* * *
George spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s in a state of immeasurable joy. He worked on his caption assignments during the day as usual, but his lunch breaks were often spent video chatting with Levi while they both ate their meals. Sometimes Levi ate outside, but mostly indoors, as Garrett was apparently experiencing a cold snap. Even the cats were spending more time in the tiny house than usual, and it was fun watching Sporty try to snag bits of Levi’s lunch.
Twice, Levi drove into the city and they shared dinner together. Both times they got takeout, found a spot near a public park, and ate in the bed of the truck. The picnics were chilly but also a lot of fun, even if he still battled the occasional panic attack. George could be out in the world without being too close to crowds of people like they would in a restaurant.
Like he would on New Year’s Eve.
He and Orry had agreed on a double date that night. A locally owned restaurant Orry delivered for was doing a ticket-only buffet dinner that began at nine o’clock, and he’d scored cheap tickets for the four of them. Orry had promised George that it was a maximum of a hundred people, and the restaurant was spacious enough that they wouldn’t be jammed in like so many New Year’s crowds seemed to be. George was nervous as hell about the dinner but also excited to both meet Zoey and hang with his brother in a real social situation. And to show off his boyfriend a little.
Levi drove into the city on New Year’s Eve and arrived at the apartment at seven so they could hang out for a while. Someone, probably Dez, had decorated the downstairs living room with festive white and gold decor, and they chilled down there with Derrick and Slater, who were heading for Derrick’s brother’s house in a little while for a small family celebration.
Around eight, Orry showed up with his girlfriend and George finally got to meet Zoey. She was taller than Orry, with a lean frame, short purple hair, and heavy makeup that dared you to criticize anything about her. George liked her immediately. They hung out and chatted until it was time for their two groups to split for their evening destinations.
Orry drove, since their shared car could hold four people, and George didn’t mind sitting in the back with Levi. He held Levi’s hand, happy to have his boyfriend nearby while his insides bounced all over the place. Levi watched him the entire way with an adoring smile that made George feel so seen he almost couldn’t stand it. As they neared the venue, George closed his eyes and did a few rounds of deep breathing.
The restaurant had valet parking, which was kind of cool, and Zoey checked her coat just inside the building. George practically adhered himself to Levi’s side once they entered the throng but there was enough room that it wasn’t oppressive or claustrophobic. They all got drinks, and when the buffet opened at ten, George treated himself to samples of things he’d never tried before: mini spinach quiche, fried mushrooms, sausage and squash skewers, and so many other things.
All the food was amazing, and George genuinely liked Zoey. She told an abundance of stories of her earlier life as a waitress in a restaurant similar to this one, and George almost couldn’t believe how horribly people could act. And how rude they could be to waitstaff for simply doing their jobs.
At eleven, the food began to clear, music came up, and folks started dancing in the open space. While they weren’t the only same-sex couple in the restaurant, George was still nervous to go out there with Levi. They stayed at their table even after Orry and Zoey went out to dance.
“I’m proud of you,” Levi said to him. “Just for being here but you also seem extremely calm.”
“I’m a little jumpy inside,” George admitted. “But it helps having you and Orry both nearby. A month ago, I never imagined I’d be in a place with this many people, but I am. And I think I’m doing okay.”
“Good. Being sociable really does suit you, George. You’re practically glowing right now.”
“I used to love being the center of attention. Once upon a time, I was a kid who knew how to ice skate really well, and people watched me. They applauded me. They threw flowers at me.” His smile dimmed. “But then it stopped being fun. And I hated people staring at me. Glaring at me. Mocking me for quitting. And I disappeared.” George took Levi’s hand and squeezed. “You helped me find myself again. I’ll always battle with my anxiety but I don’t have to let it control my life.”
“It has been my genuine pleasure and honor to know and help you. You get to begin a brand-new year soon. Fresh start, clean slate. The new George Thompson.” He held up his glass of sparkling water. “To you.”
George grinned, joy bubbling up inside him like the fizzing liquid in his champagne flute. “To me, and to us.”
They tapped their rims together and drank. Sat side by side and watched others dance. At five minutes to midnight, they joined Orry and Zoey on the dance floor with their drinks. A television screen mounted for the occasion broadcasted the ball drop in Times Square. With more joy in his heart than George ever expected to feel, he counted down the last ten seconds with the crowd, his arm tight around Levi’s waist.
He counted down the end of his old self, his old secluded life, and he rang in the New Year with hope for every day yet to come. That he would continue to grow, to embrace his new life, and to be the very best person he could for his family, his boyfriend, and for the new friends he was making both in the city and at Clean Slate Ranch.
To my future. Please, let it be a great one.
Chapter Twenty-One
George expected to spend the night at home with Levi, but Levi surprised the hell out of him by willingly driving them both all the way to Garrett and the privacy of his tiny house. They slept in, both too tired to do more than collapse with all three kitties somewhere close by, and it was the best night of George’s life.
The best next day, too. They spent New Year’s Day doing a whole lot of nothing other than snacking and sex. Leading up to the new year, George had given serious thought to taking the next step into anal sex, but he couldn’t see them taking that step yet. Maybe one day in the future but not now. He loved the sex they had, and Levi seemed perfectly content with it, too. They were creating their own relationship, their own rules. They didn’t have to measure what they did or did not do against other couples.
An orgasm was an orgasm, and George adored everyone single one he shared with Levi.
The next week passed in a similar way to the previous one with two big changes. First, Shawn and Robin closed on their house, and George enjoyed a celebratory teleconference call with the pair plus Levi to toast the good news. George even got a phone tour of the house, which needed a lot of TLC but was charming and just the right size for the couple. The second change, which George kept to himself for now, was a cold call to Arthur Garrett’s horse rescue inquiring about employment.