“Mirror, mirror on
the wall,” Luke said, enunciating around his toothbrush. He wore a large yellow
bath towel slung fetchingly around his lean hips, and a dab of shaving cream
under his right ear.
I drew back from
the long mirror over the bathroom counter and the double sinks. “I was trying
to think if I should shave or not.”
“Why would you
want to shave?”
“I don’t know.” I
frowned at my reflection. “I look okay, right?”
“You’re asking for
an objective opinion? I’m kind of partial to your looks.”
“Okay. Good.”
He grinned at me
and toothpaste spilled out of his mouth. I laughed. Luke laughed too, rinsed,
spat, patted his face with a plushy yellow towel. He straightened, still smiling
but serious when he said, “You know, we don’t have to go to this thing
tonight.”
“Yeah, we do. It’s
New Year’s. Karen will be disappointed if we don’t show up.”
“She’s going to
have a houseful of people. She won’t notice if we’re not there.”
“Hey. I’d like to
think that’s not true.”
“You know what I
mean.”
I did, yeah. And I
appreciated that he was, as usual, looking out for me. We’d been together since
May. Well, not immediately together
together because it had taken Luke a month to leave his job and put his place
on the market, but even when we were apart I felt like we were together. It was
a first to feel so secure. To know that whatever came at us, we’d be facing it
together. I still found that sort of amazing.
“You know what?”
His reflection
slanted hazel eyes my way in inquiry.
“I’m looking
forward to tonight.”
“Are you?” He
looked surprised, and no wonder. For the first two years of my sobriety I’d
been afraid to go anywhere, do anything that might put me in proximity with
alcohol. Hell, coffee with friends had seemed perilous. Not that I’d had so
many friends back then.
“I am. I’m not
even sure why exactly. I’m looking forward to the new year. And I like the idea
of celebrating with friends. I know for sure I’m not going to drink. Plus I’ll
have someone to talk to all night. The best looking guy there.”
“That’s funny,”
Luke said. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“That you’re going
to be the best looking guy there tonight?” I teased, squeezing past him on my
way to the bedroom.
He reached back
and caught my arm, pulling me back against him. He was smiling as he pressed a
Crest-flavored kiss against my mouth. I smiled a kiss back, reached down and
unfastened the towel at his waist.
They won't be going anywhere if they start tugging towels off. We all know what that leads to!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a certain someone that you feel safe and secure with. I'm glad that Tim and Luke have each other. <3
I know! Tim is definitely out of practice if he thinks that could work.
DeleteThank you Josh! Reassuring to see how well everything is going for them.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a wee peek inside the window. ;-)
DeleteToo little for my appetite for this couple, but I suppose it was the right ratio considering the size of their books. I am glad to see that they are still strong and growing stronger together :D.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely just a peek. I wanted readers to know they were okay. ;-)
DeleteThis was a lovely glimpse of Tim and Luke! :) It's so nice to see they've figured things out and are doing well together (^O^)
ReplyDeleteGood! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteThanks! That was a great way to start my day :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad!
DeleteI didn't expect this one so soon after TPG. What a sweet surprise! Your vulnerable characters, like Tim, and Dan yesterday, are always beautifully drawn. It's a delight to see Luke has settled in, and he and Tim are coming together as a couple. Thank you, Josh.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a rough ride getting to this point, I thought readers would like a little reassurance. ;-)
DeleteWhat a lovely view of them. So very sweet and reassuring after the uncertainty of The Parting Glass. Now I feel all warm and mushy, and I have a smile to start the day! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! That's a good start to a winter's day.
DeleteNice to see them settled into domestic bliss. They worked hard for it!
ReplyDeleteThey did indeed. :-) Thanks, M.
DeleteFunny how a quick little glimpse into a fictional life can produce so much happiness in someone's real life. Josh, you are magic. Thanks again for the codas this week.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm glad though! I'm happy the codas are having their magical effect! ;-)
DeleteI feel like I've just consumed the amuse-bouche of Christmas codas. It was delicious! :D So happy to see Tim and Luke doing well.
ReplyDeleteThanks once again for sharing your talent, Josh. What a lovely gift.
What a great description! :-)
DeleteAfter yesterday's tear-stained keyboard at my work pc, I was relieved to read this coda with a smile. :-) It makes me happy to see that Tim is feeling so positive, secure and optimistic. And I loved the setting...for some reason, I've always been fascinated watching the men in my life shave. I think it started when I was little, watching my grandfather use a shaving brush and shaving soap in a special cup.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yes, I thought it would be good to follow yesterday with something sweet and simple and true.
DeleteThose daily rituals -- they are comforting and they can be sexy and they are the anchors of our life.
That was the best birthday gift! I really love Tim and Luke and this was perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad!
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Thanks for another great coda Josh!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading!
Deletei have not read the parting glass yet but i was still able to enjoy this coda. and it didn’t spoil anything in regards to the parting glass for me. it only made me want to read it more.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I'm trying to avoid spoilers as much as I can.
DeleteSo you these two are so sweet and and happy, normally I'd want to tell them to get a room! But they are in a room! So I'm thinking they are going to be late for the party :-P
ReplyDeleteHa! True! ;-)
DeleteTim and Luke did make it! How delightful. I feel very optimistic about their future as a couple. Thanks, Josh, This is so nice so soon after The Parting Glass.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think they are on very solid footing, those two. They had their trial by fire.
DeleteThat was sweet, I love the happy domesticity.
ReplyDeleteMe too! :-) Thanks for reading.
DeleteI am still smiling ~ they are so good together:-)
ReplyDeleteI was smiling as I wrote that one.
DeleteLoving these codas. Thanks, Josh!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Aniko! Happy Holidays.
DeleteI really know that it is Christmas, since every day we have a new gift of Josh's amazing writing! Thanks so much, Josh!!
ReplyDeleteI'm finding that writing these really does help put me in a festive mood.
DeleteJust when I thought that this Sunday couldn't possibly get any lovelier... I found this coda! How wonderful to see that these two are going to face everything the new year will bring their way, together. They have SO deserved to have brand new dreams, brand new chances, brand new challenges, a whole new life together -- full of lovely possibilities and ordinary, fun everyday moments like this one in their coda.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all these codas, Josh. I have some major difficulties commenting here on your blog right now (due to where I am and the WiFi connection here, I assume) so I just want to send you a warm (literally, LOL) THANK YOU for all the latest ones! :-)
You miss us, don't you? The sharks and the dolphins aren't enough to make up for US. :-)
DeleteThank you for reading, Johanna. Have a lovely, lovely holiday.
:-) Yes, I miss you guys. No shark can replace you -- not even the smallest, cutest, friendliest baby sharks. *grin*
DeleteYou, too, have a lovely, lovely holiday. Forget work and internet for awhile and enjoy the company of your loved ones. You've spoiled us generously -- now it's time to spoil and indulce yourself! ;-)