Chapter 17
Levi
“Do I need to tell you it’s going to be fine again?” For someone who didn’t seem to have more than five outfits, it’d taken him an hour to get ready.
It was really cute, but my favorite part was the way he glared at me like I was crazy. “No.”
“Do you need to rewrap anything?” We’d done that twice in twenty-four hours, so the what the fuck expression was cute too. “Do you need to walk an imaginary dog or color me another picture?”
We’d done that too.
Chipmunk had decided that we needed to practice taking a dog on a walk to see if we wanted to get one.
The outcome…no…imaginary dogs stopped too much to pee and that wasn’t fun.
As he opened his mouth with that same expression on his face, I raised one eyebrow and stopped him before he could dig the hole any deeper. “I expect honesty and politeness from my partner.”
He took a deep breath and then fell back on the bed with a dramatic groan. “They’re going to hate me. I souped you.”
That was what this was about?
“First of all, they’re very excited to meet you. Second, Gary thought it was a genius move and I’m pretty sure Dante and Angel thought I was doing it to myself as some kind of torture.” I’d been a big enough pain in the ass to everyone that I could see how they’d come to that conclusion.
Peeking his eyes open, Chipmunk pouted. “I was mean to you.”
Good grief.
“No, you were helping me to realize I was being mean.” And as far as getting back at me went, it was creative and had made it’s point without going overboard. “Gary especially is excited to meet you. He’s completely taken over the kitchen and is being a pain in the butt about it.”
That got a giggle from Chipmunk. “You made cake with me.”
“We made a wonderful cake together and doing it over here meant I didn’t have to argue with Gary about using the kitchen.” We’d needed to get creative when it came to pans, but a cake with one square tier and one round tier had come out better than I’d expected. “We did great.”
Chipmunk didn’t like cooking but he loved decorating.
And it seemed like the reminder of our creation was enough to have him sitting up and forgetting his panic.
“It’s pretty.” Bouncing on the edge of the bed, he gave me a beaming smile. “It’s got Santa.”
And reindeer and a Christmas tree too.
“It’s the perfect cake, so we have to take it over there and brag about it.” I shrugged as he giggled. “I have to brag. I’ve got the perfect cake and the perfect boyfriend.”
Chipmunk’s giggle said we were still on the right track. “I was sneaky.”
“You were smart.” I huffed and kissed his forehead. “Don’t talk bad about my boy.”
Shoulders shaking with silent laughter, Chipmunk nodded and tried to look serious. “Yes, I was smart and naughty.”
Someone wanted more attention.
Frowning again, I sighed and gave him cheek kisses. “Be nice to my boy. He’s cute and funny.”
And devious.
“Oh, I’m not smart.” He shook his head and pouted. “I forgot.”
He was going to keep going if we didn’t shift things up.
“Oh dear.” Leaning in like I was going to give him another kiss, I made him squeal as I tickled him instead, digging my fingers into his ribs. “I remember all kinds of things, like how cute my boy is when he laughs.”
His squeals filled the house, and once again, I had to admit how great it was to have privacy from roommates. “I…I’m you’re…I’m…”
Torturing him for a few more seconds, I finally stopped tickling him and chuckled as he flopped on the bed, exhausted and boneless like I’d just made him come. “I’m you’re good boy, Daddy.”
“Are you sure? Are you my smart boy and my sweet boy?” I could see him trying to decide what answer to give, so I frowned and let out a long breath. “It would be sad if you couldn’t have cake.”
“Oh.” The wheels started turning faster as he sat up again and kissed my cheek. “I’m a good boy. Good boys get cake.”
“Especially pretty cake.” It looked amazing and was going to be the best dish there. Between the decoration and the fluffy white frosting with coconut it looked like Santa was hanging out at the North Pole. “Are you ready to go pretend to be humble when everyone says it’s beautiful?”
Nodding excitedly, he gave me a sweet, shy smile. “Oh, thank you. We just wanted to make something fun. Do you really like it?”
As I laughed, Chipmunk looked pleased with himself and started giggling again. “And we’re gonna get presents.”
“That’s right.” And we were going to cause some chaos too. “Let’s go. I’m ready for dinner.”
“And presents and dessert, Daddy.” Popping off the bed, he looked around. “My specials. Where did they go?”
“Downstairs.” I’d moved them after the second round of wrapping when he’d started studying them like we needed to try again. “They’re all ready for us.”
Oh, he had that look.
“Do you want to carry the bag of presents while I carry the cake?” The question was thankfully just distracting enough that he stopped thinking about rewrapping the damned things.
“Yes.” Rocking back and forth on his toes, he was vibrating with excitement. “I’ll be careful.”
“I know you will.” But since nothing was breakable, I wasn’t worried. “Alright. Let’s get your shoes on and go get food.”
“’Sagna and noodles and bread.” Rubbing his hands together like a greedy old fart ready to dive into his money, Chipmunk did a happy dance wiggle. “Gonna get yummies.”
No one wanted Thanksgiving stuff again and their families were going to be doing more traditional Christmas food like ham, so we’d decided to go the Italian route and do a big carb fest. We were all going to roll to bed and sleep for a week after all the lasagna we were going to eat, but it was going to be worth it.
“Remember to save room for dessert.” Taking his hand, I led him downstairs to keep us moving. “What do you think Dante is making?”
Giggling, Chipmunk thought that was a hilarious question. “Mac-n-cheese.”
It seemed to be Ruslan’s favorite food, so I nodded and laughed too. “What kind? He’s got lots of recipes.”
Mostly because he’d figured out the way to Ruslan’s heart was through his stomach…and little side.
“Oh…” Dragging it out as we grabbed the cake and grocery bag full of presents, he swung the reusable bag back and forth as he thought. “Brussel sprouts?”
He knew that was one vegetable I just couldn’t do, so I groaned appropriately and winced, earning an evil villain snicker. “No. Anything but that.”
“Hmm…Thanksgiving.” He was barely holding back more giggles. “With ’tatoes and stuffing and gravy.”
“That’s…” I had to think about that one as we finally made it out of the house. “I don’t know how I feel about that. With turkey too?”
We made it across the street debating what vegetables would go in it and were knee-deep in green beans versus green bean casserole by the time we got to my place. “I just don’t know. That’s a lot of different sauces.”
“But—” Chipmunk seemed to realize where we were once we stepped up on the porch and he went silent.
Letting him take a minute, I waited at the top of the stairs while he decided if he was going to panic or not. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “They’re going to like me. I’m a big boy and a good boyfriend.”
“You can be little or big, either one is fine around any of them, and you’re a great boyfriend who’s funny and mischievous.
” That got a snicker from him and he stood straighter.
“You’re creative and funny and you’ve got great stories about your family, so you can always distract them with one of those. ”
He was going to be handy to have around at parties and stuff because he had a story for everything.
“Did I tell you about that time we had to go to that bank president’s holiday party…the guy with the big blue house that looks like a Smurf designed it?” My wince made him laugh. “Yeah, he was doing his best to be inclusive and it just went—”
Before he could tell me the story, Gary popped out of the front door, barely peeking out. “Do you need a few minutes or did Levi finally realize he forgot his keys here?”
“Brat.” But he was a brat that broke the ice and made Chipmunk laugh. “I’m not sure you need our beautiful cake.”
He awed, properly impressed as I held it up. “Oh, Ruslan, come look. Levi and Teddy brought a Santa cake.”
Ice broken.
“It’s got a tree.” Chipmunk was nearly big but not quite full adult as he pointed to the cake. “And we brought presents.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the stress or excitement, but he was in what I was going to call a playful headspace as Ruslan came to the front door.
Oh.
Well, it seemed like everyone was feeling playful today because he had on a Santa Loves Good Boys sweatshirt and was not the worried stress ball he usually was. “Oh. It’s got snow.”
This I could handle.
The professor possibly judging me and my personal life all night…no.
I knew what to do with littles, though.
Chipmunk knew what to do with a new friend too. “I bought presents. I got two for you.”
Because he’d insisted that anyone little got a present for both sides of their personality and I wasn’t a big enough pain in the ass to tell him no.
“I got you two too.” That made both of them and Gary giggle, but Ruslan didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll show you.”
And they were off.
With the presents and without Daddy.
Gary was snickering as we watched them rush into the house with me following behind them. “The cake looks great but I think the presents will take their attention for a while.”
“At least until they remember that all their favorite foods are in the kitchen.” Taking a deep breath as Gary closed the door, I moaned. “That smells amazing.”
He was the best grown-up ever, but his blush said he wasn’t used to the attention it got him yet. “Thanks.”
“You gonna let us at least help clean up?” I was hoping he’d give an enthusiastic yes, but he blushed even redder. “What did you do?”
Cooking was one thing but he couldn’t claim all the cleaning.
“An older woman showed up first thing and took charge like a general on the battle field.” As his blush faded, he glared at me. “Did you hire her?”
“No.” I hadn’t known I could rent a housekeeper or maybe a house manager. “Did you explain to Dante…or better yet Professor Donaldson that you let a random woman takeover the house?”
He shrugged, trying not to laugh as I threatened him with the Dom that actually owned the house. “Dante thought it was funny, so I’m going to throw him under the bus if anyone complains.”
“What was Dante doing here?” He’d been staying over at Ruslan’s place almost every night since they’d gotten together.
Nearly laughing, Gary dropped his voice to a whisper as he stopped just outside the living room. “Wrapping presents at an ungodly hour because evidently Ruslan is a sneaky little that keeps trying to find his presents.”
I wasn’t sure if I should’ve expected that or not, but it was definitely keeping Dante on his toes.
“He needs to plan better.” My response had Gary grinning but I headed in before he could ask what I’d done.
I was sneakier and smarter than Dante, and I knew not to brag to the chatty switch who’d love to confess everything that he knew for a bit of praise.
“Look, D—” Chipmunk caught himself before the full word came out, but no one was fooled by it or the cough he tried to hide it with. “Levi.”
“Wow.” I didn’t even have to fake being impressed to give him the reaction he wanted. The room was insane. “Did we have a train last year?”
Heads shook but Angel was the one to study me a bit too long. “So you don’t have any idea where it came from?”
“Me?” I looked back at Gary who was giggling and looking around like a kid too. “Your grandma helper?”
“Santa sent you a helper.” Chipmunk managed not to say Daddy that time but he was going to develop anxiety about it if we weren’t careful. “She brought a train and helped clean.”
She was amazing because we had a tree decked out with decorations and with a train running around the bottom where it’d only been half finished the last time I’d seen it.
When had we found the other ornaments?
“Our grandma helper also brought some extra decorations because she said ours were old and our tree was pathetic.” Angel seemed to think I’d done it, but his grumpy ass could kiss mine.
Besides, even if I’d done it, I wouldn’t tell.
“Let’s put the presents for everyone under the tree with the rest of them.” Even with everyone only getting a couple of small presents, the pile looked impressive and Chipmunk was eager to add them to the loot.
Everyone else was relaxed and happy but Ruslan was vibrating with nervous energy as he helped Chipmunk with the toys.
I wasn’t sure if it was all too much for him or if it was something else, so I was prepared for just about anything when he leaned in close to Chipmunk.
“You can call him Daddy. Confident boys get better presents. My friend told me.”
Lord.
He was going to be a terrible influence…and Teddy’s ear-to-ear grin said he knew it too.