Summary:
Six months after meeting Cian, the start of the rest of Mitch’s life is so close he can almost taste it. With his high school exams behind him, he can look forward to a long summer, his first Pride festival in Dublin, and, best of all, moving in with Cian when Mitch starts college in September.
Cian can’t wait to accompany Mitch to his first Pride, or for the moment they’ll start sharing a home and their lives. But while the festival is everything they could have hoped for, unexpected news that Cian is about to lose his room in Dublin puts their life together under threat.
Objections to their plans from the home front and a shocking lack of affordable housing in Dublin could shatter Mitch and Cian’s dreams, but perhaps a second miracle is exactly what they need to find their pride of place.
Summary:
Falling in love is easy. Building a life together takes more work.
Nine months after getting together, Mitch and Cian are studying in Dublin and sharing an apartment. For both, this is a dream come true and even boring household chores become fun when they do them side by side.
Tensions arise after Cian joins an inclusive rugby club and Mitch a ukulele orchestra. Insecurities, jealousy, and lack of relationship-experience soon lead to resentment, and each struggles to balance romance with their individual interests. After Cian and Mitch accept separate invitations to Halloween parties, hoping the other will accompany them, their doubts grow.
Will All Hallows’ Eve drive a wedge between them or could there be another miracle in the making?
Ukuleles and Scrums is the fourth novella in the Mitch & Cian series. While it could, possibly, be read as a stand-alone story, the reader will enjoy it more if they read A Miracle in the Library, Lessons in Love, and Pride of Place first.
Summary:
A year after their first kiss, Mitch and Cian have settled into their relationship and life in Dublin. There’ve been ups and downs and one or two unexpected turns in the road, but through it all they’ve gone from strength to strength.
Going home to Castleforest for Christmas means having to stay with their own families. Neither Mitch nor Cian enjoys being apart, but the sting of separation fades in the wake of a surprise from Mitch’s mother, and reconnecting with old and very dear friends lifts their spirits further.
Back in the city for New Year’s Eve, they throw a party for their friends and at last acknowledge the depth of their feelings for each other and the ties that will bind them for the rest of their lives.
This last instalment in the Mitch & Cian series comes with delightful surprises, fabulous parties, and declarations that will make your heart sing.
Original Review July 2019:
There is still so much to love about this pair. Mitch and Cian are still in the honeymoon phase of their growing relationship and that newness is beautifully depicted in Pride of Place. Not only do we get to see their love grow even more but we get to see them experience Dublin's Pride festival as well.
Don't get me wrong there is some drama thanks to mom but also an unforeseen hiccup, however it's not heavy on the angst. Pride of Place is a lovely romantic look at the next leg of Mitch and Cian's journey that will warm your heart. Is the solution to their housing issue a bit convenient? Perhaps, but their love story is a novella series so the timing may seem not quite realistic but it is by no means rushed either. Let's face it, sometimes things in life do fall into place at just the right time in just the right way so the boys' unexpected good tidings really isn't impossible or hard to accept. Add to that the title telling of their first meeting was A Miracle in the Library, perhaps the solution that's "dropped in their laps" now is simply serendipitous.
Helena Stone definitely has another winner with Pride of Place that is worth the time to read and if you haven't already explored the beginnings of Mitch and Cian's journey in A Miracle in the Library and Lessons in Love, I highly recommend giving them a read first. Trust me, you won't be sorry, Mitch and Cian are a pair of lovely lads finding love and navigating life that will make you smile. I for one, hope we haven't heard the last of this young duo.
Ukuleles & Scrums #4
Original Review December 2019:
I read Ukuleles & Scrums one afternoon two days before Christmas but unfortunately didn't get around to writing a review until now. I'm just going to start out by saying that once again Helena Stone has captured Mitch and Cian's growing relationship perfectly. I should point out that I know nothing about ukulele music and even less about rugby. The idea of putting these two hobbies/pasttimes/activities together with Mitch and Cian to be completely and utterly delicious.
The semi-unigueness of their activities is a great blend with the elements of misunderstanding and miscommunication to create a relatively low angsty story. I don't want to give anything away but Ukuleles and Scrums is a beautiful read that will make you laugh, cry, smile, and just plain feel good about life, course there a few moments I want to whack Mitch and Cian's heads together but it wouldn't be any fun if we the reader didn't want to knock sense into our heroes at least once😉😉. There is a great blend of relationship realism and romantic entertainment to make this a definite one for the win-win shelf.
The Rest of Our Lives #5
Original Review December 2019:
What better day than New Year's Eve to read the concluding entry in the Mitch and Cian series? It's sad to see the story end but riding along on the journey of their first year together has been romantic, humorous, realistic, and simply put: entertaining and a pure delight.
I don't really think there is much I can say about The Rest of our Lives that I haven't said in the previous entries other than don't miss out and don't let the novella size fool you because Mitch and Cian's love story is perfect just as it is and jam packed to the rafters with high quality storytelling.
There's just something magical about this one(the whole series really) not just because it's the holidays or because it's their one year anniversary but because of . . . well you'll have to read to decide for yourself, trust me you wont' regret it😉. Another holiday romance gem to enjoy for years to come.
BTW: Mitch's mom being a Star Wars fan is such a lovely treat. As a lifelong devoted SW nerd it always adds a special flare when a character(be it main, secondary, or cameo doesn't really matter) is too and when that character is a woman, that's an even bigger dessert special because too often it's the male character that is the fan so for that element, Thank You, Helena Stone💙
There's just something magical about this one(the whole series really) not just because it's the holidays or because it's their one year anniversary but because of . . . well you'll have to read to decide for yourself, trust me you wont' regret it😉. Another holiday romance gem to enjoy for years to come.
BTW: Mitch's mom being a Star Wars fan is such a lovely treat. As a lifelong devoted SW nerd it always adds a special flare when a character(be it main, secondary, or cameo doesn't really matter) is too and when that character is a woman, that's an even bigger dessert special because too often it's the male character that is the fan so for that element, Thank You, Helena Stone💙
RATING:
Pride of Place #3
Chapter One
Late June
Mitch
The Rest of Our Lives #5
Chapter One
“This is going to be weird.” Mitch looked out of the bus window. It was after five in the afternoon, and night had fallen. The bus’s headlights lit up a road sign, and Mitch knew they were less than half an hour from Castleforest.
“Not being together for a week, you mean?” Cian sounded about as enthusiastic about the idea as Mitch felt.
“Yeah,” Mitch concurred. “Do you think our families will ever get so comfortable with us being a couple that they’ll allow us to share a room while visiting?”
The reflection of Cian’s gaze caught Mitch’s in the dark glass, and for a moment, they kept each other captive there.
“I don’t think it’s us being a couple they’re having an issue with,” Cian eventually said. “The idea of us actually sleeping together, never mind having sex, is probably easier to deal with on a ‘what I can’t see doesn’t exist’ sorta level.”
“Do you reckon it would be the same if one of us was a girl?”
“Probably not.” Cian frowned. “Having said that, we’re together less than a year, and they probably still see us as children rather than adults, so who knows?”
It wasn’t the end of the world of course. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d spend time apart since they’d moved in together, four months earlier. On more than one occasion, Mitch had gone back to Castleforest on his own for a weekend when Cian had had a match, just as Cian sometimes went home without Mitch to make up for the times he couldn’t make it. This felt different, though. Being alone because they were in different parts of the country was unavoidable. A separation due to parental overprotectiveness or prejudice—Mitch wasn’t sure what to call it—stung.
“Oh, well,” Mitch said, deciding to keep things in perspective and not ruin their week home before it even started. “It’s only for a week, and it’s not as if we won’t see each other during the day. It could be worse. Imagine if your family lived in Cork. We’d be half the country away from each other.”
Cian’s fingers brushed across Mitch’s hand, which rested on his thigh. Mitch relished the intimacy of the gesture, no matter how fleeting. At the same time, he resented that they couldn’t just hold hands for the duration of the journey. Surely one day they would be able to be as affectionate in public as heterosexual couples without the fear of offending people? He had to believe that; anything else would be too frustrating.
“Have you any idea what plans your mother has made?” Cian asked. “Because my parents have been rather vague, apart from telling me that we’ll be celebrating Christmas day as we’ve always done in the past.”
Mitch thought back to his last conversation with his mother. He hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but now that Cian mentioned it, he remembered she’d been rather circumspect when it came to details.
“She asked me what I wanted to eat for Christmas and made some vague references to surprises.” He chuckled. “Maybe I should remind her I’m legally an adult. She hasn’t teased me with secrecy since I stopped believing in Santa.” He turned to Cian, fully expecting him to laugh along or at least smile. Instead, he encountered a thoughtful expression.
“I wonder what they’re up to?” Cian mused.
“Up to?”
“It’s too much of a coincidence otherwise.” Cian focused on Mitch, his eyes gleaming. “My mother used almost the exact same words with me, last time we spoke.”
For a moment Mitch turned into the boy he’d been when he was seven and still firmly believed in the magic of Christmas, reindeer, and Santa Claus. Excitement rushed through him as he tried to figure out what their parents might be planning.
Something bright illuminated the darkness as they drove into town.
“Are those new?” Cian nodded in the direction of the lights that stretched in rows running across the main street at regular intervals, creating an illusion of ice and snow.
“I think so.” Mitch hadn’t paid much attention to Castleforest’s Christmas decorations in the past. They were there for a few weeks before disappearing again for a year, in the same way leaves came and went on trees.
Two minutes later, as the bus drove on without them, Mitch stared down the street and reconsidered. “It does look better. More festive, I guess.” He focused on Cian, reluctant to take the next step on his journey home.
“What are we like?” Cian grinned ruefully. “Our families aren’t so bad that we have to worry about going to different homes.”
Mitch smiled, unable to deny that they were being silly. “Where do you want to meet tomorrow?”
“At the library?” Cian suggested. “For old times’ sake?”
“Works for me,” Mitch said calmly while pushing down a burst of excitement because Cian had picked the place where they’d first met, almost exactly a year earlier.
He looked up and down the street, finding it mostly deserted. Given that it was dinner time on a Sunday in December, that was hardly surprising, but it served his purpose perfectly. He leaned forward, angled his head, and pressed his lips against Cian’s. If anybody did see the kiss, tough. In a town as small as Castleforest, their relationship had to be common knowledge. He wasn’t inclined to force public displays of intimacy on unsuspecting passers-by, but he refused to hide who he was or, more importantly, who he was with any longer.
Cian returned the far too short kiss, smirking when he pulled back. “What a difference a year makes.” He fixed the strap of his backpack on his shoulder and took a step. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Ten-ish?"
“See you then.”
Watching Cian walk away toward the estate where he lived, Mitch wondered if he’d ever get tired of looking at his boyfriend. He’d been attracted to Cian long before they’d exchanged their first words, and far from lessening, the feeling had only strengthened over time. Cian’s training regime since he’d taken up rugby again helped to make an always tantalizing physique even more irresistible too.
Only after Cian turned a corner and disappeared from sight did Mitch set off in the opposite direction. He resisted the temptation to walk by the old community center on his way home. He’d meet Cian there tomorrow, and it would be the long way around. He had no doubt his mother was eagerly awaiting his arrival, and if he were honest, he looked forward to seeing her too.
The front door to the house he’d grown up in opened before Mitch had a chance to put his key in the lock. His mother’s beaming face welcomed him home, and his answering smile was almost certainly just as delighted. Yes, Mitch would miss Cian, especially at night, when he’d have to settle for sleeping on his own, without a warm body to wrap himself around. However, he couldn’t deny that his mother’s joy whenever he visited made him feel warm and loved.
“There you are.” His mother pulled him into a tight hug before scrutinizing his face. “You look well.” She released him and walked into the house. “Do you want to eat now or later?”
“I have a choice?” Mitch snickered. This was new. His whole life his mother had told him what time dinner would be ready, and it had been up to him to make sure he was present at the appointed hour.
“Sure.” She grinned at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking. She probably does.
“I’m having takeaway delivered. I was thinking fish and chips?”
Mitch’s mouth watered, but he was surprised. “Delivered? I’m impressed. Castleforest is moving up in the world.”
“Oh, stop it. We’re not that much of a backwater.” But his mother smiled at him, taking the sting out of her words.
“I’ll just put my stuff away,” Mitch said. “Then I’m good with whatever you want to do.”
An hour later Mitch settled on the couch in the living room with a full belly. “That was great.”
“Good. Does it make up for having to share a living space with your old ma for a few days?”
Mitch didn’t need mind-reading powers to recognize the question wasn’t only meant as a joke. He sighed.
“Living with you has never been hard,” he said honestly. “It isn’t difficult now either. It’s just…” Mitch didn’t want to upset his mother so soon after arriving, but he didn’t want to lie to her either.
“What?”
He shrugged. “It’s a bit frustrating that nobody minds that Cian and I live together in Dublin, but at the same time won’t allow us to sleep in the same house when we’re here.”
His mother gave him a look he knew all too well. This stare indicated that, in her opinion, he hadn’t thought hard enough before opening his mouth. Unfortunately, recognizing her expression didn’t mean he knew the reason behind it.
“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe Cian’s parents would like to have him to themselves for a few days to catch up? Or that I might like spending some time with my son without having to share his attention?” Mitch gaped at his mother, disinclined to tell her that the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind.
She sighed. “We’re not stupid. We know you two are all grown up and living your own life together. But it feels like only yesterday you came running to me because you’d fallen off your bike and hurt yourself. Give an old woman a chance to adjust to the fact that you’re no longer a child.”
Mitch got up and crossed the room. When he reached his ma in her comfortable chair, he leaned forward and hugged her. “You’re not an old woman,” he whispered while relaxing into her embrace. He allowed himself to revisit the younger version of himself she’d described, surprised to find he welcomed the security her arms offered as much now as he always had.
“I’m sorry.” Mitch murmured the words against her shoulder. He hadn’t meant to upset his mother. “It’s just that I’m so used to being together with Cian it feels a bit weird when we’re not. Especially since for once we’re home at the same time.” He straightened and sat on the armrest of his mother’s chair.
“It’s okay.” She patted his leg. “I do understand, you know. I used to be young once, a long, long time ago.” She looked up at him with a cheeky glint in her eye. “Did I mention I have a surprise for you?”
“You did.” The sudden change in subject caught Mitch off guard. “I thought you’d keep me in suspense until Christmas.”
“That would defeat the purpose.”
The plot thickened, and Mitch was still none the wiser. “Well then, don’t keep me hanging.”
“We had a raffle in work,” his mother said, at first glance apropos of nothing. “I won the first prize.”
“Congratulations?” Mitch had no idea why his mother made such a big deal about having won a box of chocolates or something similar, but he was willing to wait her out.
“I’ve now got two tickets to see the Symphony Orchestra perform the music from Star Wars. Tomorrow night, actually.”
“Nice one.” Mitch was delighted for her. His mother was a huge Star Wars fan. In fact, she’d watched the movies so often over the years Mitch knew large chunks of them off by heart. “But what has that got to do with me?” Surely, she hadn’t made him come all the way home today, only to travel back to Dublin tomorrow?
“I was wondering if you’d let us use your apartment for the night.” Her gaze bored into him as if she was expecting a certain reaction. “Marian is coming with me, and neither of us fancies driving all the way home at midnight. Since your place will be empty...”
Mitch chuckled. “We have two bedrooms, remember? There’s no reason you can’t stay with us, even when we’re there.” He sobered as he tried to remember what state they’d left the place in before leaving, suppressing a sigh of relief when he recalled they’d done a rather thorough cleanup because they didn’t want to return to chaos. “Of course, you can stay there.” But how is that a surprise for me? He kept that thought to himself.
“And now you’re wondering how me winning concert tickets constitutes a surprise for you.”
Mitch blinked at his mother, shocked to discover that four months after he’d moved out, she could still read his mind with ease.
“I’m disappointed.” The sparkle in his mother’s eyes belied her words. “I thought you would have recognized your opportunity by now.”
The beginnings of an idea formed in Mitch’s mind. Surely, she doesn’t mean...?
“How did I manage to raise such an eejit?” The sigh she expelled was obviously exaggerated. “Why don’t you get on your phone and see if Cian wants to spend tomorrow evening and night here?”
“Really?”
His mother gave him a blank stare. “Really.” She reached for the remote. “Now, either settle or go and do your own thing. I’m watching The Empire Strikes Back tonight.
Mitch reached for his mother, hugging her again and placing a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks. That’s the best surprise ever.” He got up. “Enjoy your movie. I’m going up to my room.”
He was texting Cian before he was halfway up the stairs.
Chapter One
Late June
Mitch
Done!
Mitch wanted to shout, maybe do a little happy dance as he and his almost former classmates made their way through the deserted school toward the exit. He’d reached the end of his secondary education. No more exams. No more high school. And if he wasn’t very much mistaken, he’d done well enough in his exams to get the points he needed to be accepted for the psychology course he’d set his heart on.
“How did you do?” Cormac, a classmate and one of the few people who hadn’t tormented him in the past, sidled up to him.
Mitch shrugged. “Okay, I think. How about you?” He knew better than to say he thought he’d aced it. Not only would he look a right fool if that turned out not to be the case, but it would also be very disheartening for Cormac if the same wasn’t true for him.
“I’m not sure,” Cormack confessed. “Some of it was fine, but some other questions…” He bowed his head for a moment. When he looked up again, he grinned. “But I’m not going to worry about that. There’s nothing I can do about it now, and since we won’t find out how we did until September, I’m not going to obsess about it.”
Mitch stayed silent as they pushed their way through the double doors and out of the school into the welcoming sunshine. Mitch was almost surprised to discover the weather was still glorious. True to form every one of the twenty days the exams had lasted had been sunny and warm, and he wouldn’t have been shocked to discover grey clouds and rain now that he actually had time to be out and about.
He was inclined to agree with Cormac. There was little point agonizing about the results, but he was sure that was unlikely to stop him from lingering on the uncertainty at regular intervals during the summer. If he had failed to get the points he needed, he might not get a place in his preferred college in Dublin. And if he couldn’t go to Dublin….
His pessimistic fears fled his brain as soon as he recognized the familiar and oh-so-cherished features belonging to the main reason he wanted to make it to the capital. Cian! Mitch’s heart skipped a beat or two. He’d had no idea Cian had plans to come back to Castleforest today. In fact, during their last conversation the previous night and again, that morning, in his daily text message, Cian had been infuriatingly vague about when they might see each other next.
“Are you going out tonight?” Cormac’s question reminded Mitch of his presence.
“Probably,” Mitch said, not really thinking about his answer. If Cian hadn’t shown up, he might have joined his classmates for a drink or two. Now he wasn’t sure what the rest of his day might look like, except that whatever he did would include Cian.
“Fair enough.” Cormac said, “I might see you later, then.”
Mitch nodded vaguely in Cormac’s direction before heading toward the school gate where Cian waited with a backpack slung over his shoulder and a huge smile on his face.
I missed him. He’d never known quite how long three weeks could be. When both his mother and Cian had agreed that it would be best if Cian stayed in Dublin during the exams, Mitch had wanted to argue about it. In retrospect, he couldn’t deny that being able to focus solely on his studying had been a good thing, but that didn’t change the fact that before the exam madness started, he and Cian hadn’t been apart for longer than a week.
When he reached Cian, Mitch didn’t even think about it. He stretched his neck and pressed his lips against Cian’s. “Hey,” he said a moment later, “didn’t expect to see you today.”
Cian grinned at Mitch, his eyes wide. “Obviously you’ve no objections to being surprised.” He winked. “Or afraid to show your approval.”
Taken aback by what he’d just done, Mitch glanced around him, relieved to discover his classmates were too caught up in their own happiness to pay him any attention. Then he slapped Cian’s shoulder, the impact a little harsher than just playful. “Of course not. It’s great to see you. I just didn’t expect it. I thought it would be Friday before we’d get together.” A worrying thought occurred to him. “We are still going to Dublin, aren’t we?”
The idea of going to Dublin for the Pride Festival had been one of the very few thoughts that had kept Mitch going over the three-week exam period. Every test he’d sat had brought him one day closer to a weekend when he wouldn’t feel the need to check his surroundings while interacting with his boyfriend.
Cian grinned. “Of course we are. As if I would miss Pride.” The expression on his face made it clear he thought Mitch was being ridiculous. “What are your plans for today?”
Mitch shrugged. “I was going to go out for a few pints.” He really didn’t care what he did next anymore, as long as he could do whatever it was with Cian.
“Sounds good,” Cian said. “I need to go home first and get rid of my stuff.” He indicated his backpack.
“Me too. I can’t wait to get out of this for the very last time.” Mitch waved a hand at his dark blue school uniform. “And resist the temptation to burn it,” he added.
Cian laughed. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“You have no idea.” Mitch grinned at Cian until he spotted his raised eyebrow. “Fair enough, I guess you do.” His elation about being done with school, about never having to return to the place that held so many dreadful memories for him, had made him forget that he was merely one among thousands of teenagers who had finished their secondary education minutes ago and that his was only one generation in a long line of pupils to experience this sense of freedom.
“I get it,” Cian said. “So, when do you want to get together?”
“Give me an hour or two.” As much as Mitch yearned to spend time with Cian, he knew his mother had taken the afternoon off work and would want to hear all about how he’d done.
“That works,” Cian agreed easily. “I don’t think me ma would be impressed if I just dropped off my bag and disappeared again.”
“Tell me about it,” Mitch muttered. “See you in a bit.”
Cian turned to make his way home.
“And Cian?”
He looked over his shoulder at Mitch.
“Thanks for coming. You made a good day fabulous.”
Cian winked. “Hey, that’s what boyfriends are supposed to do.”
Mitch watched Cian as he walked along the street toward the estate where his family lived, before turning the other way and making his own way home. It was as if he was half the weight he’d been when he got out of bed that morning. His heart was light, and all the tension he hadn’t been able to shift for over a month seemed to have evaporated, as if Cian’s appearance had magically rounded up his stress and discarded it.
“I’m in the kitchen.”
His mother’s voice greeted Mitch as soon as he closed the front door behind him. As much as he wanted to get out of his uniform and under the shower, Mitch knew better than to keep her waiting. After all, she’d been on the receiving end of his stressed-out, at times, foul moods for long enough.
He found her sitting at the kitchen table with what looked suspiciously like a slice of chocolate cake with a burning candle on top, in front of her.
“You survived the ordeal.” Her wide smile took any possible sting out of her words. “How did it go?”
“Okay,” Mitch said. “Cian was waiting for me when I walked out.” He couldn’t stop his voice from betraying his delight as he sat, and had no doubts his face showed the same.
“That’s nice.”
His mother’s less than enthusiastic response took him by surprise. She knew how much he’d missed seeing Cian, especially on the weekends. Because he didn’t understand her reaction, Mitch decided to ignore it. “I’m meeting him in a few hours for a night on the town.”
“Good for you,” she added, still disturbingly lackluster.
“At last we can start making plans for after the summer.” Mitch said. “Decide on when I’m moving in with him.”
His mother pushed the cake in his direction before averting her gaze.
Mitch took a bite of the chocolatey treat, almost moaning when the moist, rich, texture filled his mouth.
“I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“About what?” Mitch asked, only half listening as he brought the fork to his mouth again.
“You moving in with Cian.”
Mitch froze with the fork still between his lips as his mother’s words sank in. He pulled it out, and swallowed the suddenly tasteless chunk of cake.
“What’s there to talk about?” He had a feeling he wouldn’t like her answer, but he couldn’t argue without having all the facts first.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to move in with him now, straight from home?”
Mitch blinked at his mother, trying to figure out what might have triggered this surprising course of action. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t look forward to it if I didn’t, would I?”
“You’re so young. Both of you.” His mother had a sympathetic but determined expression on her face. “Don’t you think it would be better to live on your own for a while first? Figure out what you want from life before you start sharing it with someone else?”
“Where’s this coming from, Ma?” Mitch ignored her questions for a moment, far more curious about the timing of this conversation. “In all the months I’ve been talking about our plans, you never said a word against them. And now that the moment has arrived, you’re suddenly objecting?”
“I was never crazy about the idea,” his mother admitted. “I didn’t start the conversation before today because I didn’t want to distract you from your exams. Cian’s your first boyfriend. I’m not saying he can’t be the one for you, but how can you be sure unless you are free to play the field, so to speak?”
“Trust you to encourage your only child to sleep around. You must be the only parent in Ireland to come up with something like that.” Mitch meant to shock her, and if her frown was anything to go by, he’d succeeded.
“I never said you should sleep around. I just think you should be open to other opportunities, starting with where you’re going to live.”
“I have a place to live. I don’t need to look for anything.” Mitch’s shock turned to anger. “Way to ruin a fabulous day, Ma.” He pushed what remained of his slice of cake to the middle of the table, his taste for it suddenly gone.
For a few long moments, she just stared at him, her eyes sad. Then she nodded. “You’re right. My timing isn’t the best.” Her mouth stretched into what obviously was a forced smile. “You go and celebrate. Enjoy yourself. We can have this talk some other time.”
Mitch opened his mouth to state that he’d just as soon never have that particular conversation before thinking better of it. He was going to go out and enjoy himself if it killed him. Prolonging their discussion would almost certainly make that impossible.
“Right.” He got up. “I’m going to have a shower and change.”
When he walked past his mother toward the hall, she reached for him, her fingers brushing his wrist. He pulled his hand back. He’d no idea what had gotten into his mother’s head all of a sudden, but he didn’t like it, and the last thing he needed from her right now were shows of affection.
Mitch heard his mother’s hand drop to the table but continued walking down the hall and up the stairs. He was going to forget what she’d said for the night. They could talk after he’d partied his remaining exam stress away. Then he’d put her straight on why her suggestion made no sense whatsoever.
Chapter Two
Cian
Cian mentally shook his head at himself. He couldn’t believe how impatient he was while he waited for Mitch to come around the corner and join him in front of the pub they’d agreed on via text message. The past three weeks had been long…too long. It didn’t make sense, but he’d missed Mitch something terrible. He’d gotten used to spending every single weekend together, and the three weeks he’d stayed away had felt like a lifetime.
He inspected his surroundings, seeing numerous happy teenagers but not the one man he wanted to appear. He guessed a few more minutes wouldn’t kill him, not when they were about to start the next phase of their relationship where they would be able to spend all their time together.
For a moment his mood dropped, but before he could delve into bleaker thoughts, he spotted a familiar mop of raven black hair, and his spirits lifted. We’ll figure it out.
“Hey,” Mitch said when he reached Cian. “Were you waiting long?”
“Just got here.” Cian studied Mitch’s face. The shining joy he’d seen on Mitch’s features earlier seemed to have dimmed over the past few hours. “You wanna go in here?” He pointed at the pub behind him. Loud music and even louder voices reached them through the open front door.
Mitch looked past him before shaking his head. “Somewhere quieter, maybe.”
Something’s definitely off. Cian swallowed the questions he wanted to ask. He had a feeling they both needed a drink before they talked.
They slowly walked down the main street, passing several pubs packed with celebrating youngsters. On a quieter side street, Cian paused in front of a smaller bar. “How about here?”
“Works for me,” Mitch said before leading the way inside.
Cian instantly understood why the partying school leavers ignored this pub. While he welcomed the lack of music and television screens, he had no doubt it made this place boring to those who wanted to party the night away.
Less than a minute later, they sat opposite each other at a small table and simultaneously raised their pint glasses to their mouths. After they’d both drained about a quarter of their cider, they placed their drinks on the coasters and stared at each other. Mitch’s intense gaze suggested he was searching for something on Cian’s face, although Cian had no idea what the question might be. Then again, maybe he did.
“I just had the most surreal talk with me ma.”
Mitch’s eyes widened before a frown formed on his forehead. “You too?” He took another sip from his drink. “Let me guess. She thinks we shouldn’t move in together.”
Cian wanted to be surprised but found he wasn’t shocked at all to discover that his mother and Mitch’s had gotten together and discussed their sons’ futures.
“I don’t understand why they’re only coming up with this shit now.” Cian voiced the thought that had been bothering him ever since his mother broached the subject. “We’ve been talking about you moving in with me for at least two months.”
“Me ma said she didn’t want to upset me before the exams.” Mitch’s voice was flat. “I guess that’s fair enough. But she could have waited another few days. I was feeling great until she opened her mouth.”
Cian shrugged. He could think of one or two reasons why Mitch’s mother had thought the time was right, but lacked any urge to come to her defense. Mitch had just finished three weeks of exams; surely she could have allowed him one night of carefree partying?
“So, what are we going to do?” Mitch said. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to give in. Not about this. But she’ll be paying my rent. As much as I want to, I can’t ignore her.”
“We need to find a way of convincing them their idea doesn’t make sense.” Cian spoke slowly as an idea formed in his head. He straightened in his seat. “Actually, postponing the discussion until after the weekend is perfect. That gives us time to come up with proof that accommodation in Dublin is next to impossible to find, mostly substandard, and ridiculously expensive.”
“It’s not as if they can actually stop us, is it?” Mitch’s wide eyes begged Cian for reassurance, making him look very young. “I could always look for a job and pay for it myself.”
“They can’t,” Cian admitted. “But do you want to end up arguing with your ma for the foreseeable future or never have a free minute between college and work?”
Mitch’s almost hopeful expression vanished from his face. “No. I don’t.”
Cian was struggling but didn’t want Mitch to know as much. He couldn’t wait for the moment Mitch moved in with him, and the urge to make a rash decision and deal with the consequences later was hard to suppress. For both their sakes, he wouldn’t. As upset as Mitch was with his mother right now, it would break his heart if they fell out about where Mitch would live from September. No matter how close they were, Cian wasn’t sure their relationship would survive if it caused a rift between Mitch and his mother.
“We’ll do nothing for now. We gather information while we’re in Dublin; then we’ll talk to them.” He forced a smile to his face, hoping against hope it would convince Mitch. “In the meantime, we’ll celebrate the start of your holidays and enjoy ourselves.” And each other.
Mitch nodded, then picked up his pint and drank until it was almost empty.
“I don’t know about you,” Mitch said, looking at Cian with newfound determination shining from his eyes, “but I’m not going to let our parents spoil the Pride weekend for us.” He finished his pint. “Or ruin this evening, for that matter.” His gaze moved from Cian to the bar, then back to Cian. “It’s early, and it’s a nice day. Feel like going for a walk in the forest?” He wiggled his eyebrows, and if the movement seemed a bit forced, Cian wasn’t going to comment on it.
They walked in silence from the pub to the gates into the forest, but their lack of conversation no longer felt tense. Cian wasn’t convinced he’d manage to keep his mother’s suggestion out of his thoughts for a full week, but he was going to do his damnest. He’d looked forward to celebrating Pride with Mitch for ages and wasn’t going to allow anything—or anyone—to wreck what promised to be a fabulous weekend.
They made their way deeper into the forest, still in silence as they encountered other people out for an early evening stroll. A few minutes later, Mitch grabbed Cian’s hand and pulled him off the established path onto a trail Cian hadn’t noticed. They had left the others behind and couldn’t hear their voices anymore.
“Where are you taking me?” Cian asked, intrigued, as they moved deeper into the forest.
“Here,” Mitch said as they emerged from among the trees and entered a small clearing.
Cian inspected the open space. “Nice.” He especially liked the tree trunk in the middle of the glade, which was flat enough to function as a low bench.
“I found it about a month ago.” Mitch pulled Cian along toward the fallen tree. “I spent a lot of time here. Even brought my notes out to study when I couldn’t bear to be indoors for another minute.” He lowered himself to the trunk and grinned up at Cian as soon as he sat. “In all that time, nobody has ever stumbled across my hideout.”
Being nobody’s fool, Cian recognized an invitation when he heard one and sat next to Mitch, straddling the trunk so that he faced him. Reaching out, he cupped Mitch’s neck, turned his head, and did what he’d been longing to do ever since he’d seen Mitch walk out of his school, hours earlier.
He couldn’t imagine ever getting tired of Mitch’s mouth, of the softness of Mitch’s lips against his, or of the soft sounds escaping Mitch as Cian deepened the kiss. I missed this. Three weeks apart had done more to make it crystal clear how important Mitch was in his life than the prior six months of regular contact. When they were together, everything fitted better, as if the jigsaw that was his life was missing pieces when he was alone.
“God, but I needed that,” Mitch said when they pulled apart for a moment. “Needed you,” he added a moment later, much softer.
Cian’s heart stuttered, then soared. He couldn’t believe all the feelings Mitch awoke in him. He’d lived the first nineteen years of his life blissfully unaware that he was capable of emotions like those Mitch triggered in him. Is this love? If it was, he’d sign up for a lifetime worth of being in love. He was more when he was with Mitch, better somehow, a brighter and lighter version of the person he’d been since the day he was born.
“We will find a way to be together next year.” Cian’s lips brushed Mitch’s as he whispered his vow, before his need took over, and he claimed all of Mitch’s mouth again.
Somehow they ended up on the forest floor together, Mitch on top of Cian, his weight grounding Cian, anchoring him. He slipped his hands between Mitch’s shirt and his back, stroking the soft skin, treasuring the feel of it against his fingertips, and rejoicing when Mitch’s response was to undulate against him, pressing their groins together. Obviously, Cian wasn’t the only one getting increasingly excited.
Mitch broke their kiss and pulled away, creating enough space between their upper bodies to push Cian’s T-shirt up. Mitch stroking his chest sent the most delicious shivers running up and down Cian’s spine. When his fingertips teasingly brushed across first one nipple, then the other, Cian had to bite his lip to stop himself from groaning out loud.
“I want more.”
Mitch gave voice to the words screaming in Cian’s mind. This was why they had to room together. They needed one place where they could really be together, without worrying about passers-by or parents.
“Me too,” Cian answered, pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind. “But here? It’s too risky.”
As if to reinforce Cian’s words, voices drifted their way. Whoever was out there talking was still a good distance away, but it was a stark reminder that they were in a public space and should behave accordingly.
Mitch’s dark eyes filled with the same regret Cian experienced. He pressed his lips against Cian’s one more time before rolling to the side, coming to rest on his back next to Cian.
“I know you just got here,” Mitch said a few minutes later, “but I would really like to go to Dublin tomorrow.”
Cian turned on his side, resting his chin on his hand. He looked down at Mitch and drank in his features, taking advantage of the fact that Mitch had closed his eyes. With his long dark lashes, his raven black unruly hair, and his lush lips turned up in a small smile, Mitch’s beauty took Cian’s breath away.
“Sounds like a plan.” Cian wondered if Mitch just wanted to get away from his mother or if he, like Cian, couldn’t wait until they were alone together.
Mitch opened his eyes and gazed at Cian. “I want to be with you.” Mitch carefully enunciated every syllable. “Alone with you.”
Cian nodded, momentarily lost for words. His heart soared to hear Mitch echo his thoughts. His constant longing for Mitch scared Cian at times. Somehow the idea that Mitch’s need might match his lessened Cian’s fear.
“We’ll take the evening bus tomorrow,” Cian said once he was sure he had his voice under control. He chuckled. “We’ll look less desperate to get away, and we won’t need to hurry.”
Mitch’s smile was lazy. “And then we’ll have four days of just the two of us.”
Cian listened for a moment. He could still hear the voices, but they appeared to be no closer than they’d been before. He leaned forward and kissed Mitch, making the contact tender and lingering.
It really would be just the two of them. Cian’s housemates were both in Spain for two weeks.
Ukuleles & Scrums #4
“Can’t find what you’re looking for?” he asked, not trying to hide his amusement.
Cian glanced up at Mitch, inspected his surroundings, and had the grace to grimace and flush. “Sorry about that. I’ll fix it in a min.” He glared at the various items of clothing on the floor, then bent and picked something up. “Gottcha.”
“What’s that?” Mitch squinted at the item consisting more of connected bands of material than solid pieces. He thought he recognized it but didn’t want to hazard a guess and make a fool of himself.
“A jockstrap.” Cian slung one strap over his index finger and swung the piece of underwear around.
“Jockstrap, hey?” Excitement heated Mitch’s blood. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen one of those up close and personal.”
Cian glanced at him, his gaze intense. “I’ll be right back.”
Mitch watched, bemused, as Cian hurried into the bathroom. When Cian returned, moments later, Mitch’s bemusement turned into pure, hot lust when he noticed how well the jock’s pouch encased Cian’s package. “Nice.”
Cian turned on the spot, giving Mitch his first sight of Cian’s bare arse, framed by black straps.
“Very nice.” Mitch didn’t try to hide the heat in his voice. He approached Cian, who had come full circle and faced him again. Wrapping his arms around Cian’s middle, he grabbed both cheeks with his hands and squeezed. “Is there a rule saying you can only wear this when you’re on the field?”
Cian chuckled. “I guess you’re on board with the rugby idea, then?”
Doubts and fears tried to worm their way back into Mitch’s thoughts, but he shrugged them off, concentrating on the familiar and wholly enticing feel of Cian’s naked butt. Pressing closer to his boyfriend, he smiled as the hard bulge of Cian’s erection pressed into his tummy.
“I’m never going to complain about seeing or feeling more of your arse,” he muttered, very aware of his own rock-hard cock tenting the material of his loose trousers.
“I created a monster,” Cian said before claiming Mitch’s mouth in a heated kiss. He pushed him backward until they tumbled to the bed, their lips never losing contact. Two soft thuds indicated the two bags had bounced off the bed, but Mitch barely registered the noise, too lost in Cian’s mouth and the hungry interaction between their tongues.
“You’re overdressed,” Cian murmured before hurriedly removing Mitch’s clothes. He tugged on his dick, and Mitch lost himself in Cian’s body. As white-hot need rushed through his veins, Mitch couldn’t remember why he had been concerned about Cian’s rugby team or what had triggered the thoughts in the first place.
“I want to fuck you.” He gasped the words at Cian, fully aware this was something they rarely did and that it was the first time he’d verbalized the desire.
“Let me guess,” Cian said, his voice heated. “You’d like me on my knees, with my arse in the air so you can see the straps while you ride me.”
Before Mitch could reply, Cian turned on the bed and presented himself exactly as he’d suggested. The sight took Mitch’s breath away, and for a few moments all he could do was stare at the sheer beauty and incredible hotness of Cian’s well-formed backside. When Cian reached behind him and pulled his cheeks apart, Mitch moaned softly.
“Hey!” Cian glared at Mitch over his shoulder. “This arse isn’t going to fuck itself.”
The joke, expressed in a needy tone of voice, was exactly what Mitch needed. He pulled the tube of lube from the bedside table and squeezed some onto his fingers before making short work of preparing Cian for the coming invasion.
It wasn’t long before Cian was pushing back, trying to fuck himself on Mitch’s fingers, and Mitch took it as a sign. He withdrew his hand, squeezed more lube onto it, and spread it across his cock, grateful they’d decided to forgo condoms shortly after moving in together. Since they were a couple and exclusive as well as each other’s first, they’d agreed to do without the protection.
Fighting his need, Mitch eased his way into the narrow heat. Cian seemed eager enough, but that didn’t change the fact that he rarely bottomed. When the full length of his dick was buried deep inside Cian, Mitch rested, pressing his lips to Cian’s shoulder while their bodies adjusted.
“Will you get a move on.” Cian wiggled his arse, stressing his impatience.
“Your wish…” Mitch didn’t waste any more time on words and pulled back, only to immediately slide into Cian again, relishing the hot grip the tight hole had on his straining cock. He’d forgotten how good this was.
“Fuck, yeah,” Cian groaned. “You feel so good.”
“You too,” Mitch said, struggling for breath. “So tight. This won’t take long.”
He moved faster, pushing in and out of Cian with more force. Already he could feel the telltale tingle in his balls, and he struggled to fight his impending explosion, to extend the pleasure for a few more moments. Cian enthusiastically moving with him intensified every penetration, which didn’t help at all.
When his orgasm hit, Mitch felt it in every inch of his body. Cian’s arse contracting around his erupting cock only enhanced Mitch’s climax. It wasn’t until he’d shot the last drop of cum that Mitch realized he’d completely ignored Cian’s dick and even failed to release it from its pouch.
Still seated deep inside Cian, he lifted one hand and reached for Cian’s cock, expecting to find it throbbing and hard. When his fingers connected with a wet, sticky patch of material instead, he chuckled.
Cian glanced at him again, and Mitch wasn’t sure whether the red glow on Cian’s cheeks was the result of his recent climax or embarrassment over how he’d reached it.
“That was hot,” Cian said. “We’ll have to do it again.”
Mitch couldn’t argue with that. He might not be sure how he felt about Cian joining a gay rugby team, but he had no doubts about how much he loved having a rugby-playing boyfriend.
Ukuleles & Scrums #4
“Can’t find what you’re looking for?” he asked, not trying to hide his amusement.
Cian glanced up at Mitch, inspected his surroundings, and had the grace to grimace and flush. “Sorry about that. I’ll fix it in a min.” He glared at the various items of clothing on the floor, then bent and picked something up. “Gottcha.”
“What’s that?” Mitch squinted at the item consisting more of connected bands of material than solid pieces. He thought he recognized it but didn’t want to hazard a guess and make a fool of himself.
“A jockstrap.” Cian slung one strap over his index finger and swung the piece of underwear around.
“Jockstrap, hey?” Excitement heated Mitch’s blood. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen one of those up close and personal.”
Cian glanced at him, his gaze intense. “I’ll be right back.”
Mitch watched, bemused, as Cian hurried into the bathroom. When Cian returned, moments later, Mitch’s bemusement turned into pure, hot lust when he noticed how well the jock’s pouch encased Cian’s package. “Nice.”
Cian turned on the spot, giving Mitch his first sight of Cian’s bare arse, framed by black straps.
“Very nice.” Mitch didn’t try to hide the heat in his voice. He approached Cian, who had come full circle and faced him again. Wrapping his arms around Cian’s middle, he grabbed both cheeks with his hands and squeezed. “Is there a rule saying you can only wear this when you’re on the field?”
Cian chuckled. “I guess you’re on board with the rugby idea, then?”
Doubts and fears tried to worm their way back into Mitch’s thoughts, but he shrugged them off, concentrating on the familiar and wholly enticing feel of Cian’s naked butt. Pressing closer to his boyfriend, he smiled as the hard bulge of Cian’s erection pressed into his tummy.
“I’m never going to complain about seeing or feeling more of your arse,” he muttered, very aware of his own rock-hard cock tenting the material of his loose trousers.
“I created a monster,” Cian said before claiming Mitch’s mouth in a heated kiss. He pushed him backward until they tumbled to the bed, their lips never losing contact. Two soft thuds indicated the two bags had bounced off the bed, but Mitch barely registered the noise, too lost in Cian’s mouth and the hungry interaction between their tongues.
“You’re overdressed,” Cian murmured before hurriedly removing Mitch’s clothes. He tugged on his dick, and Mitch lost himself in Cian’s body. As white-hot need rushed through his veins, Mitch couldn’t remember why he had been concerned about Cian’s rugby team or what had triggered the thoughts in the first place.
“I want to fuck you.” He gasped the words at Cian, fully aware this was something they rarely did and that it was the first time he’d verbalized the desire.
“Let me guess,” Cian said, his voice heated. “You’d like me on my knees, with my arse in the air so you can see the straps while you ride me.”
Before Mitch could reply, Cian turned on the bed and presented himself exactly as he’d suggested. The sight took Mitch’s breath away, and for a few moments all he could do was stare at the sheer beauty and incredible hotness of Cian’s well-formed backside. When Cian reached behind him and pulled his cheeks apart, Mitch moaned softly.
“Hey!” Cian glared at Mitch over his shoulder. “This arse isn’t going to fuck itself.”
The joke, expressed in a needy tone of voice, was exactly what Mitch needed. He pulled the tube of lube from the bedside table and squeezed some onto his fingers before making short work of preparing Cian for the coming invasion.
It wasn’t long before Cian was pushing back, trying to fuck himself on Mitch’s fingers, and Mitch took it as a sign. He withdrew his hand, squeezed more lube onto it, and spread it across his cock, grateful they’d decided to forgo condoms shortly after moving in together. Since they were a couple and exclusive as well as each other’s first, they’d agreed to do without the protection.
Fighting his need, Mitch eased his way into the narrow heat. Cian seemed eager enough, but that didn’t change the fact that he rarely bottomed. When the full length of his dick was buried deep inside Cian, Mitch rested, pressing his lips to Cian’s shoulder while their bodies adjusted.
“Will you get a move on.” Cian wiggled his arse, stressing his impatience.
“Your wish…” Mitch didn’t waste any more time on words and pulled back, only to immediately slide into Cian again, relishing the hot grip the tight hole had on his straining cock. He’d forgotten how good this was.
“Fuck, yeah,” Cian groaned. “You feel so good.”
“You too,” Mitch said, struggling for breath. “So tight. This won’t take long.”
He moved faster, pushing in and out of Cian with more force. Already he could feel the telltale tingle in his balls, and he struggled to fight his impending explosion, to extend the pleasure for a few more moments. Cian enthusiastically moving with him intensified every penetration, which didn’t help at all.
When his orgasm hit, Mitch felt it in every inch of his body. Cian’s arse contracting around his erupting cock only enhanced Mitch’s climax. It wasn’t until he’d shot the last drop of cum that Mitch realized he’d completely ignored Cian’s dick and even failed to release it from its pouch.
Still seated deep inside Cian, he lifted one hand and reached for Cian’s cock, expecting to find it throbbing and hard. When his fingers connected with a wet, sticky patch of material instead, he chuckled.
Cian glanced at him again, and Mitch wasn’t sure whether the red glow on Cian’s cheeks was the result of his recent climax or embarrassment over how he’d reached it.
“That was hot,” Cian said. “We’ll have to do it again.”
Mitch couldn’t argue with that. He might not be sure how he felt about Cian joining a gay rugby team, but he had no doubts about how much he loved having a rugby-playing boyfriend.
The Rest of Our Lives #5
Chapter One
“This is going to be weird.” Mitch looked out of the bus window. It was after five in the afternoon, and night had fallen. The bus’s headlights lit up a road sign, and Mitch knew they were less than half an hour from Castleforest.
“Not being together for a week, you mean?” Cian sounded about as enthusiastic about the idea as Mitch felt.
“Yeah,” Mitch concurred. “Do you think our families will ever get so comfortable with us being a couple that they’ll allow us to share a room while visiting?”
The reflection of Cian’s gaze caught Mitch’s in the dark glass, and for a moment, they kept each other captive there.
“I don’t think it’s us being a couple they’re having an issue with,” Cian eventually said. “The idea of us actually sleeping together, never mind having sex, is probably easier to deal with on a ‘what I can’t see doesn’t exist’ sorta level.”
“Do you reckon it would be the same if one of us was a girl?”
“Probably not.” Cian frowned. “Having said that, we’re together less than a year, and they probably still see us as children rather than adults, so who knows?”
It wasn’t the end of the world of course. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d spend time apart since they’d moved in together, four months earlier. On more than one occasion, Mitch had gone back to Castleforest on his own for a weekend when Cian had had a match, just as Cian sometimes went home without Mitch to make up for the times he couldn’t make it. This felt different, though. Being alone because they were in different parts of the country was unavoidable. A separation due to parental overprotectiveness or prejudice—Mitch wasn’t sure what to call it—stung.
“Oh, well,” Mitch said, deciding to keep things in perspective and not ruin their week home before it even started. “It’s only for a week, and it’s not as if we won’t see each other during the day. It could be worse. Imagine if your family lived in Cork. We’d be half the country away from each other.”
Cian’s fingers brushed across Mitch’s hand, which rested on his thigh. Mitch relished the intimacy of the gesture, no matter how fleeting. At the same time, he resented that they couldn’t just hold hands for the duration of the journey. Surely one day they would be able to be as affectionate in public as heterosexual couples without the fear of offending people? He had to believe that; anything else would be too frustrating.
“Have you any idea what plans your mother has made?” Cian asked. “Because my parents have been rather vague, apart from telling me that we’ll be celebrating Christmas day as we’ve always done in the past.”
Mitch thought back to his last conversation with his mother. He hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but now that Cian mentioned it, he remembered she’d been rather circumspect when it came to details.
“She asked me what I wanted to eat for Christmas and made some vague references to surprises.” He chuckled. “Maybe I should remind her I’m legally an adult. She hasn’t teased me with secrecy since I stopped believing in Santa.” He turned to Cian, fully expecting him to laugh along or at least smile. Instead, he encountered a thoughtful expression.
“I wonder what they’re up to?” Cian mused.
“Up to?”
“It’s too much of a coincidence otherwise.” Cian focused on Mitch, his eyes gleaming. “My mother used almost the exact same words with me, last time we spoke.”
For a moment Mitch turned into the boy he’d been when he was seven and still firmly believed in the magic of Christmas, reindeer, and Santa Claus. Excitement rushed through him as he tried to figure out what their parents might be planning.
Something bright illuminated the darkness as they drove into town.
“Are those new?” Cian nodded in the direction of the lights that stretched in rows running across the main street at regular intervals, creating an illusion of ice and snow.
“I think so.” Mitch hadn’t paid much attention to Castleforest’s Christmas decorations in the past. They were there for a few weeks before disappearing again for a year, in the same way leaves came and went on trees.
Two minutes later, as the bus drove on without them, Mitch stared down the street and reconsidered. “It does look better. More festive, I guess.” He focused on Cian, reluctant to take the next step on his journey home.
“What are we like?” Cian grinned ruefully. “Our families aren’t so bad that we have to worry about going to different homes.”
Mitch smiled, unable to deny that they were being silly. “Where do you want to meet tomorrow?”
“At the library?” Cian suggested. “For old times’ sake?”
“Works for me,” Mitch said calmly while pushing down a burst of excitement because Cian had picked the place where they’d first met, almost exactly a year earlier.
He looked up and down the street, finding it mostly deserted. Given that it was dinner time on a Sunday in December, that was hardly surprising, but it served his purpose perfectly. He leaned forward, angled his head, and pressed his lips against Cian’s. If anybody did see the kiss, tough. In a town as small as Castleforest, their relationship had to be common knowledge. He wasn’t inclined to force public displays of intimacy on unsuspecting passers-by, but he refused to hide who he was or, more importantly, who he was with any longer.
Cian returned the far too short kiss, smirking when he pulled back. “What a difference a year makes.” He fixed the strap of his backpack on his shoulder and took a step. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Ten-ish?"
“See you then.”
Watching Cian walk away toward the estate where he lived, Mitch wondered if he’d ever get tired of looking at his boyfriend. He’d been attracted to Cian long before they’d exchanged their first words, and far from lessening, the feeling had only strengthened over time. Cian’s training regime since he’d taken up rugby again helped to make an always tantalizing physique even more irresistible too.
Only after Cian turned a corner and disappeared from sight did Mitch set off in the opposite direction. He resisted the temptation to walk by the old community center on his way home. He’d meet Cian there tomorrow, and it would be the long way around. He had no doubt his mother was eagerly awaiting his arrival, and if he were honest, he looked forward to seeing her too.
The front door to the house he’d grown up in opened before Mitch had a chance to put his key in the lock. His mother’s beaming face welcomed him home, and his answering smile was almost certainly just as delighted. Yes, Mitch would miss Cian, especially at night, when he’d have to settle for sleeping on his own, without a warm body to wrap himself around. However, he couldn’t deny that his mother’s joy whenever he visited made him feel warm and loved.
“There you are.” His mother pulled him into a tight hug before scrutinizing his face. “You look well.” She released him and walked into the house. “Do you want to eat now or later?”
“I have a choice?” Mitch snickered. This was new. His whole life his mother had told him what time dinner would be ready, and it had been up to him to make sure he was present at the appointed hour.
“Sure.” She grinned at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking. She probably does.
“I’m having takeaway delivered. I was thinking fish and chips?”
Mitch’s mouth watered, but he was surprised. “Delivered? I’m impressed. Castleforest is moving up in the world.”
“Oh, stop it. We’re not that much of a backwater.” But his mother smiled at him, taking the sting out of her words.
“I’ll just put my stuff away,” Mitch said. “Then I’m good with whatever you want to do.”
An hour later Mitch settled on the couch in the living room with a full belly. “That was great.”
“Good. Does it make up for having to share a living space with your old ma for a few days?”
Mitch didn’t need mind-reading powers to recognize the question wasn’t only meant as a joke. He sighed.
“Living with you has never been hard,” he said honestly. “It isn’t difficult now either. It’s just…” Mitch didn’t want to upset his mother so soon after arriving, but he didn’t want to lie to her either.
“What?”
He shrugged. “It’s a bit frustrating that nobody minds that Cian and I live together in Dublin, but at the same time won’t allow us to sleep in the same house when we’re here.”
His mother gave him a look he knew all too well. This stare indicated that, in her opinion, he hadn’t thought hard enough before opening his mouth. Unfortunately, recognizing her expression didn’t mean he knew the reason behind it.
“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe Cian’s parents would like to have him to themselves for a few days to catch up? Or that I might like spending some time with my son without having to share his attention?” Mitch gaped at his mother, disinclined to tell her that the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind.
She sighed. “We’re not stupid. We know you two are all grown up and living your own life together. But it feels like only yesterday you came running to me because you’d fallen off your bike and hurt yourself. Give an old woman a chance to adjust to the fact that you’re no longer a child.”
Mitch got up and crossed the room. When he reached his ma in her comfortable chair, he leaned forward and hugged her. “You’re not an old woman,” he whispered while relaxing into her embrace. He allowed himself to revisit the younger version of himself she’d described, surprised to find he welcomed the security her arms offered as much now as he always had.
“I’m sorry.” Mitch murmured the words against her shoulder. He hadn’t meant to upset his mother. “It’s just that I’m so used to being together with Cian it feels a bit weird when we’re not. Especially since for once we’re home at the same time.” He straightened and sat on the armrest of his mother’s chair.
“It’s okay.” She patted his leg. “I do understand, you know. I used to be young once, a long, long time ago.” She looked up at him with a cheeky glint in her eye. “Did I mention I have a surprise for you?”
“You did.” The sudden change in subject caught Mitch off guard. “I thought you’d keep me in suspense until Christmas.”
“That would defeat the purpose.”
The plot thickened, and Mitch was still none the wiser. “Well then, don’t keep me hanging.”
“We had a raffle in work,” his mother said, at first glance apropos of nothing. “I won the first prize.”
“Congratulations?” Mitch had no idea why his mother made such a big deal about having won a box of chocolates or something similar, but he was willing to wait her out.
“I’ve now got two tickets to see the Symphony Orchestra perform the music from Star Wars. Tomorrow night, actually.”
“Nice one.” Mitch was delighted for her. His mother was a huge Star Wars fan. In fact, she’d watched the movies so often over the years Mitch knew large chunks of them off by heart. “But what has that got to do with me?” Surely, she hadn’t made him come all the way home today, only to travel back to Dublin tomorrow?
“I was wondering if you’d let us use your apartment for the night.” Her gaze bored into him as if she was expecting a certain reaction. “Marian is coming with me, and neither of us fancies driving all the way home at midnight. Since your place will be empty...”
Mitch chuckled. “We have two bedrooms, remember? There’s no reason you can’t stay with us, even when we’re there.” He sobered as he tried to remember what state they’d left the place in before leaving, suppressing a sigh of relief when he recalled they’d done a rather thorough cleanup because they didn’t want to return to chaos. “Of course, you can stay there.” But how is that a surprise for me? He kept that thought to himself.
“And now you’re wondering how me winning concert tickets constitutes a surprise for you.”
Mitch blinked at his mother, shocked to discover that four months after he’d moved out, she could still read his mind with ease.
“I’m disappointed.” The sparkle in his mother’s eyes belied her words. “I thought you would have recognized your opportunity by now.”
The beginnings of an idea formed in Mitch’s mind. Surely, she doesn’t mean...?
“How did I manage to raise such an eejit?” The sigh she expelled was obviously exaggerated. “Why don’t you get on your phone and see if Cian wants to spend tomorrow evening and night here?”
“Really?”
His mother gave him a blank stare. “Really.” She reached for the remote. “Now, either settle or go and do your own thing. I’m watching The Empire Strikes Back tonight.
Mitch reached for his mother, hugging her again and placing a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks. That’s the best surprise ever.” He got up. “Enjoy your movie. I’m going up to my room.”
He was texting Cian before he was halfway up the stairs.
Author Bio:The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
GOOGLE PLAY / MeWe / iTUNES
EMAIL: helenastoneauthor@gmail.com
Pride of Place #3
Ukuleles & Scrums #4
The Rest of Our Lives #5
Miracle in the Library #1
Lessons in Love #2
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