“Need a ride?”

It sounded like a cheesy pickup line, and still made Eugene smile. It was hard not to when his best friend was sounding like a trashy romance movie. “You watch way too many cowboy shows,” Eugene laughed.

“They’re classics!”

“Classic just means old. Where’s Ryan?”

“Sleeping in the back,” Reynard said, pointing over his shoulder to the little tyke tucked into a booster seat. “Why don’t you hop in and I’ll take you home?”

Eugene felt a small stab in his gut. Home. He was walking to delay going to that empty apartment, and Reynard’s driving would get him there faster than the bus. He should be happy to get out of the cold, though, so he plastered on a smile and said “sure” even though it wasn’t what he really wanted at all.

“Seat belt,” Reynard reminded him. There was a soft Christmas melody playing in the background; Reynard must have used it as a lullaby for Ryan.

Eugene buckled up and hummed along a bit. No sadness here! Just a guy happy to get home after work.

Reynard picked up on the mood pretty fast. “Everything okay?” he asked quietly.

Eugene shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You barely worked two hours,” Reynard said softly. Then, after a small pause: “And you look like you want to cry again.”

“Yeah, that’s me. The crybaby,” Eugene joked with a small little laugh. “But not tonight. It’s almost Christmas! No one should spoil the holiday by crying.”

“You cried all last Christmas because your boyfriend broke up with you,” Reynard reminded him. “And that was okay. And if you need to cry this Christmas, that’s okay too.”

“No, it’s not,” Eugene said as confidently as he could. “I need to - I need to make it so I don’t feel like crying.”

“And what would do that?” Reynard asked. “Another job halfway in the slums where your coworkers treat you like trash?” He reached over and grabbed Eugene’s hand. “Another boyfriend who doesn’t really care?”

Eugene didn’t know how to answer that, so he said nothing. Instead he held Reynard’s hand tight and listened to the Christmas carols and watched the world pass by out the window. It was only when they were pulling in the driveway that Eugene realized - Reynard had brought him to Reynard’s house, not Eugene’s apartment. “What-“

“You’ll still have to work,” Reynard said. “But we can manage until you can find something better. And having a second caretaker for Ryan on a long term basis would be nice. If you want to. Or this can only be for Christmas and you can go back to your apartment after the holiday. Your choice.”

“I didn’t think I was your type,” Eugene said, still a bit in shock.

Reynard shrugged. “My type doesn’t have anything to do with looks. I have to get to know someone first. Unfortunately that means I’ve put most of the people I’m attracted to in the friend zone before I know I’m attracted to them. So… is this you staying over for Christmas, or do you want to try moving in?”

Eugene squeezed the hand holding his. “Moving in.” That was the answer to being lonely, wasn’t it? Finding someone who cared enough to reach out when you wanted to cry? And Reynard had done that so many times. Eugene felt the tears again, but this time they were happy. “I’m not sleeping on the floor this time, though.”

“Does this mean Papa’s my second daddy now?” Ryan asked through a yawn.

Eugene laughed. “Guess so, little guy. Are you ready to go in and get some sleep in a real bed now?”

Ryan nodded. “Told ya Santa only delivered secret wishes.”

Eugene could only grin and laugh at Reynard’s bewildered face.