James skipped a step and nearly stomped on Daniel’s foot. Okay, maybe he did it on purpose, but he deserved it for that comment. Daniel did a little fancy footwork of his own to avoid catastrophe. “That’s a frightening idea.” James wasn’t sure where Daniel was going with this line of thought, but he didn’t like it one bit. “You know, we’re dancing, the music is rather romantic, I have you in my arms, and you want to talk about my mother. Can you see what’s wrong with this picture?”
Daniel nodded. “I happen to think we’re on the right track at the moment.”
“I’m going to step on your feet if you keep shocking me this way.” God, James hoped Daniel was playing with him. At least that would explain this jump into the pool of insanity. “Did someone offer you some red Kool-Aid or something?” He was starting to think that Daniel’s drinks had been spiked, though he danced perfectly and was steady on his feet.
“If you’ll let me explain a minute,” Daniel said as the song picked up tempo. James twirled Daniel away and then back into his arms, cradling him easily. “I was just thinking that when we return to Chicago, we should both know what to expect. I was thinking that we should develop a list.”
James stopped them right there. “Oh no…” He shook his head. “Not Daniel’s Ten Commandments?”
Daniel grinned. “I never thought of that.” James growled. “Let me think, Daniel’s commandment number one: thou shall meet my grandmother and friends, and of course I’ll meet your friends.” He pretended to think. “Number two: thou shall take your boyfriend out at least once a week.” James noted that Daniel had used the B word for the first time.
“And what else do you command?” Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad. “How do date nights end?”
“That’s commandment number three. Dates shall end in the bedroom, behind a closed and locked door, without relatives anywhere nearby.” Daniel fake glared.
“Amen to that. And commandment number four, thou shall go dancing with your boyfriend at least once a month, and afterwards…see commandment number three.” James flashed a brilliant smile. “Do you think a theme might be forming?”
Daniel nodded. “I’m really liking where this is going.”
“Me too.”
“Number five, thou shall tell thy boyfriend that you love him at least once a day.” Daniel slid his arms around James’s neck. “I’ll go first.”
“Well, technically I went first…” James clarified.
“Then I’d say I’m one behind. But maybe we should see commandment number three once again for such an important conversation, one without other ears.”
James leaned right into Daniel’s ear. “You know, we’re fulfilling commandment number four right now, and I got us a lovely hotel room within walking distance for the night in case we drank a little too much. We could go get started on commandment number three right away.”
Daniel shivered against him. “And not a relative in sight.”
James did something he had never done before, not caring who was watching: he leaned closer and kissed his boyfriend right there for all to see.
Epilogue
James hated the Dan Ryan Expressway toward downtown. It was always jammed with traffic. “What has you giggling over there?” he asked as he slowed down. The rain seemed to be mixing with a little snow. It was forecast to switch over to all snow sometime after midnight, which was why James was driving Daniel down to the theater. Normally Daniel took the train in and out of the city, but tonight the reports of weather delays had come at a perfect time, James had offered to drive. Not that Daniel had a clue that this was the plan all along.
“Your mother,” Daniel explained, still smiling.
“My mother is texting you?” James asked.
Daniel scoffed. “Sure. When I talked to her last week, she told me she wanted to redecorate the kitchen to look a little more modern and a little less grandma, especially since she’s going to be one, with Holly already expecting.” Apparently, Holly’s fears had been unfounded, given the fact that she was starting to show. “I took the opportunity to mention that she might try ditching the sampler.” Daniel snickered and handed the phone over his shoulder to Margaret, his grandmother. “What do you think?”
Gran, as she insisted James call her, was wonderful. James adored her completely, and when he’d explained what he had planned, she’d arranged for the night out to come along. He and Gran would have dinner and then see the show, and then she’d spend the night and return in the morning. Gran snorted. “The first time you told me about that thing I thought you were joking. Now I think it’s perfect.” She handed the phone back, and James wished he could see what these two were cackling about.