations and one off household items.

“Hey babe,” Charlie said as he answered.

“Yes? Uh huh. I got the turkey. It’s not… it was the last fresh one they had. Yup, don’t worry. Yes, I got more cranberries. Are you almost done too? Ok. Yeah I can do that, babe,” Charlie said, holding the phone in between his ear and shoulder blade.

“Yeah, dude, I’m totally on it. I got everything on your list. Yeah, so you got a special present for me tonight?” Charlie teased.

“I did not fart in bed last night! That was you! … okay, yeah, you’re right. That was me. Sorry,” Charlie cleared his throat.

“Yeah. Love you too, see you soon. 6:30 reservation at The Met, I know, you sent me thirty email reminders and texts. Fuck off with that shit babe you know I can do all this and get ready on time… oh yeah? Okay, so Pim and Katrina are coming over after dinner for dessert and drinks tomorrow? Cool, thanks for setting that up…. Ok, ok… ok, yes…. Love you too. See you soon…”

Charlie silently held the phone as Allan kept talking.

“Yes, I love you, too… bye baby…” he tried to hang up but Allan kept saying something and Charlie was trying to be patient.

“Yes I got the herbs de Provence, babe. I had to ask for help I never heard of some of the shit you asked me to buy… ok. I know. I’ll see you spoons.. I mean soon!”

Charlie laughed as he heard Allan cracking up.

“Yup. Your man got it all, just for you. Ok. Bye bye.”

They finally got off the phone. Charlie let out a sigh that turned into a yawn.

Just then he got a text:

I love you!

That was from Allan. He smiled. He responded:

Love you too.

He realized from the moment Allan wanted to be Charlie’s personal smiling friend to now, a solid, committed relationship, the one thing he had set out to do was always there.

They made each other smile. It was real, and it was theirs.