by Amy Brent
“Mom, we go caroling every year,” I said.
“And this time, Tyler gets to do it with us,” Luke said, smiling.
“Oh, no. I don’t carol. I’ll lip-sync or something, but I don’t sing,” Tyler said.
“Don’t worry. None of us should be singing either,” I said.
“Yeah, especially Amber. Trust me, it’s worth it just to hear her belt out everything off-key,” Luke said.
“Hey! That’s not funny. I’m a wonderful singer,” I said.
“Yeah, in the shower,” my mom snickered.
“You’re supposed to be in my corner!” I exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but Luke’s right. Tyler, try to go easy on her when you hear it,” she said.
“I feel so betrayed,” I said.
My father was silent the entire time. He caroled while we went door to door, but he didn’t interject into any of the conversations we were having. As far as I was concerned, that was just fine with me. If he wanted to be miserable on one of the most beautiful holidays of the year, that was on him. He was throwing a tantrum like a child, and I was over it.
After we went caroling around the neighborhood, we headed back to the house for my mother’s annual Christmas Eve party. She always outdid herself every single year, but this one was too much. Neighbors from across the street and from the other side of town had shown up in their reds and blacks and greens and silvers. They all doted on the garland we’d strung up and the mistletoe that had been hung. The delicious smells that were wafting from the kitchen made everyone’s mouth water. On several occasions, Luke had dragged Tyler off to a corner to talk, and I was hoping they were talking about the business.
I knew, deep down, that Tyler wanted to continue this journey with Luke instead of splitting it like they had recently decided.
But, I realized something was wrong. I realized my father wasn’t anywhere to be found. I grabbed a drink off a passing tray and went to go find him, and the moment I rounded the corner into his office, I saw him looking through a picture album. I recognized the cover immediately: it was the photo album that housed Luke and my baby pictures. He was flipping through the pages one by one, no doubt relishing in memories of when we were younger.
Of when he could protect us.
Of when he could instruct us on the path he thought would be best for us.
“Merry Christmas Eve, Daddy,” I said.
But, all he did was remain silent and keep his eyes on the book. I walked over to the seat in front of his desk and sat down across from him, and while his eyes didn’t raise up to meet mine, I could tell they had stopped darting over the pictures.
“Why do you like Tyler?” he asked.
“Because he’s wonderful, Dad. He’s kind and considerate. He’s passionate about the life he’s created for himself, but he hasn’t stopped dreaming. He’s handsome and caring, and he supports me in all my current and future endeavors. Deep down, he cares about my relationship with this family and his role in it, and he always holds my best interests close to his heart. I love him, Daddy. With everything I have. And I really need you to approve of this relationship because I know Tyler is the one I’m supposed to be with. He’s the man I want to spend the rest of my days alongside, fighting the good fight while we reach for the stars. Why can’t you see that? How happy he makes me and how good of a man he is?”
“You really like him, don’t you?” he asked.
“No, Daddy. I love him. I love Tyler Raymond. And if he ever gives me the chance, I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him. Supporting him and becoming successful beside him. Don’t hurt this family any more than you already have. Don’t make the holidays like this every single year. Tyler is good for me, and I’m good for him. And if you would let him in, you’d see how good he is for this family and how we could all be good for him.
“Honey, I—”
“The only person making this a hard decision is you,” I said. “I’ve already made my decision and so has everyone else, but time and time again you’ve refused to listen and see the reality sitting in front of you. Close that book and look at me.”
“Amber.”
“Close it.” I watched him close the top of the photo album and set it aside before he looked up at me. Tears were rimming his eyes, and it broke my heart, but it was time for a bit of tough love from the mouth of the person he was still trying to control.
“That book is the past, and you’ve been living in it for a while now. I love you, but I also love Tyler. Don’t make me choose because if you do, you’re not going to like my decision.”
There. I’d said it. The one thing I’ve wanted to say to him since all this bullshit started. With everything he’d instilled and attempted to do, I needed him to understand that he was no longer my first choice. Respect and love went both ways. Those weren’t traits you could demand or require from another person. They had to be earned by being reciprocated, and Tyler did that on a regular basis.
My father, however, was not.
“You love him?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I do.”
“Then, you have my approval.”
“Wait, really?” I asked.
“The only thing I’ve ever wanted for you was for you to be happy, but I’ve been so caught up trying to make you happy on my terms that I never stopped to think it was your job to be happy on your terms. I’m sorry, honey.”
I watched a lonely tear trickle down his cheek, and I sprang into action. I ran to his side and threw myself into his lap, and he held me close before he buried his face into my neck. For the first time in years, I felt like I had nothing to worry about. I felt like I wasn’t being held to an unfair expectation, and I had control of my own happiness.
For the first time in my life, I felt truly happy.
“You can come in, Tyler,” my father said as he released me. “I know you’re standing around the corner.”
“Huh?” I asked.
I turned toward the entryway and saw Tyler slowly come into the room. I felt my face fall while I stood there next to my father, and he held my gaze as he slowly approached my father’s desk.
“I’m sorry, sir. I came to try and find Amber and heard you two talking. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“It’s alright, Son. Come here.” My father stood up and held out his hand, and that’s when Tyler finally ripped his gaze from me. I felt rooted to my place in shock. How long had he been standing here? Had he heard everything I’d said?
How did he feel about all of it?
“I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you in my own home. I hope you’ll still consider spending Christmas,” my father said.
“I would love that. And I can admire a father who cares for his kids as much as you do. It beats having a father like mine,” he said.
“If you want, you and Amber can stay in the guest bedroom you were sleeping in so you can wake up here in the morning if you’d like. If you want to go pick up some things or bring over presents or something,” my father said.
“I think we would enjoy that. Right, Amber?”
I drew in a sharp breath before I ripped myself from my trance. I had to file that conversation in the back of my mind for later. Right now, I got to rejoice in the fact that we would all celebrate Christmas together.
Like the family I wanted us all to be.
“Yes, Daddy. We would,” I said, smiling. “But, I do need to get some things from my apartment.”
“Well, don’t take too long. You know your mother likes you here at the party.”
“Which is why you should probably get downstairs,” Tyler said. “She was looking for you earlier.”
“Whoops. I guess that means I should get out of here. Tyler, drive safe. You’ve got precious cargo with you. Sweetheart, I’ll see you in a little while.”
“I will, Mr. D,” Tyler said.
“I’ll see you soon, Daddy,” I said.
Chapter 33
Tyler
“Morning, beautiful,” I said, kissing her neck.
“Five more minutes,” she murmured.
“Everyone’s waiting for us to open presents.”
At that moment, I realized how much Amber loved Christmas. She bolted out of bed and hopped to her feet. She tossed her hair up into a bun before she wrapped her robe around her body, then she rounded the bed and pulled me out. She threw her arms around me for a massive morning kiss, and my cock throbbed and came to life against her body.
“Later. Right now, presents,” she whispered.
I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a shirt before the two of us came down the stairs hand in hand. The smell of cinnamon rolls and coffee were wafting through the house, and the Christmas tree was stacked with presents underneath. On the coffee table were cinnamon rolls and fruit, bacon and egg sandwiches and sausage. We all ate breakfast together in the television room while we watched the traditional Christmas parade, and then the presents started to be divvied out by Ron.
For once, I was a part of someone’s Christmas traditions, and I soaked in every single part of it. The way everyone was eating breakfast around a television while they commented on the floats. The way Amber cradled herself deep into my body. The way she kept feeding me bites of bacon before she’d raise up and press a kiss to my cheek.
And now, I got to open presents with a family for the first time in my life.
Everyone opened presents and discarded the paper by wadding it up and trying to make a basket with it in a paper bag. They reveled in their gifts and hugged one another around the neck, and a few things even came my way as well. Darlene got me a new leather jacket she’d seen in a store, and Ron got me a gift card to the coffee shop in town I was always frequenting. Luke gave me my first decoration for my apartment in LA, and then the entire family had pitched in and bought me a gift card to help furnish my apartment.
It was too much, and I was so overwhelmed with joy that tears sprang to my eyes.
“Welcome to the family, dude,” Luke said as he slapped my back.
But nothing could hold a candle to the present Amber placed in my lap.
“Open it,” she said.
I was careful with the tissue. Part of me wanted to peek in before I opened it to make sure it was appropriate, but part of me knew if it needed to be opened in private she would’ve said so. I put the colorful tissue aside while I pulled out the DVDs from the bag, but there was one that caught my eye.
The movie we’d first had sex to.
Inside the bag were all my favorite movies. Top Gun. The Die Hard series. Scarface and The Blues Brothers. And there was also Never Been Kissed.
I looked up at her with a smirk on my face before I pulled her in for a hug. Memories of the first time I’d claimed those beautiful lips came back to me, and I had to take deep breaths to control my cock in front of the family. I kissed the shell of her ear, feeling her shiver into my skin, then I let her go while she sank back into the couch.
“I love you so much,” I said.
“I know,” she said, winking.
“No. Amber. I’m serious. I love you.” I looked into her eyes and saw the shock roll over her features. I knew she had been nervous about what I had heard last night, and I wanted to put all those fears to rest. I wanted her to know that I felt the same way. I’d love her as much as she’d let me for as long as she’d let me.
And, if I was lucky enough, she’d let me love her forever.
“You are the most remarkable thing that’s ever happened to me. From all the memories we’ve shared before all the way up until now. You’re incredible, and for as long as you’ll let me, I’m going to love you. No matter what.”
“Oh, Tyler. You heard me last night, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Every word. And I need you to understand I feel the same way.”
“I love you, Tyler.” She threw her arms around me in front of her family and planted her lips onto mine. I slipped my arms around her, feeling her tremble against me while our lips moved in tandem with one another’s. She was warm to the touch, and I felt the love she had for me sparking between our bodies. Her touch was electrifying, sending tingles and vibrations up my back just before she pulled away and smiled.
“I love you so much,” she whispered.
“Now, it’s time for your gift.” I sat her back down on the couch as her family watched, and I pulled up a little flat, rectangular box I’d kept hidden in my pants pocket. I handed it to her, placing it in the palm of her hand while her eyes flickered between me and the box, and I felt her family slowly lean in to see what it was.
“Open it,” I urged.
Her trembling fingers plucked the top of the box off and inside was a shining pair of keys. She furrowed her brow in confusion as she clasped the keyring between her fingertips and the moment I caught her gaze, I couldn’t keep it in any longer.
“Luke was right. The office space I purchased is way too big for the operation we’re going to be running out of it. So, I had it sectioned off. And that section now has its own door and key and set up,” I said.
“You’re giving me half your store?” she asked.
“It’s perfect for your dance studio,” I said, grinning.
I heard Darlene gasp while out of the corner of my eye I saw Luke smirk. Amber looked down at the keys she held in the palm of her hand, and then I saw the reaction I was looking for. Tears rose to her eyes as she panned her gaze back up to mine, and I brought my hand to cup her cheek while my thumb caught her tears.
“It’s your dance studio, if you’ll take it,” I said.
“Holy hell, Tyler. What did you do?” she asked.
“Why don’t I just take you by it later, and you can see for yourself?” I asked.
We finished our breakfast and picked up the mess from the presents before everyone started to settle down. Luke and Ron took in an afternoon cocktail while Darlene began preparing Christmas dinner, so it was a good time for Amber and me to slip out. We got dressed and hopped in my car, then I raced across town so I could show her exactly what I’d done. I had no idea what to get her for a gift except the one thing she truly wanted, and I hoped to heaven on high she would enjoy what I’d done with the place.
We pulled up to the office space that used to be completely designated for the company Luke and I owned, only this time half of it housed a name Amber was familiar with.
“Holy shit, that’s the name of my business,” she said.
“So, I got that right? ‘A.D. Century Dance & Consignment’?”
She threw her arms around me before she jumped into my arms. I smiled into her hair, feeling her body shake with delight at the idea of finally having her own business. I plucked the keys from her hand and walked us to the front door. I unlocked it to reveal the inside, but all I could feel was Amber crying into the crook of my neck.
“Sweetheart, it’s alright. Do you want to see the inside?”
“How did you do this?” she asked.
“With the help of Luke, I have to admit. It was a lot to pull off last minute, but nothing else seemed appropriate for Christmas,” I said.
“How am I going to pay you for this?” she asked. “I haven’t even taken out a loan yet, or thought of decorating the space, or talked to contractors.”
“Why don’t you get down so I can show you the plans I have?” She unraveled herself from me, and I kissed her tears away before I turned her toward the room. I let her eyes roam over it while she walked through the space, watching while she gathered her own ideas. The smile that was scrunching her cheeks and twinkling her eyes made my h
eart sing out with joy. Then, when she stopped at the end of the room and looked at me, I launched into the speech I’d prepared.
“The rent for the space is wrapped into mine, so I figured we would split it fifty-fifty. That’ll mean rent for you is only going to be six hundred thirty-five dollars a month, which will drastically lower the loan you were looking at having to take out. Depending on how you want to work the space, you can do your shop a couple of ways. You can use the back room as a shop. Or you can knock out the back wall to widen the space and put the shop up front, so people see it first thing. Or I can section off the space upstairs, and you can put your shop up there, so both the studio floor and the shop can be seen from the street.”