Time did it's thing and moved without a care of the mortal world. Second became days, and days years. That time of the year came and passed many a time before it settled, for a moment on this one. Snow drifted down in slow, lazy flakes across the backyard, it was once again the kind of Christmas Eve snow that muffled everything and made the world feel gentle. Clean in a way. The porch light glowed warm on the white ground. Cody stood there waiting, sweater on, arms crossed, beard thicker, body broader than ever. In short, twenty five looked good on him. Bigger shoulders, thicker chest hair, abs still carved, but now under a strongman layer of mass. More bear than boy. Cody had grown into manhood and made absolutely no apologizes for it.
Without missing a beat, Evan stepped out behind him and almost laughed out loud.
“Dude… you’re like a Christmas lumberjack now.”
“Glad you noticed. Now come on.”
Cody didn’t even pretend to hide the smirk. They stood facing each other in the snow, breath drifting like smoke in the cold air. They hadn’t missed a Christmas Eve gut-punch tradition since they were eighteen, and even though they were older, busier, and way more grown into themselves, some things didn’t change. Why would they? Guys can be attached to things too, ours are just... a bit more odd.
“Ready to unwrap your present?” Cody teased.
Evan’s most definitely grown now, still managed to a grin spread
wide and still boyish.
“Yeah. Yeah I am.”
