Geekspeak: Conversion Rate
Definition: The percentage of site visitors who take a specific action beyond simple browsing, such as filling out a form, scheduling an appointment, or making an online purchase.
“You’ve got the directions, right, Dad?” Gideon rummaged in Alex’s bedroom closet for an extra roll of Scotch tape. “We’ll see you and Miki tomorrow. Dinner’s at four, but you’re welcome to show up whenever. Bye-bye.”
He emerged from the closet in time to see what appeared to be an animated sheet of holly-sprigged wrapping paper wrestling with itself in the middle of the floor.
“Oh no you don’t. Not again.”
Disengaging the paper from tiny flailing orange paws, he scooped up the kitten and held him at eye level. Little Ianto mewed, blinking at him with wide green eyes. “Stop trying to look harmless and adorable. I’ve got your number. Santa will so not fill your stocking with catnip mice tonight if you don’t lay off the wrapping paper.”
He set Ianto on the floor amid the crumpled remains of the seven other sheets of cat-shredded paper. The kitten batted at a couple of them, then suddenly arched his back, fur puffed along his spine, and bounced forward, stiff-legged.
“It’s an empty box, you ninny, and it’s been sitting in the same spot all afternoon.”
Apparently that didn’t matter to Ianto. He crouched, his little butt wiggling, then leaped for the top of the box.
Unfortunately for him, the box had no lid, and he plopped into it, claws scrabbling on cardboard, before his head popped up above the box rim, a picture of feline outrage.
Alex’s rolling laugh boomed from the doorway, and Gideon’s heart did a two-step in his chest, as it always did the first time he saw Alex after a long absence—say, anything more than five minutes.
Alex strolled over and stuck a green bow between Ianto’s ears. The kitten mewed and shook his head. “I see he’s still helping you.”
“We should have named him Beelzebub, not Ianto Jones. He is evil, Alex, evil.”
“I don’t know.” Alex rescued the kitten from the box. “I think we should have named him Gideon Junior. He reminds me of you. Small. Feisty. Cute as hell.” Alex chuckled. “There, see? That look on your face is the same expression he was wearing when I walked in.”
Gideon opted to ignore that obvious untruth. “Where’s Gwen?” When they’d adopted the two kittens from the shelter, Alex had given in to Gideon’s insistence and allowed him to name the cats after characters in Torchwood. “Maybe she can keep him occupied.”
“She’s asleep on Mom’s shoulder again.”
“Why does your mom rate the calm one?”
“Maybe it’s that pattern matching you’re always on about. Lin says Ianto is your spiritual twin.”
“Whatever.” Gideon propped his fists on his hips. “Will you look at the mess he’s made? At this rate, I’ll run out of wrapping paper before I get your dad’s gifts wrapped. He’s poked holes in almost all of it, and I don’t have time to run to the store for more before we leave for the Beeches.”
“Dad won’t care. He usually wrapped our stuff in a patchwork of newspaper and wrapping paper scraps anyway. He thought fancy packaging was stupid.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Kinda hard to disguise a bicycle, no matter how much newspaper you wad around it, so his gifts were never much of a surprise. That’s why he didn’t put his presents out until Christmas morning—to keep the mystery going. Lin and I spent most of December searching the house, the garage, the attic, trying to find the secrets, but we never did. I think he used to store everything at Manny’s house.”
“In that case . . .”
Gideon plucked Ianto out of Alex’s arms, and plunked him in the middle of the last sheet of wrapping paper. Instead of attacking it in a frenzy, as he’d been doing all afternoon, Ianto flopped over on his side and started grooming his paw.
“Oh fine. Now he calms down.”
Alex chuckled. “I think that’s the kitten version of ‘My work here is done.’”
“My work, on the other hand, is just beginning.” Gideon hooked his fingers in Alex’s belt loops and pulled him forward, snugging their hips together, and tilted his head for Alex’s kiss.
Alex didn’t disappoint. But then, he never did.
When they finally disengaged, he snuggled against Alex’s chest and sighed.
Alex’s chest rumbled with laughter. He stroked Gideon’s hair. “You purr as loud as Ianto.”
“That’s because I’m happy.”
Alex’s hand stalled. “After the holidays, when you move in here, things’ll be different. You gonna be okay with that?”
Gideon pulled back so he could meet Alex’s worried gaze. “Things are already different, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. With your dad settled and content at the Beeches, your mom is a lot less stressed. So are you.”
“You have a lot to do with that.” Alex kissed him again, slow, hot, and sweet. “Dad’s happier there than I thought he’d be. I never stopped to think how boring it must have been for him here.”
“Everyone’s happier except Lin. I think she still believes your father can get well if we try hard enough.”
Alex sighed. “Yeah. I don’t know what to do about that.”
“I’ve been thinking.” Gideon bit his lip. “I’m totally on board with moving here, especially after all the awesome remodeling work you’ve done. But . . .”
“Second thoughts?”
“Not about you or, you know, us.” Gideon pressed a quick kiss to Alex’s chin. “About our living arrangements. I get that you don’t want your mom to be alone, but I don’t think Lin should be either.”
“But Charlie—”
“Is moving in with Daniel on New Year’s Day. Toshiko can’t get out of her lease until June. Do you think we could sort of divide our time between here and Pettygrove?”
“Like timesharing my family?”
“I think they’re more timesharing us, but yes. What do you think?”
“I think . . . you’re right. You’re always right.”
“Not always. Remember once upon a time, I didn’t think I was cut out for relationships.”
“That was totally nuts. Nobody is better at them than you.”
“Depends on the relationship.” But he’d never give up this one. “Now, we’d better get these last gifts wrapped so we can get over to the Beeches. Holiday cheer with your dad, then home. Santa gets testy if he has to wait too long to scoot down the chimney.”
The heat in Alex’s gaze pinged Gideon’s heart and dick simultaneously. “Santa’s gonna have to take his chances, babe. Because once we get home, I’ve got plans to keep you up for a long, long time.”
Gideon snuggled closer and kissed the underside of his jaw. “Well, a very Merry Christmas to me.”
Alex grinned. “To both of us.”
