Kennedy is King

by Cameron James

  “I know you love him, it’s okay.” He cooed at me; Stephen laughed as he carefully replaced the photo.

  “This is Harrison?” he asked as he pointed at another. We were on a cruise in that picture, we were seven, Harrison nineteen it was a formal night, Cassidy and I were in the same suit, light grey slacks and a grey waistcoat because it was a warm cruise and our Mum hadn’t wanted us to get too warm, he had a soft pink shirt on, mine was a soft blue. Harrison also wore grey slacks, his shirt white and a black tie.

  We’d had our formal portraits done and we’d behaved immaculately, getting a picture that had graced our lounge for many years, the picture Cassidy had was taken by Harrison when we were on deck. A selfie where we are all too close to the camera. Cassidy is laughing, the fact that he’s missing his two front teeth obvious as he looks up at Harrison, I’m smiling at the camera, my lower front teeth missing, and Harrison just looks happy.

  “That’s Harrison.” I agreed as Stephen smiled at the picture.

  “He took us for fruity mocktails after that.” Cassidy said.

  “He looks happy.” Stephen said softly, we both nodded.

  “That’s why Mum booked that cruise, I mean we didn’t know at the time, but Harrison was so down after… Preston. Mum wanted to distract him essentially, she booked the two-week cruise around the Bahamas because she figured that was far enough away that nothing would remind him, and he could feel like he was actually away.” I said, Stephen almost frowned.

  “Did it work?”

  “Sure.” Cassidy shrugged. “He had an amazing time and he spent a lot of it with Kennedy and I, but when we went to bed he usually did too, he’d look after us. So Mum and Father could spend the evening together, so he could have some time to himself, to grieve because he still was.”

  “Understandably so.” I added because really it was. “By the way, try to avoid apologising for Preston or, mentioning him, he…”

  “It still hurts.” Cassidy said, Stephen nodded.

  “He’s married now, right?” he asked, we both nodded, “Dom.” He said, he sounded triumphant.

  “Just don’t tell him you want a Dom in your life.” Cassidy said, I hit him with his pillow, Cassidy cackled as he laughed.

  We walked Stephen to Harrison’s, even though it was icy and mostly uphill. Amazingly, we arrived in one piece. Harrison answered the door, baby Ryder sat up in his arms, reaching out to us with interest. Cassidy smiled, offering his finger to be grabbed.

  “Look how much you’ve grown baby.” He said in a gasp, Harrison nodded.

  “He’s enjoying grabbing things.” He warned as he passed Ryder to Cassidy. Cassidy laughed as he walked past into the house, leaving Harrison to examine Stephen.

  “Stephen?” he asked,

  Stephen nodded. I saw him relax when Harrison offered his hand.

  “I’ve heard an awful lot about you.” Harrison said leading him into the house. I sighed as I closed the door behind me. Wesley and Millie were sat on the rug in the living room, Dom with them as they appeared to play a board game.

  Wesley eyed Stephen suspiciously as he came in with us, as Dom stood to shake his hand. I sat on the floor to examine the game more closely.

  “Psst.” Wesley hissed at me, I nodded to him moving my head closer as he obviously wanted to whisper. “Who’s that?” he asked, I smiled.

  “My boyfriend.” I whispered back, he gasped.

  “Is he the one who you did the stupid thing for?” he asked as he turned to Stephen. I laughed.

  “Yep. He’s the one.” I said, Wesley waved, Stephen waved back.

  “He’s pretty.” Wesley whispered, I smiled.

  “I think so too.” I agreed as Harrison squeezed Stephen’s shoulder.

  “The Christmas Eve Lunch is our Christmas dinner.” Harrison explained as Dom opened the multiple pizza boxes that lined their dining room table. “It gives Father the chance to have a big formal get up, have pictures taken and schmooze the press.” He continued; Stephen frowned from across the table as I took a slice of pizza. “It just means we can enjoy Christmas Day as a family, with no pressure. Father doesn’t even wear a suit.” He said, I laughed.

  “Shock horror, I know.” I said, Stephen laughed as he ate his slice of pizza. He swallowed.

  “Do you go?” he asked Dom, Dom shook his head but the smirk was unmissable.

  “Not anymore. I used to when we just started dating.”

  “But Father doesn’t like kids at the Christmas Eve lunch.”

  “And I am unwilling to hire a babysitter.” Dom said then gasped back at Ryder as he gasped happily towards his daddy, Dom smiled as he began to break up the pizza on Ryder’s tray.

  “It can’t be because of money.” Stephen said, Dom shook his head as he fed Ryder a piece of chicken.

  “No, nothing to do with money, just a want to be there.” He said, Stephen laughed.

  “Does that mean you guys never used to go?”

  “Oh, that was different.” Cassidy said, “because then the pictures showed a loving father with his eldest son and his little twins.”

  “You’ve always had to go.” Stephen said, “I feel a bit sorry for you.”

  “As you should.” I agreed,

  “You come?” he asked Harrison, Harrison sighed as he nodded.

  “I do, Dom and the kids visit on Christmas day. Mum likes to see them, of course.”

  “Of course.” Stephen agreed.

  “But it is damn good food.” I said, “and Mum, well Mum will enjoy the conversation and someone new being there.” I said, Cassidy hummed as he nodded.

  “Mum will love you.” He said to Stephen, Stephen blushed, then he frowned.

  “Who’s your plus one?” he asked, Cassidy looked down at the pizza on his plate.

  “No-one.” He said softly, I saw as Stephen winced.

  “Sorry, I…”

  “Don’t worry. It’s usually Theo, but Theo’s parents are taking him to New York for his eighteenth over Christmas and, well I thought that was a good enough excuse.”

  “That is fair.” Stephen agreed, I laughed.

  “Mine is usually Cody.” I said,

  “And where is Cody?”

  “Probably sat in his apartment, with his parents, enjoying the fact he doesn’t have to go to this lunch tomorrow.” I smiled pleasantly at him, he almost whined.

  “You guys are not selling this.”

  “Sorry.” Harrison said, he wasn’t sorry at all. “If we lower your expectations enough, you’ll enjoy it.” he said,

  “And I have weed.” Cassidy said, “for afterwards.” He smiled as Dom sighed.

  “I never get to have weed.” He said more to Ryder, who giggled and leant his head to the right, leaning over the highchair.

  “You want weed, hire a babysitter and come to Christmas Eve lunch.”

  “Smuggle me some.” He said, Harrison nodded, they high-fived.

  “I want to be as cool as them when we get older.” Stephen said, I laughed.

  “We’re already as cool as them.” I assured him.

  Mum was up in the kitchen when I took Stephen downstairs for a hot chocolate before bed. I saw her, stood at a counter as Stephen got distracted by the three canvases in our hallway. They were from a photoshoot that Mum had taken us too when Cassidy and I were five. Harrison was seventeen and went apparently willingly, but sat in our hallway was three individual square canvases. One of Cassidy, in a lilac polo shirt with the most adorable smile on his face. One of Harrison, laughing in a black and white striped polo and one of me, in a light yellow polo shirt, my head was turned as I was smiling it almost looked like I was actually looking at Harrison and Cassidy.

  “You were so cute.” Stephen cooed as I tugged on his sleeve getting him to walk.

  “Good evening my child.” Mum said, I almost laughed as she turned to look at me. “Kennedy.” She said happily as I walked towards her, kissing her cheek. She threatened me with her floury hands. “Stephen.” She
said looking past me, he smiled although I could see the underlaying blush. “and I’ll have you know, he’s still cute.” She added, I rose my eyebrow at Stephen as he laughed rolling his eyes.

  “What are you doing?” Stephen asked, she smiled as continued to roll out the dough on the countertop.

  “Cinnamon buns.” She said, the satisfied hum in her voice, “Kennedy and Cassidy’s favourite Christmas treat. I like to make them before all the catering staff arrive.” She added, “You’re going to be groomed at eleven tomorrow morning.” She said as she looked me up and down, “Cassidy too, if he gets up on time.” She said, I laughed as I went into the fridge. I got the milk out,

  “You know he won’t get up until half nine at least. Got to have his beauty sleep.” I said then passed the milk to Stephen.

  “My boy is beautiful enough.” She said almost sighing, I didn’t say anything so she began to butter her dough. “Don’t you agree.” She said to Stephen, he wobbled his head.

  “Cassidy is stunning.” He agreed, she smiled as he looked at me, “but…”

  “But?”

  “Kennedy is…” he seemed to struggle as I guess he didn’t want to embarrass me or himself in front of my Mum. I smiled at her.

  “Lay off. We’ve already figured out it’s real.” I said, then passed Stephen two mugs. “Although…” I added, Mum raised her eyebrow at me as she began to sprinkle cinnamon on the dough. “When I told him I loved him, he didn’t say it back.” I said, Mum gasped, turning to look at him as I laughed behind her. Stephen looked completely betrayed.

  “Hey!” he said, “we had just…”

  “Just what?” I asked cupping my ear, and I’m sure he wanted to throw the milk bottle at me. I blew a kiss back to him; he rolled his eyes.

  “Stop being mean to your boyfriend.” She shunned, I laughed as she eyed Stephen. “He seems nice.” she took a deep breath, “I hope he’s got a backbone though, otherwise my husband will eat you alive.”

  “Hey, if he’s anything like Cassidy, I’ll be fine.” Stephen said, she laughed cheerfully.

  “Oh I like him.” she practically purred. “Good choice Kennedy.”

  ♕

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Stephen was sat on my bed in his binder and his boxers watching me as I manoeuvred through my wardrobes to try and find something appropriate to wear for the grooming. I turned to him as I pulled a t-shirt on, it was bright red.

  “What?” I asked, he smiled.

  “I need you to do something for me.” he said, I rose my eyebrow at him. “That’s such a bright t-shirt.” He said his eyes widening at me, I did it back.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked, he turned on the bed reaching for my bedside cabinet and holding a tube of something up to me.

  “I just can’t bend that way.” He said amused as he read the tube.

  “Which way?” I asked amused, he smiled as he reached over his head, touching the space between his shoulder blades. “You seem just fine.” I said he threw the tube at me. “Do your boyfriend a favour.” He said batting his eyelashes at me, I smiled as I read the tube, I frowned.

  “What is it?”

  “Testosterone.” He said, I frowned a little harder.

  “Like steroids?”

  “No.” he laughed very slightly as I sat beside him on my bed. “No, no not steroids. Baby, do you genuinely think I’m on steroids.” He asked as he flexed his arm, I snorted lightly.

  “I’m bigger than you.” I said flexing my own arms, he grinned as he ran his fingers over my arms.

  “That’s only because of how heavy your sax is.” He said then he shook his head. “No, no it’s not steroids its my hormones. They’re helping me grow a beard and be more…. Boyish. I guess.”

  “You’re more manly than me.”

  “Yes.” he agreed, far too quickly, I hit his knee he grinned. “I mean my body, my insides my, everything.”

  “Oh.” I said, he smiled at me.

  “You don’t need to do it, I just…”

  “It’s fine.” I said quickly as I read the instructions. “It’s interesting learning about… all this.”

  “My life?” he asked, I almost sighed so he laughed. “I’m messing with you.” He said softly as he turned on the bed so his back was to me. He touched between his shoulders again. “There.” He said then lifted the back of his binder over his head holding it there.

  “Yes sir.” I mocked as I squeezed some onto the back of his neck. He shivered as I rubbed it in. “What will this do to me?” I asked, he smiled.

  “Very little.” He said, “unless you have low testosterone, then well, things will get far more interesting for you.”

  “Well, I’ll look forward to that.” I said, he laughed as he lowered his head. “Done.” I added he nodded, lowering his binder and turning to look at me, smiling at me, so I smiled back. We both turned when the door to my bathroom opened.

  “They’re here.” Cassidy said as if the house had just spawned out thousands of haunted spirits.

  Stephen sat amused on the counter between the sinks, watching as Cassidy and I were groomed. Cassidy thoroughly enjoyed this part of any event because it meant he could feel like a celebrity with people buzzing around him at practically his beck and call. He was currently getting his nails cut and shaped, after them being striped of the polish he wore, Father would not have him wearing nail polish and we knew that without even seeing him.

  I had my head back as I was lathered up to have a cut throat shave. He was partway through but had paused because I was laughing, at Stephen’s gasps of fear whenever he came at me with the razor.

  “I won’t kill him.” the man, Drew, who was attempting to shave me said, laughter evident in his voice.

  “If you do can I not go to this lunch because I’m grieving?” Cassidy asked, I turned my head to look at him, he touched his chest. “I’d grieve so hard for you.”

  “Oh I’m sure, you and Stephen would grieve so hard.”

  “We would.” Stephen agreed,

  “And it’d only be a matter of time before we began sleeping together to get rid of the pain.” Cassidy said dramatically,

  “Who’s going to play you in the movie Cass?” I asked, he gasped.

  “Anne Hathaway, obviously.”

  “Who’ll play me?” Stephen asked,

  “Ryan Reynolds.” We said together, Stephen’s laughter came out like a squeak, Drew touched my shoulder so I put my head back again.

  “Do you always get cut throat shaves?” Stephen asked, Cassidy hummed.

  “They shave closer.” He said, “I mean, don’t tell our Father we both have electric shavers at school.” He added,

  “Cross my heart.” Stephen said amused, as Drew put a warm towel over my face.

  “Do you want one?” Drew asked, Stephen laughed.

  “I can’t even grow a beard.” He said, I could imagine the shrug. “Well, I say that… I can if I think really hard.”

  I laughed as Cassidy did.

  “You’re next sunshine.” Drew said, Cassidy practically purred back at him.

  Stephen’s eyes roamed me when I was dressed, I turned towards him, raising my eyebrow as he bit his lip, I laughed shaking my head at him,

  “What?”

  “I think I fancy you a little.” He replied, I smirked as he whistled and walked towards me, his hands stroking down my front. I wore a blue green turtleneck, and a pair of denim jeans – because although it was a formal lunch, it wasn’t a three-piece lunch and we could wear what we pleased, to some extent. He fingers stopped around were my jumper was tucked into my jeans. I almost moaned.

  “We don’t have enough time for this.” I said, he looked at his watch.

  “I think we do.” He said, I groaned dramatically at him, he laughed stroking over my cheek, obviously enjoying the extra smoothness that wasn’t normally there. His hand stopped at the back of my head, he pulled my head forward and we kissed.

  I made it deeper,
and I felt him laugh against me, his hands at my neck as he responded to me deepening our kiss, then began to laugh against me as Cassidy sighed from the door. I looked at him past Stephen as he tutted at me.

  “We have to be downstairs, are you two going to need a minute so you’re not on heat.”

  “Hmm, maybe.” I said, Stephen laughed pushing me away then turned to Cassidy they smiled at each other.

  Cassidy stood before us in a white shirt, that had black lace on the shoulders. Black skinny jeans matched with it and black boots. Stephen checked him out as Cassidy checked Stephen out. It made me smile, then,

  “Don’t actually run off with each other.” I said, Cassidy’s smirk was playful.

  “I can’t promise anything, look at you.” He purred as he walked towards Stephen, he lifted his hand and spun him around. I took the opportunity to check him out too.

  He wore a black polo shirt with white trims over the collar and four buttons down the chest. He wore it with light grey jeans and a pair of loafers. He also wore a pretty smug grin on his face as Cassidy metaphorically ate him up.

  “Are we ready for this?” Cassidy asked, I sighed as I nodded, Stephen hesitated but only slightly. “Let’s go.” He said, and we did.

  Harrison was at the bottom of the stairs as we came down them. He wore a red wine coloured shirt and jeans. He also looked as if he’d been groomed to the inch of his life like we had, he also looked so done with today, like we were.

  “Come on then siblings. Let’s get this over with.” He said wrapping his arm around Cassidy’s shoulder’s and walking him towards the dining room.

  It was beautiful, I’d never say it wasn’t, Mum worked hard on our Christmas decorations. The theme was red and gold, and everything was immaculate. The crockery and cutlery were gold, even down to the dessert spoons a perfect gold. The napkins red. The serving platters red.

  The tree was also red and gold, all wrapped together with tiny white lights. It was elegant, and beautiful nothing too showy. There were presents around the bottom of the tree. Wrapped up in gold paper with big red bows. They, usually were placebo gifts, our actual ones hidden away until tomorrow to stop us from asking whether we could open any during lunch. We sat at our place cards.