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“It wasyou, doofus,” Jermaine told him.

Skyler’s face lit up again. “Oh! Then that’s okay because it’s true.”

Trevor gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “So it’s totally fine, baby, but I’m going to say again that you might be a bit drunk.”

“I’m sorry.” Skyler’s tone quickly became more subdued. “I didn’t mean to be.”

“No, no, it’s okay. You’re having fun. I only want you to be aware of it because you said you don’t like feeling out of control.”

“Hey, don’t stop him,” Oli said, throwing a piece of a roll at Trevor. “If I can’t drink, at least I can watch him. He’s amusing sober, but this is even better.”

Trevor squeezed Skyler’s hand again. “I’m not stopping anything. He can make his own decisions.”

Skyler stuck his tongue out at Oli, and a small laugh escaped Trevor. Hewasamusing like this, and Trevor loved it. Drunk Skyler was extra adorable.

“I was going to get another drink,” Skyler said to him.

“So do it.”

“Just one more.”

“Whatever you want, baby.”

Noah made fake gagging noises, and Oli aimed the next piece of roll at him before Trevor could do anything.

“Sorry,” Noah said. “But I’m going to need another drink too after all this.”

Trevor was really getting tired of his comments. It didn’t bother him when Jermaine or Oli teased him and Skyler, but lately when Noah did it, there was a bit more harshness behind it. He didn’t want to ruin their holiday celebration by starting a fight though, so it was lucky the server came back around then.

Skyler ordered another drink. And another after that.

As the dinner party wound down, Trevor was secretly a bit relieved, because he’d promised not to let Skyler get too out of control. The boy’s normally gangly limbs had become even looser with each drink, and now he was hanging them all over Trevor as he sang a reprised, dirtier version of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” altering the lyrics toGrandma got railed by a reindeer.

The song made the other guys crack up, but he wasn’t sure if this was the kind of thing Skyler would regret in the morning.

When they left, he helped prop Skyler up in the elevator, and then wrapped an arm around his waist to guide him down the hallway to their room.

“Thank you for taking care ofmeee,” Skyler cooed once Trevor got him inside. “You’re the best boyfriend ever, you know that?”

“Just doing what I promised,” Trevor told him as he guided him toward the bed.

Skyler flopped down on top of it, starfishing his limbs. “You always do what you promise.”

He took off Skyler’s shoes and then his own before climbing on the bed. It was big, but there wasn’t much room with the way Skyler was all spread out, so he ended up rolled on his side with one leg slung over Skyler’s thigh. He tucked a wayward piece of Skyler’s hair behind his ear and gave him a soft kiss. When he pulled away, Skyler was staring at him with more adoration than he thought he could take.

“What are you thinking?” Trevor asked quietly.

With no hesitation, Skyler said, “Promise you’ll love me forever?”

Skyler probably wouldn’t even remember this drunken request in the morning, but Trevor’s heart stopped, nonetheless. He didn’t ever want to lie to him. But looking into those green eyes, he knew it wouldn’t be a lie. He knew he would.

There was no going back. Skyler James would own his heart forever.

And when his heart resumed beating, it felt like it had grown to make sure there was plenty of room for Skyler to stay in there. So he placed his hand against the side of Skyler’s neck, his thumb brushing his ear, and said, “I promise.”

Skyler lit up brighter than all the constellations in the sky, and when he kissed Trevor, it was like shooting stars were flying down Trevor’s throat and lighting him up from the inside. It was everything good and bright and warm, and he couldn’t get enough of it.

A loud, rapid knocking on the door interrupted them, and Trevor yelled out, “Go away!”