The Problem With Mistletoe

by Kyle Baxter

  He bowed his head. “I also want to apologize. I didn’t know the whole story—why he ran away. If I’d known what happened, I’d have gone after him.”

  She took his hand. “We didn’t know either, Mijo. Not until his father was on his deathbed.”

  “One more thing.” He took both her hands in his. “I’m not letting him go this time, but—”

  “But what? Are you asking my permission?”

  David bobbed his head side to side. “He always said never get a Latina mother mad at you, and you’re his mother in every way that matters.” That earned another laugh. “Is that a yes?”

  “That’s definitely a yes.”

  Sitting up straight, he put both hands on the table, ready to move. “Now, do you know where he is?”

  “You just missed him. He left a few minutes ago.”

  David jumped. “He left?”

  Mama made to stand and he helped her. “If you hurry, you can catch him. He had to stop back by his house.”

  “Will you keep an eye on Eric?” He gave her a hug.

  She pushed him toward the door. “Go!”

  “What’s happening?” the boy asked from the dining room.

  “I’m going after Alex,” David called out as he opened the door. “I’ll be back.”

  Eric groaned. “Finally.”

  #

  When David turned onto Elm, the familiar sight of Alex’s house greeted him. Every line and corner was etched into his memory from their childhood. The SUV sat in the driveway, and he felt a wave of relief.

  Standing on the front porch, his friend was locking the door, two full duffle bags beside him. He turned in surprise as David drove up. Pulling in behind the SUV, he was determined to make sure Alex couldn’t leave without talking to him.

  He got out of his car and walked up the sidewalk. “You’re leaving.” He indicated the bags. “Leaving and not saying goodbye—again.”

  Alex cleared his throat. “David—”

  He held up a warning hand. “Please, hear me out. I have something to say.”

  “We said plenty last night.”

  “It wasn’t enough. Not for me.” He would be heard; this conversation was more than a decade in the coming.

  Alex put his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, stepping to the top step. “Here I am. What do you want to say?”

  That gave him pause. No argument? Okay. “You have to leave, I understand, but you need to know something.” His voice broke. “I’m in love with you. I always have been. When we were kids, that Christmas, I pushed you away because I was scared, but I loved you.”

  “I know,” Alex said. His expression was a mask.

  Was he sad or disappointed? David second-guessed himself. No, keep going.

  “I’m still scared. I hurt you back then, but I want you to know you’re the last person I ever wanted to hurt—wait, you know?” He froze. Alex wasn’t arguing. His eyes darted over his friend’s face. He spied the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “Hey, I know that face.”

  Alex cocked an eyebrow. “You know my face?”

  “I know all your looks.” He glanced at the duffle bags and the dog in the window. Wait.

  “There it is.” Alex’s smirked.

  “You smug bastard, you’re not leaving.”

  Leaning against one of the columns framing the porch, Alex shook his head. “Not even a little.”

  “The bags?” David moved closer to the stairs.

  He jutted his thumb back at the house. “No washing machine, remember? I’m dropping them off at the laundromat.”

  “But the sweater you left on my doorstep—”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Bonnie,” they said together.

  Only three feet away from him now, David felt like he might combust. “I said all that for nothing?”

  “Not for nothing. That was good.” Alex stepped down one step. “That was really good.”

  “But you’re staying. You’re really staying?” David’s smile fought to come out, but he tamped it down. Alex was entirely too happy with himself, and a smile would give him too much satisfaction.

  “I am. And I’m taking over the restaurant. You couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to.” He jumped down to the last step, only one foot, one step away.

  “You’re staying with me and Eric.” It wasn’t a question, David knew.

  “If you’ll have me. I love you.” Alex took David’s head in his hands and leaned in for a kiss.

  “‘I know.’”

  He pulled back. “Was that . . . Han Solo? Now? Really?”

  “I’ve been waiting to use it forever.” David grinned. “How about ‘I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.’”

  “You’re the worst person ever.” Alex turned and walked up the steps. “That’s it. It’s over.” But he was smiling as he went.

  Jumping up the stairs, he grabbed Alex’s arm, spun him around, and pulled him into his arms. Leaning in, he gave him a kiss. It wasn’t tentative or solitary. Their kisses quickly turned hungry and passionate.

  “Oh.” Alex moaned.

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “No.” Alex stepped back. “We’re on the front stoop.”

  David took a quick gander around. Mrs. Brady was walking her German Shepherd down the sidewalk, gawking at them. He gave her an embarrassed wave.

  Alex grabbed his duffle bag and fumbled with the door.

  #

  Between kisses and gropes, they managed to get the door closed. Still, pulling at each other’s clothes, they stumbled into the living room and fell onto the couch, laughing.

  Alex froze in place, his shirt halfway up his torso. “Where’s Eric?”

  “He’s with your aunt and uncle.” David pulled his boots off. Reaching over, he tickled the hair on Alex’s stomach, making him squirm.

  Alex tossed his shirt aside and fought with his jeans. “Had an image of him walking in—y’know, during.”

  David stopped in the middle of pulling one leg of his jeans off and stared at the shirtless man in front of him.

  “You worrying about my kid, now? You’re so hot.” He pulled Alex on top of him and onto the couch. They kissed deeply, hands exploring each other, bodies at once so familiar and new in exciting ways.

  “I’m gonna worry about him for the rest of his life,” Alex murmured between kisses.

  He laughed. “Marry me.”

  “Now?”

  “Okay later, after. Let’s do this now.” He grabbed the hardness growing taut against Alex’s stomach.

  At the sound of a snuffle they looked to see Max sitting in his corner, watching them, his tail thumping.

  “Let’s go upstairs to my room.”

  “I’m going to have to start locking the bedroom door.” David waggled his eyebrows. They ran upstairs, laughing. David grabbed Alex’s butt, making him squeal.

  An hour later, they lay in bed in a heap of sweaty but satisfied flesh. David’s head lay on Alex’s chest, his finger drawing circles in the hair. That was new. Alex had little body hair when they were teens; he was the hirsute one.

  “I need to apologize . . .” Alex started.

  Turning to face him, he sat up. “Okay, so now it’s serious talk time.”

  “I am afraid so.” Alex drew his legs up to him. “Seeing Zooey kiss you at the Christmas tree lighting really threw me. I’m sorry for that.”

  Reaching over, David put a hand on his leg. “I would never do to you what that Todd did.”

  “I know that,” he said. David started to protest, but he barreled on. “No, I do, but sometimes the past rears its ugly head and you find yourself reacting in ways you aren’t proud of. I apologize for that. I will do better, if you let me.”

  David squeezed his knee. “I get it, and I don’t blame you. Part of that was my fault. I am ‘go along to get along’ way too often. Our problems with Zooey have been entirely my fault.”<
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  Letting his knees down so he was cross-legged, Alex scooted forward on the bed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  He looked down. “If I’d been firmer with her, it’d have never got to that point.”

  With a hand, Alex lifted David’s face. “And if I walked over and talked to you instead of storming off and getting overdramatic . . .”

  He bobbed his head as amusement tugged at his lips. “I don’t mind the drama so much. Or arguing, as long as we get to make up.” He leaned over for another kiss.

  “I’m going to like making up with you.” Alex began to kiss his way down David’s neck.

  “My turn,” he said.

  “Okay.” Sitting back, Alex sounded slightly disappointed, and that made David happy. He wanted to keep on with the kissing!

  “I don’t want you to give up New York.” He tapped the mattress to make his point. “You wanted to move to the city the entire time I’ve known you.”

  “You know, that first year, it drove me crazy. I was doing everything I dreamed of doing in New York.”

  David scooted back against the headboard. “That’s good, right?”

  Turning, Alex leaned back against him. “No, you weren’t there.”

  He draped an arm over his friend’s torso. “So we can go do them now. I can get a job anywhere.”

  Alex took his hand, rubbing the palm with his thumb. “I can’t.”

  That couldn’t be right. He pressed his face up to the top of Alex’s head. “What do you mean?”

  “Capili’s has been here over thirty years. I can’t just let that go.” He teased the light hairs on David’s thigh. “I didn’t realize that before coming back, and besides, I think I’m done with the big city.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, for the past several years I felt like I was getting nowhere,” Alex said. “It’s time for a change. And since I’ve been back, I’ve actually started writing again.”

  “No way. Can I read it?” He kissed Alex’s head.

  “Eventually, but being here’s good for me. I want to stay here, with you.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.” He slid out from under Alex and twisted so he was lying almost on top of him. He playfully nibbled on his lover’s torso. “I love your body.”

  Alex laughed, David’s ministrations making him giggle. “Well, if I keep eating the way I have been lately, my six-pack days are over.”

  David nipped at his nipple. “I could not care less.”

  “I’m moving quickly into dad-bod territory.” Alex ran a hand through his hair.

  “Well, I think you’re perfect.” Crawling up to face him, David began to kiss him deeply just as the alarm on Alex’s phone went off.

  “Oh, come on.” Alex reached for it on the nightstand.

  David pushed himself off his friend and fell backward onto the bed. “What time is it?”

  He set it aside and leaned over to kiss David’s torso. “It’s nearly noon . . . I have to go. I’ve got papers to deliver to the lawyer.”

  “Shit, I have to go too. I have a meeting in an hour.”

  “Do you need to get fresh clothes from the house?” Alex slid off the bed and opened the bedroom door.

  David took Alex’s hand, pulling him out of the room and down the hall. “I threw some clothes in the car. I’ll change in the locker room at the hospital, but Eric’s at the restaurant.”

  “I’ll take care of it. Drop me off there. I’ve got errands to run.”

  They tumbled downstairs, laughing like kids. There was one moment on the couch when passion got the better of them and they almost headed back upstairs.

  “Save it for later, Big D.” Alex squeezed David’s erection through his underwear.

  “You make it hard—I mean difficult.” He stood with his hands on his hips.

  Alex arched an eyebrow at the prominent display. “Hope to do both, later.”

  “Later.” He sighed, pulling up his jeans.

  “Max, go to your room.” Alex pointed down the hall and the dog loped off to the downstairs bedroom where his crate was.

  “I still can’t believe he has his own room.” He watched Alex follow the lab.

  “It is only me here,” Alex called out, shutting the bedroom door.

  He pulled on his boots as Alex joined him in the mudroom. “Was only you.”

  They stumbled out of the house, still pulling on their winter gear. On the stoop, Alex pulled David in for another deep kiss.

  “Ahem,” a voice said.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  I Will Survive

  They looked up to see Mrs. Brady making the return trip with her German Shepherd.

  “Sorry.” David blushed.

  “Puh-lease,” she said with an eye roll. “Are you moving back in, Alex?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Maybe,” David jumped in. “We’re discussing it.”

  “I hope you do. It’s sat empty too long.” Giving them a wide smile, she walked on down the sidewalk. “And you’re welcome to kiss on your own front porch any damn time you want.”

  As they climbed into the car, Alex asked, “What do we tell Eric?”

  “Nothing,” he said, starting the car. “Trust me, he’ll figure it out on his own.”

  “Sure, he’s scary smart.”

  “Like you.” He grinned as they pulled out of the driveway.

  “No, he’s smarter than me. Smarter than both of us.” Alex scrolled through his reminders on his cellphone. “I can’t believe you gave him my name.”

  “Eric Alexander,” David said. “Named after the two most important men in my life: my father and you.” That earned him a quick kiss at the corner when they came to the stop sign.

  Back at the restaurant, Mama and Eric came out to greet them. Putting a hand to her heart, Mama stopped at the steps and blushed.

  “Is it that obvious?” David asked in chagrin.

  “Hey, Mini Coop,” Alex said as Eric barreled into him for a hug.

  The boy giggled. “Hey, Pop.” He didn’t get corrected this time.

  Papa walked out to see what all the commotion was about and started laughing. He took Mama’s hand and they watched the tableau of the three of them together.

  “Tiyo, you too?”

  That made Papa laugh harder. “You’re wearing his shirt, fool.”

  Looking down, he saw that he’d put on David’s Henley by mistake. He shrugged. Now that he thought about it, he realized he was wearing boxer shorts, and he didn’t own boxers. Looking over, he caught a wink from his lover.

  “How does my hair look?” David asked. “I’m going to a meeting, after all.”

  “Yeah, another meeting?” Putting Eric down, he licked his fingers and fixed an errant lock on David’s head. “What’s up with that?”

  “I set it up. I’ll explain later.”

  Giving him the once-over, he said, “You look good.”

  “Yeah?” David held up his arms and, flexing like a bodybuilder, slowly turned around.

  Alex let out an exasperated breath. “Yeah, yeah, you look good. Now go.” He smacked David’s butt and pushed him toward the car.

  David gave him a kiss goodbye and Eric one on the forehead.

  The elder Capilis watched them from the front stoop of the restaurant with broad smiles.

  “Stop it,” David hissed as he climbed into his car.

  #

  “What are we doing?” Eric asked as his father drove off.

  Alex looked down at the boy. “I have a few errands to run, and there’s a delivery waiting for me at the UPS store, for the theater.”

  Eric pulled on his gloves. “So, I’m going with you?”

  Kneeling, Alex grabbed the knit cap from the boy’s pocket and fit it on his head. “Do you have somewhere better to be?”

  “Not at the moment, but I’m working on it.” Eric held out his hand and Alex took it.

  He didn’t doubt for a moment the kid might have plans. He did at that age.
Waving goodbye to his aunt and uncle, they walked away. Within minutes they were at his house.

  Alex let Max out to play with Eric while he collected his tablet and the contracts Mama and Papa signed. He put them in his messenger bag. Looking around, he realized how messy the living room was. Not the best example for the nugget, he thought and went to clean it up.

  Eric surveyed the disheveled living room. Not saying anything, he watched the older man straighten it up and occasionally muttered an “mm-hmm.”

  “How old are you?” Alex demanded. “Because I sense a pointed tone in that ‘mm-hmm.’”

  Eric giggled.

  “All right, grab your coat and Max. We’re on the move.”

  “You need a Christmas tree,” the boy pointed out.

  “So do you.”

  “We need to get those today,” Eric decided as he snapped Max’s leash on.

  “When your father gets back, we’ll all go.” The happiness on the boy’s face gladdened him.

  They stopped at Lacey’s Bakery for coffee and cocoa. The man eyed him. “Again? You’re becoming a regular.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Mr. Lacey was delighted to see Eric and fawned over him. He was okay with Max coming in as long as they kept him under the table.

  “Do you want to see the kitchen again?” Lacey asked, happy to encourage Eric’s interest in baking.

  Eric turned his bright eyes to Alex.

  “Go ahead. I’ll keep Max company.” Alex sipped his coffee.

  After Lacey’s, they dropped the paperwork off with a local firm. They were their family’s lawyers and happy to expedite the matter. Mama and Papa would keep their shares, but Alex became the active partner with power of attorney.

  Walking up the street toward the dog shelter, the boy glanced from Alex to Max.

  “No,” he cried. “You’re staying. You’re keeping him.” He fidgeted, jumping up and down. Alex let him go on for a minute but gently led him aside.

  Squatting down, he asked, “Why are you upset?”

  “You’re giving Max back. I thought you were staying with me and my dad.”

  “I am staying. Come, let’s sit down for a minute.” He directed them to a bench beside the door of the shelter. They sat there for a few minutes, the silence broken only by occasional sobs.

  “I’m sorry,” Eric said. “I don’t mean to be trouble.”