“You’re one of those people,” said Dom, reaching up to grab Kiko’s head with a hand. “Pull the tape off so you have a perfect unripped square of paper.”
“Guilty,” said Kiko, resisting Dom’s attempts to direct him to his cock instead. “And that’s just how it’s going to work with you, too.”
Dom groaned loudly, thrust up, but Kiko pulled back, grinning. Dom opened his mouth to say something but froze at the knock on the door. Kiko frowned, confused; he hadn’t heard the kids up yet, and at any rate Gaby was considerate enough to take them downstairs and get started on coffee. He got out of bed and wrapped a robe around himself, thinking that would cover some of the obviousness of his erection.
Devin stood outside the door, not looking happy.
“How do you work your coffeepot?” he asked, forcing the words out through his teeth.
“Morning, Devin,” said Dom cheerfully. He waved from the bed, shirtless, though he had pulled up the blanket over his bottom half. Devin cringed.
“We’ll be down in a few minutes,” said Kiko, and shut the door in Devin’s face.
“No, we won’t.”
“Yes, we will,” said Kiko. He moved to toss a pair of pajama pants at Dom. “Get your shirt back on. He probably woke the kids up, so playtime’s over.”
Dom groaned, this time in protest, but he got dressed and used the bathroom. Kiko followed and then they descended to the kitchen, where Devin was opening all the cupboards in drowsy confusion. Kiko moved to make the largest pot of coffee he could as Dom glared at his brother.
“Go sit your ass down and stop screwing with our kitchen,” he said. Kiko thought he would bristle at Dom’s words, but it turned out that envisioning the kitchen as theirs rather than just his warmed him. He smiled as he scooped the grounds and filled the water.
“Gaby prepped a savory French toast bake last night,” said Kiko, preheating the oven next and then getting down the slow cooker. “And I’ve been marinating a roast. We’ll be well fed today.”
“I was going to eat cookies,” said Devin, like cooking anything special for breakfast was ridiculous. “Goes well with coffee.”
“More for us, then,” said Kiko before Dom could respond. They didn’t need to get into another spiteful back and forth like they had yesterday when everyone had made the cookies. Kiko was looking forward to Devin leaving almost as much as Dom had to be; he was even grumpy last night setting out the presents under the tree. Kiko had brought out a couple bottles of wine and they had arranged the gifts, Nathan and Rachel asleep in the guest room upstairs. He, Dom, and Gaby had had a good time, hushing each other’s laughter and nibbling the cookies the kids had left out to leave a pile of crumbs. Devin had sat back with his wine glass and glared.
The kids pounded down the stairs and ran around, bouncing into the kitchen and then back out to look at the haul beneath the tree. A sleepy-looking Gaby appeared next, wearing what Kiko recognized was one of Luke’s old sweaters. She gratefully accepted the mug of coffee he passed her.
“Thanks,” she said, then yawned into the back of her hand. “Bake?”
“I already popped it in the oven,” said Kiko. “The roast is in the crockpot, too. All ready.”
“Where’s the Christmas goose?” asked Devin, then laughed nastily to himself. As he moved to open the tub of cookies Kiko decided it was a good idea to leave the kitchen.
“Coffee refills before braving the tree? If we keep the kids any longer they’ll explode.”
“Sound logic as usual,” said Gaby, leading the way. Kiko was only too happy to leave Devin alone in the kitchen.
* * * *
Dom knew present exchanging would be awkward. Gaby suggested the kids do their stockings first, and soon nuts and candies were rolling around the floor. Kiko returned to the kitchen for a bowl, and Devin trailed him back into the room to glare around at everyone.
The bulk of Dom’s gift to Kiko had been outfits for Mother, and clearly he could no longer give those. He was left with the goose crest, which he’d done his best to wrap despite the strange shape. Kiko had mentioned the night before while they were enjoying wine and staying up late that generally the code for indicating a gift was from someone specific was for that person to say something in regards to Santa when it was being unwrapped. Simple enough.
Nathan and Rachel stumbled around, digging through the pile of gifts, passing some out, piling some others with no pattern Dom could follow. Kids were weird. He sat next to Kiko on the couch and sipped coffee, watching the excitement on the kids’ faces, remembering a time when this holiday had felt like that for him, too. Christmas with Kiko was the closest he’d come yet to recapturing some of that magic.
By the time Rachel fell and started crying, Gaby was awake. She stood and clapped.
“Break, break,” she said. “Let’s get something to eat.”
Despite his earlier complaining, Devin ate a helping of the delicious breakfast. Dom helped himself to seconds, keeping an eye on Kiko, but he ate. Not as much as Dom thought he should, but then, Kiko always skipped breakfast, so perhaps he wasn’t very hungry.
After they returned to the tree, Nathan began to dig out more of the adult presents. Dom felt awkward when the kid found the envelope Kiko had watched him wrap and passed it to Gaby.
“Santa sure left you a weird one,” he said, and she laughed. When she opened it and saw what was inside, though, she looked up at Dom with wide eyes.
“This is too much,” said Gaby, but Dom shook his head, and beside him Kiko mouthed, “later.” Behind them Devin was eating yet another cookie, munching it loudly.
“Who’s this?” asked Nathan as he waved a small rectangular box. Gaby caught it and read the name.
“Devin,” she said, but rather than letting her son give it to him she walked the gift over herself.
“Santa even got you something,” said Kiko. Devin unwrapped a gaudy-looking tie that only Kiko could have picked out and Dom started laughing.
“Thanks, Santa,” grumbled Devin. He likewise blinked when he opened Gaby’s gift. He turned the cover of the book to face her and Dom savored the confused expression on his face. It was a cookbook, the title and description in Spanish. “What does this say?”
“How should I know?” asked Gaby, shrugging. “I took French in high school.”
When Dom had stopped laughing he made sure Nathan handed out his gift to Devin next. His brother opened the dead fish in a teacup and nearly dropped it; he bit off a round of swearing and retreated to the bathroom.
“I think Santa needs to fire whichever elf wrapped that,” said Dom as Nathan half-handed, half-tossed Dom’s gift at Kiko. Kiko weighed it in his hands, then tried to peel the paper back carefully but ultimately failed. Dom had intentionally wrapped it with enough weirdly-placed paper and tape that Kiko was forced to rip it apart to Dom’s and Gaby’s cheers. Even Nathan chanted, “Rip it!” with them until Kiko relented and tore the wrapping off.
“Kiko?” asked Gaby as he sat there staring at the goose crest. His eyes looked wet when he glanced up at Dom.
“Perfect,” he said, and Dom smiled. Well, it would have to make up for the other gifts he couldn’t give.
The moment was quickly broken when Nathan shoved a gift at Dom.
“Careful, Santa wouldn’t want anything broken,” said Kiko. Dom tore the paper open as obnoxiously as he could, grinning smugly at Kiko, who leveled an even expression back at him. Dom looked at what sat in his lap and nearly had a heart attack. He yelped.
The orange and white mask from Angus Arts. He became aware everyone was laughing at him and he scowled, bending to pick it up from where it had toppled out of his lap.
“Very funny, Santa,” he said, glaring at Kiko.
“Can I have it?” asked Nathan.
“Keep it,” said Dom, passing it over immediately.
“I don’t know that I want that in my house…” began Gaby, but let it drop. It would be an argument for later.
“D
om,” said Devin, suddenly appearing behind him. Dom turned, took the cheap-looking photo album his brother extended to him. “It’s a family present.”
“Ah, so a manipulative gift from Mom,” said Dom.
“And you wonder why they all think you’re the problem child,” said Devin, returning to his seat and coffee, and to flip through his cookbook to glare at the pictures of the dishes.
Dom opened the album to a random page, saw a picture of himself dressed as an angel for Halloween when he was seven and his mother had made them all go as their roles from the church’s Christmas play the year before. He snapped the book shut.
“Are there pictures of you as a kid in there?” asked Kiko, leaning over.
“Later,” muttered Dom, and tucked the album next to the couch pillow. Kiko didn’t press.
* * * *
“Look, snow,” said Kiko as he hoisted Rachel up into his arms and pointed out the window. “It’s really coming down now. We’ll have to make snow people tomorrow.”
“It really smells good in here now,” said Dom, snagging a pan dulce from the box of baked goods Kiko and Gaby’s mother had sent. “These’re really good.”
“Going to help cook or are you planning to get in the way and eat everything?” asked Kiko, setting his niece down again. His roast was nearly ready and Gaby was boiling potatoes in a pot of salted water to prepare them for mashing. He figured he ought to get started on the bacon wrapped green beans and the pickle bacon pinwheels.
“I can set the table,” said Dom. “Help you determine if the food’s done. Sample the wine.”
Nathan ran up, holding the orange and white mask over his face, and tugged on Dom’s pants. Kiko watched as Dom turned and feigned fear; Nathan laughed for a full minute before running off again. Even Gaby was grinning where she stood at the oven. Kiko’s nephew thought it was great fun to startle Dom with the mask; the surprise had worn off about the second time he jumped out of nowhere, but Dom still humored him every time he tried.
“I hate you,” said Dom.
“A sure sign you were destined to be together,” said Gaby. Kiko rolled his eyes, hoping she wasn’t going to start bringing up marriage again. He had more than enough to think about currently.
“Go set the table,” said Kiko, waving Dom off. He was halfway through wrapping bacon around the green beans when the doorbell rang. He and Gaby glanced at each other, but by the time Kiko had washed his hands and turned, Dom was walking through the kitchen to unlock the back door.
“It’s those kids,” he said. “You want Chad and Roy crashing your Christmas?”
“What?” asked Kiko, blinking, but Dom was throwing open the door to reveal Chad and Roy on the porch, stamping snow off their boots. Chad held a pan covered with aluminum foil.
“Hey, boss,” he said.
“Chad, you know I’m going to ask what you’re doing here.”
Kiko became aware of everyone peering around him, Gaby wiping her hands on a dishcloth, the kids quiet behind him. Chad looked nervous as hell, but Roy seemed calm enough. He poked Chad in the back.
“Well, so like, my mom’s in jail and all now…So me and Roy, we didn’t want to just hang out at my house alone, right? I thought you’d have some good food.”
“We brought dessert,” said Roy. “It’s whatever was in Chad’s pantry.”
“I made it myself,” said Chad. Kiko tried not to visibly cringe. He couldn’t really turn them away, though, so he stepped back from the door.
“Come in then. Dom can add a couple more plates to the table.”
Dom shot him a look that Kiko returned.
“Right, boss,” muttered Dom, and moved off to do as told. Kiko took the pan from Chad and did introductions as the new guests extracted themselves from their winter gear.
“Gaby, my sister, and her two kids Nathan and Rachel are running around…Dom’s brother Devin is somewhere around here, understand he will offend you…” He paused. “Gaby, this is one of my employees you’ve seen around, Chad, and…” Kiko paused. He had no idea what Chad and Roy considered themselves. “Roy.”
“Roy Vang. I’m a med student over in Madison,” said Roy, extending a hand to shake like he was a new boyfriend meeting a family. Chad twitched awkwardly.
“Look Dom, I’m going to grab a beer first,” said Devin, walking into the kitchen. He caught sight of Chad and Roy. “Oh God, more?” He made quick work grabbing the beer and left.
The kitchen was packed as Kiko finished up on the meal, though thankfully Chad and Roy slid into the breakfast nook and out of the way. Nathan ran in twice more to “scare” Dom, who insisted again that Gaby take the mask with her when she left because the kid loved it so much. By the time Kiko was carrying the roast out to the table he very much wanted a glass of wine. Gaby, noticing, grabbed up the wine to pour while Dom helped carry out the other dishes.
Shockingly, the meal passed well, mainly because Devin kept his mouth shut and drank. Roy brushed off the comment or two he got and Chad stared at Devin in shock. Kiko examined them and noticed Dom doing the same. He wondered if this was what he looked like in his own early relationships but he doubted it; Chad and Roy had a little chemistry, and Kiko had never really had any until Dom.
Roy built on a joke that Chad made and most of the table laughed. Nathan tried to sneak away to grab the mask again. Everything was very cozy, normal, and Kiko couldn’t help but hope that Dom’s brother was seeing how good friends and family could function, without the judgment. But every time Kiko glanced down at Devin he looked like he was trying to get drunk off his ass.
His loss.
For dessert the cookies came back, and the last of the pan dulce, and the mess that Chad made, which Dom proclaimed to be, “good.”
“Hey, thanks,” said Chad at the praise. “It all got real when I opened the pantry door. There was literally nothing there. That’s when I thought we should come eat here.”
“It was amazing to watch Chad make the bars,” said Roy, trying to talk over any mention of dropping by for free food. “He grabbed what he had and worked with it. Real impressive.”
“I’ll bet,” said Dom as Chad and Roy exchanged a look. Kiko generously ate an entire bar, which wasn’t as terrible as he’d feared.
* * * *
Chapter 21
Devin left the next morning to everyone’s relief, probably including his own. He gave some excuse about leaving without breakfast because of the drive that everyone saw through but were too grateful to call him out on, and Dom even helped him take his things out to his car.
“Good luck finding a new job,” said Dom, somewhat surprised to find that he didn’t really care to see his brother have a shitty time of it. He supposed he saw over the past few weeks just how small and miserable Devin was; it was easier to not wish him ill after that.
Devin did not take that as a sincere statement. He sneered.
“Good luck not breaking up with this one, too. Have you tried dating a woman?”
“If you’re anything to go by, there’s no guarantee that would make a lasting relationship either,” said Dom, irritated now. Devin should just go.
Devin’s lip curled before he smoothed out his face.
“The invitation still stands. Give me a call if you’re coming down for New Year’s.”
“You can tell Mom I’m not showing up anywhere Kiko’s not welcome,” said Dom. “Good-bye, Devin.”
Dom turned and kicked his way back through several inches of snow to the deck, then back inside. By the time he’d taken off his boots and coat Devin still hadn’t left, sitting in the driveway warming his car. Dom stared at him through the window.
“Some people are content to be terrible,” said Kiko, suddenly by his side. “And unhappy.”
“What a waste,” said Dom. Kiko snagged him by the hip.
“Well, you’re not. Sorry about him.”
“You and Gaby handled him well. That cookbook was amazing,” said Dom as Gaby entered the kitchen, tyi
ng her hair back and trailed by a whining Rachel. She shot Dom a smile.
“It seemed like he needed one. So, I’m thinking the kids and I will go to the sleigh rides at that alpaca farm you took us to two years ago, Kiko. Give you two some time alone for a while. I know you’re back to work tomorrow and Dom would probably like a break from that mask.”
“Feel free to take the mask and leave it with an alpaca,” said Dom.
“How long will you be out?” asked Kiko.
“Oh, at least two hours. That sound good?”
Kiko nodded.
“Dom and I can have a late lunch—”
Gaby made a face and pulled Rachel off her leg.
“Don’t bother, we’ll get something at the farm. Rachel, you need to let go now.”
“No!”
Gaby sighed and rolled her eyes. With only a little more noise than normal she eventually got the kids fed and out to her car. They pulled out through Devin’s tire tracks in the snow and were gone. It was dead silent in the house now. Dom heard the refrigerator kicking on. When he turned, Kiko was grinning at him.
“What?”
“You know,” said Kiko, pulling him out to the living room. The lights on the tree twinkled, the snow through the windows on either side transforming the room into something out of a catalog. Kiko’s hand was hot and Dom wanted sex, but he felt strange about indulging on the couch where kids would be jumping a few hours from now.
“I suppose I do,” said Dom, grabbing Kiko’s ass and then pushing him to the stairs by it. “Get up to bed.”
“Going to unleash your dominant side on me?” asked Kiko. “Not until I give you your present.”
“You have more presents?” asked Dom as he followed, feeling guilty. The only other gifts he’d gotten Kiko he didn’t think he could give any longer. He lingered outside the closet as Kiko dug around for another present. “I had gotten you…a few other things. Costumes for Mother. But I thought…”
“It’s fine,” said Kiko, reappearing with a perfectly wrapped package. Dom took it, knowing what it was the moment it settled in his hand.
Egg the Halls Page 18