30. Thirty
Thirty
Tyler
Seth: My parents wanted me to invite you over for dinner on Christmas Eve. I think they liked you.
That was the message I got yesterday afternoon. Just before my father texted saying he expects me for church services and brunch on Christmas day. I blow out my breath, thinking about whether I should take either of them up on their offer. My phone rings and I’m sure it’s some karmic moment until I notice who’s calling. “Hey sis, what’s up?” I ask as I answer the call.
“Are you coming for Christmas?” she asks.
“A hello would be nice,” I joke.
“Look Dad’s being more annoying than usual because of your cold shoulder. I get why you didn’t show, but isn’t it time you got over your little temper—”
“You get it?” I cut her off with a laugh. “Maddy, he threatened to get my boyfriend fired from his tutoring job if he wouldn’t break up with me.”
“He what?” Maddy stutters.
“Yeah, he said if we didn’t break up, then Seth would get reported for indecent conduct. Before that, he told me that it’s not because Seth is a guy, but because he isn’t good enough , his words.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t know … but I might have an idea. I was going to invite Katy to brunch. Maybe you could come and bring Seth, too. If Dad’s head explodes, we can always leave and get take out or something.”
“That sounds like a horrible idea.”
“Come on, you can’t avoid him forever. Might as well have a little fun with it.”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll ask Seth,” I agree reluctantly. “But if we end up leaving before eating, you’re buying.” We chat a little longer before saying goodbye and hanging up. I switch over to my text message thread with Seth and tap in a new response.
Me: I’ll go to dinner at your parents, but in return you have to go to brunch at my grandparents on Christmas.
The three little dots pop up almost immediately, dancing on my screen. Then they disappear. Before I can worry, the phone rings with another incoming call. “Hey,” I say softly as I answer.
“Hey, sorry, I didn’t want to write too long of a message, so I figured this was better. You want me to go to brunch with you? Isn’t that a bad idea, considering your dad doesn’t like me?”
“That’s the point. It’s not that he doesn’t like you. My father doesn’t know you. All he knows is what he can read on the school records. We both agree we aren’t about to break up to please him, so maybe it’s better if we try to make peace. Show him that we’re not backing down. And if it all goes to hell, we’ll leave with Maddy and her girlfriend and eat somewhere else.” I outline a quick rundown of the plan, and Seth listens, taking his time before answering.
“Alright, well, you know your family better than I do. I trust your judgment on this. If you want me there, I’ll be there. I kinda wish I’d followed your example and stayed on campus, though. Visiting my parents is great, but I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I admit. “It’s weird going from seeing you almost every day between studying and soccer practice, and now I can’t just run into you on campus. When are you coming back?”“Planning for New Year’s Eve. I hear there’s a party,” he hints. It’s no secret that several of the frats throw NYE parties, but I know what he means.
“Hmm, I might have heard something about that. I guess we can party a little before I drag you to my room.”
“Oh, is that how it’s gonna play out? You gonna get me drunk and lure me up to your room?”
“I don’t need to get you drunk,” I answer with a chuckle.
“That’s true. Hey Ty, as much as I’m enjoying this, I gotta go. I told my mom I’d help her make some desserts, but I’ll see you Christmas Eve?” We make quick plans of when to show and I hang up. It’s probably about time for me to find dinner, anyway. Some of my brothers went home for the holidays, but there’s still a decent group of guys milling around the house as I make my way to the kitchen.
I clutch the gift bags to my side, trying to keep the wine bottle from knocking into the other gift. I didn’t know what to bring Seth’s parents, so I settled on a decent bottle of wine. I use my other hand to knock on the door, but the noise is muffled by my gloves. It was easy enough to find my way back to the house, but maybe I should’ve stayed in my heated car and texted Seth to let him know I’m here. I shift my feet, and that’s when the door opens. “Tyler, it’s great to see you. Come on in.” Seth’s father swings the door open further for me. “Seth is just helping his mom in the kitchen. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Oh, that’s fine, I can tell him.” I shrug off the offer.
“Sure, let me just take your coat.” He holds his hands out for the gift bags, and I carefully hand it to him, then shrug off my winter coat. It’s easy to see the kitchen from the living room and the smells drifting out are already making me hungry. I notice Seth first, standing at the counter and singing along to the Christmas music playing in the background.
“Surprise,” I say, wrapping my arms around Seth from behind. His body tenses before he turns his head and places a kiss on my cheek.
“Hey,” he looks down at the bags. “Is that for me? You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“One of them is for you,” I say as I pull away and look at his mother. “This is for you. Thank you for inviting me for dinner.”
“Aw, you shouldn’t have. Thank you, hon,” she slides the bottle out of the gift bag. “This looks great. Seth, you better keep this boy. I could get used to having him around. At least someone appreciates my efforts.”
“Mom,” Seth shakes his head. “Thanks so much for that guilt trip. You know I got you something under the tree.”
“I know, hon.” She sets the bottle on the counter and goes back to the charcuterie board she’s setting up.
“Is this all the people that are showing up?” I ask. I was expecting a larger crowd.
Seth shakes his head. “My aunts will be here soon with their husbands and kids. Enjoy the silence while it lasts.”
“Can I help?” I change the topic.
“Sure,” Seth answers. “Can you get the sour cream and green onions from the fridge? Oh, and the butter. You can mix that into the mashed potatoes.”
Seth and his mom move around each other in the kitchen with a kind of rhythm. It’s clear they’ve done this a few times. I’m not sure where I fit into this picture, but I want to be a part of it. That realization doesn’t scare me as much as it did a few months ago. I thought I wanted something fun with no strings attached, but this has turned into so much more.
The doorbell rings, interrupting my thoughts. “That must be one of your aunts,” Marcy says. “Hon, can you get the door? My hands are covered in flour.”
“Yeah, come on Ty.” He stops what he’s doing with a casserole pan and turns toward the living room. “Having fun yet?” he asks along the way.
“I am, actually,” I answer.
Then he opens the door, and a young girl rushes him, screaming, “Cousin Seth!” Following her is a woman that must be Marcy’s sister, holding a pie.
“Hey Auntie, and Steffie, this is my boyfriend Tyler. Ty, this is my Aunt Christine and her daughter Stephanie.” Seth opens the door wider to let them in, and his mom walks out of the kitchen with the charcuterie board she made earlier. The sisters talk about something, and Seth manages to free himself from the clutches of his cousin. He grabs my wrist and pulls me to his room.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Just need to do something, real quick.” He finishes his words by backing me into the now closed door and pressing his lips to mine. Seth kisses me hard, crowding my body with his. “Damn, not seeing you for days on end has left me with a problem,” he tells me.
“It’s been a whole four days,” I laugh. “I think you’ll live.” Seth’s lips move from my ear to my neck, and he sucks on it. “Fuck,” my words turn into a moan. “You’re gonna leave a mark,” I warn him. Seth sucks harder. “Mhmm, you want them to see your mark on me? Damn, Seth.” My hips thrust forward, looking for friction. He’s got me all hot and bothered and we’re about to have a different issue with the way my dick is throbbing.
He pulls back and rubs his hand over the bulge in my pants. “That’ll have to wait until later.”
“You’re such a tease.”
“Stay over tonight,” he tells me. “We’re going to your family’s Christmas thing tomorrow, anyway. You might as well stay the night and we can go together.”
“You can stop making excuses,” I say with a quick kiss to Seth’s lips. “I’ll stay, but are you sure your parents won’t mind?”
“Please, they love you more than I do.” The words are out of his mouth before he realizes what he said. I can see the moment it clicks, and his eyes go wide.
“You love me?” I ask. My mouth is already curving into a grin.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Seth says, trying to backpedal.
“Yeah, you did. Admit it, you love me.”
Seth pushes me back, pinning me to the door and grinding his hips into mine. His lips return to the same spot on my neck, and he sucks hard. “Okay, fine. I fucking love you, Tyler Avery. Want everyone to see this and know you’re mine.”