*** Matt's Point of View***
I wake up early, Eric is nestled into me. It's the perfect Christmas gift, that's all I'll say about that. And he told me I'm his best friend last night. That makes me feel so warm and gushy on the inside. Love as a lover and love as a best friend are very different, but I'm lucky we have both kinds with each other.
I decide to make this cute boy some breakfast. I slip out of bed and get cooking. Eggs sunny side up, toast, and bacon. Hot chocolate and orange juice. Everything to make him a lovely meal. I grab the bed tray, putting everything on there and paying more attention to the little details than I've ever done before. I even grab a flower from the bouquet he brought me and put it in a cute little vase. It's held up pretty well, but it's probably going to die in the next day or two.
I bring it into the bedroom, he's just coming out of the bathroom. "You're up!" I place the tray in the bed. "Happy Christmas, my love."
"Merry Christmas, Matty." He wraps his arms around me and we share a long, sweet kiss.
"Eat up. We've got a busy day. Are you ready?"
"I'm so ready. I can't wait to meet your family."
"They're looking forward to meeting you, they're in for a surprise though."
"I hope they like me." He looks a little nervous, it's cute.
"They'll love you to bits." I reassure him.
A few hours later, I'm knocking on the door of my family home.
Eric has his hands full of presents. My brother opens the door. "Happy Christmas, Matt." He welcomes me with a hug.
"Happy Christmas, James." I reply. "This is my boyfriend, Eric."
"Lovely to meet you, Eric. Please, come in, it's cold out there."
Inside, James' kids are in the living room. So is my father. Lizzie, my sister, and her fiancΓ© Charlie, are in the kitchen along with my sister-in-law Carrie and my mother.
"Happy Christmas everyone!" I say cheerily, greeting them one by one with hugs. "This is my boyfriend, Eric." I introduce him to the group in the living room.
"Lovely to meet you, Eric." My father shakes his hands.
"It's so nice to meet you, Mr. Lewis."
"Call me Chris. No need to be so formal."
We place the gifts under the tree and I lead him to the kitchen to meet the rest of the family.
"Happy Christmas, Matt!" My mum gives him a hug and kiss as I enter the kitchen.
"Happy Christmas, Mum." I hug her back. "You too Lizzie." I hug her. "And Charlie." I shake and hug him. My pregnant sister-in-law makes to stand up to greet us. "Don't stand, love. Happy Christmas Carrie." I hug her, keeping her sitting at the table. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, just tired, my back hurts."
"If you need anything, just let me know, I live the closest to you, you know." She waves me off.
I turn to introduce Eric, but my mom had already got a firm grip on him, hugging him tightly. "Lovely to meet you, my dear. I'm Kate."
Lizzie looks at me quizzically. She recognizes him. Carrie pinches me. I think she knows too. Lizzie whispers to Charlie, his eyes widen.
"Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Eric."
"So nice to finally meet you, Eric." Lizzie is still a little shocked, but manages to greet him. "You're Eric Bennett." She declares.
"Yes. I am." He says.
"Matt did not tell me." She pauses. "Not that it matters, I guess. Well, I'm a fan." He greets the others, my mother still not aware.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" He offers.
"No, please go sit in the living room, we'll have snacks soon."
"My Mum has never liked sharing kitchen duties." I explain, it's probably best we leave her be.
Back in the living room, we rejoin my brother and father. The kids are running about. I'm pretty sure I hear whispers from the kitchen. "So, Eric, you're American. Where in America are you from?" My father asks.
"Yes, I grew up in Pennsylvania, now I spend most of my time in California." He answers.
"I've been to New York and Florida, lovely places. Never California though."
"What do you do there?" My brother asks.
"I'm an actor." He answers casually, looking at me.
"Oh, wonderful, wonderful. Is it difficult? I mean, you hear such stories for some people, barely scraping by and all that."
"It can be, yes."
"What type of acting?"
"Films, mostly." He answers.
"Oh, very well done. And you're able to support yourself with just acting?"
"Yes."
"Oh, splendid. So many have to wait tables or work multiple jobs to get by and keep pursuing it. Would we recognize you from anything, what was the last film you did?"
Considering I know they're both massive fans of the film project he just finished, I think they'll figure it out once he answers. I watch their faces as he tells them.
"Bloody hell." I see it click with my brother. "You're Eric Bennett?!" Eric nods his head.
"Who is Eric Bennett?" My father asks James.
"Dad, Eric is Eric Bennett. Like from the movies. The actor."
"You're pulling me leg." He waves it off.
"It's true." I add.
"Look at him, of course it's him. I can't believe I didn't realize it."
My dads eyes widen. "Oh, guess it's true then. Well, big fan, I am. Lovely to meet you."
"Thank you." Eric looks quite pink in the face.
"But I'll make myself clear." My Dad leans in. "I couldn't give a rats arse about who you are. Just treat my boy well, that's all I care about."
Now I'm a little embarrassed. "I plan to. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to be for him." Eric answers. "He's the sweetest person I've ever met. I'm lucky to know him." He maintains eye contact with my Dad, then looks at my brother.
"Well, good. Alright then." My Dad settles back into his seat. "So, how'd you two meet?"
"My friend Sam, she worked on his last project and thought we'd get along."
"How long has it been?"
"We met a few months ago, but he was in America for the majority of that time." I answer.
"I was not the best at the beginning, I'll be honest." Eric says. "But the months I was in America, I could only think of Matt."
"Same for me." I tell Eric more than the others in the room.
The rest of the day flies by. The initial shock of Eric wears off for the most part. There's the occasional look of disbelief at who's with us, but they treat him as normal as they treated the only other person I've ever brought home. They warm up to him pretty quickly, and even start cracking jokes with him.
By the end of the night, he's best friends with my siblings. And my parents are ready to adopt him.
"It was lovely to meet you, my dear. You're welcome here any time." My mother holds both of his hands.
"Thank you for letting me spend this day with you and your family. I had a wonderful time." He's pulled in for a hug.
The rest of my family says their goodbyes as well. They all spend more time with him than me, I'm just passed over with quick goodbyes. It actually makes me happy how much they seem to like him.
On my way out, my mother gives me a hug goodbye. "I like him for you." She whispers. "Just be careful, my love."
"I will be." I kiss her cheek and follow Eric out of the house.
Once we get back to my flat, we get out of our clothes and into pajamas. We decided not to stop by his hotel to grab the rest of his clothes, with the extra media attention around the two of us. They don't know who I am yet, we don't want that to change just yet.
"You know, I'd be fine if we never get the rest of your clothes." I say as he looks at the small bag he has with a few items. The frown he gives me is so dang cute. "Only because I love you in my clothes."
"Not naked?"
"Oh fuck, I forgot I burned all my clothes." I tease him, stepping closer and giving him a delicate kiss.
"Sadly not all." He tugs on my shirt.
"How about I take them off? And maybe I'll leave them off tomorrow too."
"I'm gonna be completely honest, I've always wanted a boy-toy that lounges around half naked all day."
"Is that so?" I grin. "Sit down, baby boy." I say in a cowboy accent.