The Problem With Mistletoe

by Kyle Baxter

  Alex gave him a questioning eye.

  “Ran into my boss.” He rolled his eyes and Alex nodded but kept coloring with Eric. Every now and then his eyes would rise to check on him.

  He was confused. Despite interviewing for it, David wasn’t sure how he felt about the job now. More responsibility but only marginally better pay, it was a career path to be sure, but did he still want it? As he watched Alex and Eric, he wasn’t certain.

  The CYA needed better leadership if it was to grow—that was certain. Maybe his time would be put to better use there. It wasn’t more meaningful than nursing, but in this case, it was more personal. His son, and his best friend, were both at-risk kids.

  Alex’s expressive eyes darted to his phone sitting on the table. It was powered down in accordance with David’s new dinner rule: no electronic devices.

  “Tempting, isn’t it?”

  “It’s terrible how addicted I am to that damn”—Alex glanced at Eric—“darn phone.”

  David put a hand on his back. “Right there with you, but we’re almost done here.”

  Alex favored him with his sly smile. “No, we’re not. I ordered dessert.”

  “Dessert?”

  Eric set down his crayon and clasped his hands together in front of him. “I’m getting sorbet and cookies.”

  “My waistline lives in fear.” David patted his belly.

  Alex looked at his own waist and grinned. “You and I are sharing a fruit plate.”

  “My hero.”

  “And hot chocolate,” Alex said sotto voce.

  “You were so close.” David held his thumb and index finger an inch apart. Reaching across the table, he grabbed Alex’s hand.

  “Never could stick the dismount.”

  The server cleared her throat so she could serve the hot chocolates, and he made a face as he let go of Alex’s hand. A mumbled apology from her made him blush. Catching the hint of an eyebrow raise from Eric, he nudged him, so the boy fell into Alex with a storm of giggles.

  Waving for the check, Alex got a confused head tilt from the server. He gave David a squint.

  “I gave her my card when I went to the bathroom.”

  “You butthead.” Alex sighed, getting a snort from Eric. “I asked you out.”

  It frightened him how thrilling it was to hear those words—and how his friend’s eyes twinkled in the candlelight.

  Taking a big sip of cocoa, Alex paused. “What?”

  “Nothing. You. This. Us,” he said.

  Alex returned his smile with a hot cocoa mustache on his upper lip. Eric pointed and laughed while David considered kissing it off and how delicious that would taste.

  “Let’s ask the server to take a photo of us,” Eric said, and Alex’s hand shot up to wave her over.

  Us. It sounded good. It sounded right.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Groove Is in the Heart

  While Alex worked up a nice sweat on the elliptical treadmill, his favorite music played in his ears. David teased him for his taste. Old man music, he called it. And while he did like the standards, he also had a weakness for electronic dance music, or what he called gay bar disco.

  Arriving at the gym at the crack of dawn, he found a membership card waiting. David called ahead and added him to his plan. Of course he did. He laughed to himself. It was completely domestic and he didn’t mind it a bit. It felt warm and cozy and so very right, though the crispy-haired attendant did sniff at David’s name. What was that about?

  “Hello.” Zooey appeared beside his treadmill and he yelped.

  “Wow, you are everywhere, aren’t you?” Repeating her words with jazz hands, he mocked her. She didn’t catch on.

  If she was here, he was sure David must be. He knew her enough to know she probably memorized his schedule. Turning his head, Alex hunted for him. He was in the free-weight section with headphones in his ears and oblivious to them. Damn, he looked good working up a sweat.

  “I hear you’re leaving soon,” she said.

  Still heady from last night’s perfect domestic bliss, Alex was in no mood to put up with her, especially after she leaked Mama’s condition at the hospital. Despite her apology, he suspected she was up to no good.

  He paused his music. “What’s it to you?”

  With a leering smile, she leaned forward. “It’ll be better for David when you’re gone. You confuse him.”

  She wasn’t running, just occupying the machine next to him. This little scene must have been planned. He admired the drama of it but wasn’t about to kowtow.

  “You give me way too much power, lady.”

  She stuck her chin out. “Things were on track for me and David before you got here.”

  “Gone on a lot of dates, have you?” He slowed his pace on the treadmill.

  “No, but—”

  He couldn’t help a wry smile. “He is dating though.”

  “What?”

  “He’s dating. Going on dates. I mean, he’s just not dating you.” Alex turned fully around so he was walking backward on the treadmill. Catching David’s eye, he waved. “I, however, have spent almost every night since I got back with him.”

  She hugged herself tightly. “I . . . How do you . . . ?”

  “Almost every night,” he repeated. Her eyes went wide. “If things were on track, then why isn’t he dating you?”

  Zooey backed away.

  “I can’t confuse David because he has no interest in you.” He felt bad for saying it, despite it being obvious. “He’s told you that, hasn’t he?”

  Alex wanted to be sympathetic—more than anyone else, he understood having an unrequited crush on David Cooper—but she’d tried his patience from their first meeting.

  “Yes, but we—”

  He took a swig from his water bottle. “You chose to ignore what he said?”

  “It wasn’t like that,” she sputtered.

  Walking up to them, David arrived as the bomb dropped.

  “‘Don’t pull that weak shit on my track,’” Alex hissed at her.

  “‘Speed Racer!’ Best movie ever,” David said, raising a hand.

  “Good catch, Big D!” He returned the high-five.

  Blushing, David grinned at Zooey. “They called me ‘Big D’ because I had an early growth spurt. Over the summer I was suddenly taller than all the other kids.” He pointed a finger at Alex and retreated. “Call me later. I have to get to work.”

  Alex leaned into Zooey’s space. “That’s not why I call him ‘Big D.’”

  Grabbing his towel, he stuck his tongue out at her and walked away. His bravado didn’t last long. Climbing in his truck after his workout, he shook his head ruefully. I screwed up. He wouldn’t put some kind of revenge past Zooey.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  All I Want for Christmas Is You

  David and Eric huddled together on the southeast corner of Rosner Park, one block from Main Street. Excited for the Old Quarter Christmas tree lighting, Eric talked incessantly of it all day, driving David to distraction.

  Edgedale proper held its tree lighting ceremony at city hall right after Thanksgiving on Sinterklaas Festival Day. But the Quarter had its own longstanding traditions.

  After greetings, Kevin and Brandi moved closer to the tree while they waited on the outskirts, looking for Alex. Zooey stood nearby, teeth chattering in the frigid night. Today was their first shift together since her supposed mistake in calling him in. It was long and tense.

  She made another apology, but he didn’t buy it. For her, that seemed to be the end of it. David wasn’t happy with that, but he needed to remain professional. At least for now.

  Toward the end of the day, she pestered him into allowing her to join them at the tree lighting. Truthfully, he feared if he didn’t, she’d show up and horn in anyway.

  Though she was never anything but pleasant to him, Eric wasn’t happy with her inclusion. Not for the first time it crossed David’s mind that his son was sharper than he was.


  “Where’s Alex?” The boy fidgeted.

  “He’s working. He’ll come if he can.” It was the third time he answered the same question. He’s busy, he kept telling himself. Yet he stood, checking his phone, hoping for a message like a teenager.

  Zooey bent to the boy’s height. “It’ll be okay. We can still have fun.” She booped his nose and Eric scowled. David tried not to laugh and stomped his feet to keep his blood moving.

  He thought about their relationship. Even though he’d set her straight, he feared he was encouraging Zooey’s interest. Can you be friends with someone once you’ve rejected them?

  And of course Alex came to mind. He rejected him, yet here they were, years later. But that was different; they were kids then. And now? Now, the truth was, he didn’t want Alex to go back to New York. He wanted him to stay, for them to be a family. That was his Christmas wish.

  Really? He chided himself for his Hallmark Christmas movie thoughts. It’s the holidays. He shrugged. It’s perfectly natural to have these fantasies now. It means nothing.

  Keep telling yourself that. You’re in love.

  Glancing at his phone again, he frowned upon seeing no message.

  He rolled his eyes at Zooey cooing at his son and mouthing some nonsense. That’s not fair. He condemned himself for his harshness. She was helpful in covering shifts when he needed to step away for Eric. It wasn’t her fault he had no romantic interest in her.

  Eric gave him a pleading look. He answered with a what am I gonna do gesture. He texted Alex: WE’RE AT THE TREE LIGHTING. PLS COME.

  Sliding his phone into his pocket, he longed for the comforting vibration and chirp of an incoming text.

  #

  The throng of people gathered for the tree lighting grew even larger, spilling out of the park and onto the street. A meager affair in his youth, the event had come to mark the start of the week leading up to Christmas. The park was festive. David wished they’d made it over here sooner.

  The mayor stood at the podium, ready to do the symbolic chore of pushing the oversize button to light the tree. It was a little Batman Returns, but David liked it. His father did it when he was mayor, and then his mother that first Christmas after he passed.

  David kept checking his phone. Still no text. Eric fussed and searched the crowd. Me too buddy, me too.

  Zooey drifted off. Just as David wished she would stay away, she appeared next to him, a twig of mistletoe in her hand. He clenched his jaw.

  “Merry Christmas,” she sang.

  He allowed her a quick peck, but it became more. Placing a hand on the back of his head, she pulled him into a deep kiss. Taken by surprise, David froze briefly before recovering and prying her off of him.

  “What the hell are you are doing?”

  Eric gaped at them, and Zooey looked annoyed.

  His head spun. “We talked about this.” Disbelief and frustration fought for control with his anger. “Don’t ever do anything like that again. Am I clear?” People gawked at them, and his face burned. How could she do this?

  “It was only a kiss under the mistletoe.” Her tone was caustic. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “I’m not interested in you. If you can’t accept that, then we can’t hang out.”

  “Fine.” She stormed off, disappearing into the crowd.

  Eric looked up at him with a scowl. “You shouldn’t have let her come.” He turned away, pouting.

  They watched the tree lighting in anxiety, both of them angry at Zooey and missing Alex. He continued searching to no avail. Neither enjoyed it, and after it was over, they dispersed with the crowd and trudged the blocks back home.

  “Do you want to get hot chocolate at Lacey’s?” David tried to salvage the night.

  “No,” the boy mumbled.

  It felt colder now, but he was grateful for the inclement weather; it kept him straight to the course. He resisted the urge to swing by Alex’s house, the theater, or anywhere else he could be. David wanted to see him, but more, Eric wanted to see him and he hated to see his son so crestfallen.

  Emphasizing the point, the boy rushed to his room the minute they were in the door.

  “Boots,” David shouted, catching him before he tracked mud all over the house. He picked up the coat Eric had discarded on the way upstairs.

  If this was how disappointed Eric was after one missed event, how was he going to handle it when Alex left town? And he was leaving, no matter how much they wished otherwise.

  Looking at his last text, he considered adding a MISS YOU, but didn’t. Alex was busy, and it was selfish of him to ask so much of his time. He was being clingy.

  Hearing Eric’s door slam, he groaned. It was time to have a talk. Plodding up the stairs, he stopped in front of his son’s room and knocked before letting himself in.

  Eric lay in his bed, cuddling his booby bird. He had a full-on pout going and David wanted to join him in it.

  Climbing onto the bed, he asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”

  The words poured out. “IwantedAlextocome. I thought he was my friend,” Eric sobbed.

  “He is your friend, but things happen. Mama is in the hospital, and he’s been working hard at the theater and helping out at the restaurant.” He reminded himself as much as his son. “That’s like three jobs, and he has one in New York, one he works on from here. He’s got a lot going on.”

  Eric sat up, still holding his stuffed animal. “So, I’m being unfair?”

  David rubbed his back. “Maybe, I don’t know. It’s okay if you’re disappointed, but don’t hold a grudge. I promise you, we all disappoint people we love sometimes. He’s still your friend, even if he couldn’t make it tonight, okay?”

  The boy nodded and gave him a hug. He needed it. Despite his words, he was disappointed too. I really wanted to see him.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Victim of Love

  Alex spent the morning with his uncle, and together they made their way to the hospital to visit Aunt Claire. He was grateful she was getting out tomorrow, and she was antsy.

  Though the renovation was mostly complete, he spent the afternoon doing detail work in the lobby of the Orpheum. The decorating party put him days ahead of schedule. The only major thing that remained now was the tree.

  And one for my house. He promised the nugget, after all. Last night David texted him a copy of the photos the server took at the restaurant. He wasted no time printing, framing, and hanging them in his living room.

  Several of the movie posters he ordered arrived. He was hanging them when his phone chirped with a text from David: WE’RE AT THE TREE LIGHTING. PLS COME.

  Noticing the time, he cursed. He planned on joining them earlier, but time got away from him.

  Yesterday was wonderful, and he was still heady from the warm feelings, but he needed to talk to David—alone. He needed to know where this thing between them was going. Neither of them were children. He lived in New York, and you don’t uproot your life on a whim.

  Though loving David Cooper was hardly a whim. And he did love him. Alex couldn’t help smiling to himself. I love him.

  As he got to the coat check, his phone rang. It was the CEO of Five Points. He missed several phone calls from Enrico and hoped there wasn’t a problem. The man didn’t leave a message, so he assumed it wasn’t an emergency. That was their system: urgent events rated voicemail.

  “Sheryl, how are you doing?”

  “Things are hectic. How is it in Edgewood?” she asked.

  “Edgedale, and we’re managing.” He twirled the theater keys on his finger.

  “How is your aunt?”

  He let out a long breath. “She’s not well, actually.”

  “I am so sorry. If you need more time off, we’ll accommodate you any way we can.”

  “Thank you.” Alex wasn’t surprised, but he knew his absence hit at a bad time.

  “But . . . is there any way we can steal you back for the week between Christmas and New Years and help us wit
h the Blake-Krug wedding?” He heard the pain in her voice; she clearly hated asking this. “You can head right back after the first.”

  “Can I get back to you?”

  “Of course,” she said. “And call or email me anytime if you need anything.” Her voice was sincere. She was a good friend and no doubt Enrico told her everything.

  It caught him off guard. For the first time in years he was looking forward to the holidays. But they wouldn’t ask if they didn’t need him.

  Five Points always took care of him. He owed them. Like Capili’s, it was a small family company—or rather a small company that operated like a family. They were all queer or LGBTQ-friendly.

  Pulling on his coat, he walked to the door and hit the lights. Outside, the wind hit him hard, the chill in the air creeping down the inside of his jacket.

  Walking down Main, he turned everything over in his head. Edgedale felt like home again. In New York, it was like he was in a spinning class, pedaling feverishly but going nowhere. Here with David, it felt right, like things were on track again.

  But did David love him? Everything was going well, but they didn’t talk about this thing between them. He didn’t want to be like Zooey, following some guy around and hoping something would happen when it never would.

  Poor David. This always happened. People he had no interest in were always falling for him. It happened all the time in school.

  As a kid, Alex had a huge crush on him, and David rejected him. But that was long ago, and there were many boyfriends in the years since he left. That was the crux of it; a Christmas long ago changed their lives forever, and there were no take-backs.

  But maybe there was room for something new. Maybe there was a future for them—here or in New York City? We really need to talk.

  Teeth chattering and head down, he strode toward the tree lighting. As he got near, he scanned the park. It was overflowing with people.

  He found them finally, recognizing David from the back. Ah, David’s backside . . . Thumbing through his screen, he got a text ready to send: Behind you.

  Zooey was there. Of course she’s here. She saw him and smirked. What now? If her eyes could stare daggers, he’d be long dead. She hated him.