Naughty & Nice (Merry Elf-Mas 2)

Chapter 17

Damon

“ F ound them.” Rolly walked into the living room wearing a victorious grin. He dropped the snowy keys onto the coffee table before removing his outerwear.

“Thank fuck.” I gave a relieved sigh as I burrowed deeper into the heated blanket. I was nearly thawed out from my escapades in the snow. My poor toes had stopped aching, but my hands were chapped and irritated. I’d need to find some Vaseline or something.

When we figured out where Angel had run off to, I was going to smack him upside his head. Most of my anger had subsided, but the embers were smoldering. I couldn’t comprehend what the hell had been going through Angel’s head for him to act like that. I know a lot went down today, but his reaction was excessive.

My thoughts were interrupted by Rolly taking a seat beside me and pulling me into his side. His fingers gently scratched my scalp, easing away the tension in my body. “Don’t stay mad at him too long.”

I pulled away from him and stared in total disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

His brow pulled into a quizzical arch. “And why not?”

Was he toying with me right now? I had put up with a lot of Angel’s shit over the years, but this had been my breaking point. Okay, that was a bit dramatic. I’d never leave my Grumpy Cat, but I could be madder than fuck at him for a while. “After how he acted tonight, us being mad is the least that he deserves.”

Rolly’s lips pulled into a sweet smile as he coaxed me back into his side. I tried to resist, but I also wanted his comfort. “Yes, we’re allowed to be angry, but we need to recognize he was hurting, too.” I went to pull away again, but he kept me firmly in place. “I don’t totally understand why he was lashing out so bad, but I get some of it.”

He gave a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. I got the impression that what he had to say was going to be hard to talk about. I held him a little tighter as a sign of support.

“I was never the son my parents wanted, either. I was too soft by my dad’s logic.” He gave a derisive chuckle at that. “Real men didn’t paint. They worked on cars, played football, and served their country. They most definitely don’t lust after other men.” His gaze shifted to mine, and my chest ached at the deep hurt I saw there. “I was lucky to have Uncle Solly and Aunt Dolly. When my dad almost beat me to death, they gave me refuge. They let me be me.” His hand came up and caressed my cheek. “We may have people in our lives who loved us for who we are, but stupidly we still want the love of those that were supposed to do that without condition.”

I wanted to cry for both of them. I didn’t remember my parents because I’d been put in the system when I was two. Still, I sometimes wondered if they missed me. If they’d ever tried to get their shit together to come for me. I’d wanted their love even though I did not know who they were.

So I could sort of understand the pain my guys were going through. I thought my love had been enough for Angel. That I could make up for the lack of love his parents never gave him. Now I could see what a fool I’d been. Rolly was right. I could be mad about the ugly things Angel had said, but I had to recognize they came from the worst place in him.

I wiped at my misty eyes and offered a half smile. “We’re still having a long conversation with him about better ways to handle his emotions.”

“Oh, definitely. Maybe even after I blister his ass.” We both laughed, and I felt like a weight had been lifted off me.

We held each other in silence for several minutes, just soaking in each other’s presence. It was nice, but it felt a little hollow without Angel there. The three of us should be together. I pushed away from Rolly, ready to track down our lost kitty. “Okay, so where do you think Angel has gone?”

Rolly’s features became thoughtful before falling into a mask of disappointment. “I hate to admit it, but I have no clue. He’s such a homebody. I honestly can’t think of anywhere he’d go. What about you?”

“I’m sad to say this, but he doesn’t have many friends.” It hurt me to say that, but it was true. Angel was so antisocial it was hard for anyone to approach him, let alone befriend him.

“What about the other elves?” There was hope in Rolly’s eyes, but I had to dash it.

I shook my head, growing frustrated with Angel all over again. “I don’t think he’s close enough with any of them to go to them in a crisis. He’s friendly with them, but in his current state, I don’t know if he’d think to go to them.”

We’d already tried calling him but discovered he’d left his phone here. I was at a loss for what to do. Driving around town looking for him would be a waste of time. I hated the idea of waiting for him to come home on his own. Leaving him alone for a night made me feel wrong, but I didn’t know what else to do.

As we sat there racking our brains for an answer, Rolly’s phone rang. He gave the screen a quizzical look before answering. “Hey, Billy. What’s up?”

“I need you to come pick up your cat.” That caught my attention. I leaned in so I could listen to the conversation.

Seeing my interest, Rolly sat up and placed his phone on the coffee table before putting it on speaker. “Are you with Angel?”

A tired sigh came over the line. “Yes. He showed up at the bar and started drinking.”

Oh, dear. Which Angel were we dealing with?

“I’ve had the bartender cut him off and tricked him into thinking water is vodka. I need you to come now, though, because he is sobbing into the countertop. It’s causing a bit of a scene.” There were the sounds of commotion coming in behind Billy. “Angel, don’t you dare get your snot on my dress.”

I bit back a snicker at Billy’s dismayed voice. Weepy Angel was easy to handle. So glad he wasn’t tearing the place apart.

“We’re on our way.” Rolly ended the call and sprang to his feet. I followed his example, and in a flurry of activity, we were out the door. We got into Rolly’s SUV and drove to the bar. Anxiety had me in its clutches the entire trip.

Rolly hadn’t even brought the car to a stop before I was out of the car running to the door. I burst inside, and my eyes made a frantic sweep of the room. There, at the end of the bar, sat Angel. He’d wrapped himself around poor Billy and was crying his eyes out.

I was across the room like a shot. “Angel.”

My kitten lifted his head at the sound of my voice. His eyes were red and puffy from all his tears. His nose was running like a faucet while his lower lip quivered at the sight of me. “Sunny!”

He released Billy and launched himself off the barstool into my arms. I held him tight to my chest, not caring if he got tears and mucus all over my coat. “Yeah, Grumpy Cat. I’m here.”

He tilted his head back and let out an ear piercing wail. Billy covered his ears and flinched at the noise. “Fucking hell. Please get him out of here. My poor ears are bleeding.”

A deep laugh came from behind me as Angel continued to cry. “Thanks for looking after him, Billy.” I turned my head and found Rolly at my side. “We’ll take him home now.”

“Thank fuck.” Billy reached out and ruffled Angel’s hair. “Good riddance, little demon.”

Angel had devolved into a bout of sniffling, but a tiny sob escaped him at Billy’s words. “Don’t throw me away, Billy.” He jerked out of my arms and hugged Billy. “You’re my bestest friend.”

We were all stunned by this sudden declaration. With how much animosity Angel showed the other man, we’d all been sure he despised him.

Billy tried to pry loose of Angel’s hold, but it was futile. “Uh, hate to say this, but I’m pretty sure you hate my guts. I mean, you always say my ass is fat.”

Angel looked up at him with pure horror in his eyes. “No! Your ass is perfect.” His eyes skittered away, and his bottom lip stuck out in a pout. “I’m just jealous of how pretty and confident you are.”

The look on Billy’s face was priceless. It was always funny to see the look of utter disbelief on other people’s faces when they got a dose of drunken, honest Angel. Billy was doing his best impression of a gasping fish before his brain came back online. “Um, okay. Good to know.” He shifted his gaze to Rolly. “Please take him home before he does anything else that shakes my worldview.”

Rolly chuckled as he pried Angel off Billy and tucked him into his side. “Thanks again, Billy. I will ask Noel about scheduling a playdate for you and your new bestie.” Billy smacked Rolly’s shoulder, but there was no force behind it. I guessed he didn’t hate the idea of having a new friend.

With our kitten recovered, we turned to leave, but Angel refused to leave. He slipped out of Rolly’s hold and hid behind a barstool. I approached him with caution, unsure why he didn’t want to leave. “Hey, Angel. We have to go home now.”

He shook his head so hard I worried he’d scramble his brain. “No, I don’t have a home anymore.”

What nonsense was he saying? He didn’t have a home? Since when?

“What are you talking about, Kitten? Your home is with us.” Rolly stood beside me, looking as bewildered as I felt.

“Nuh-uh.” I was growing more concerned that his head was going to fall off with all his head shaking. “I said all those mean things. You’re going to throw me away.”

Oh, my sweet, wounded kitty. If I ever saw Angel’s dad again, he deserved the worst ass kicking of his life. I caught his hand and brought it to my chest. “Angel, I’d never throw you away. I love you with all my heart. There isn’t much you can do or say to ever make me leave you.”

“Same goes for me, Kitten.” Rolly had Angel’s other hand over his heart. “You may be a prickly little shit, but you’re my prickly little shit. I love you and wouldn’t have you any other way.”

Fresh tears welled up in Angel’s eyes as he moved around the stool and into our waiting arms. “I love you b-b-both, too.” His watery eyes locked with mine. “You loved me first, Damon, and will always have my h-h-heart. I’m sorry I was such an ass.”

“I’ll forgive you this time, but try not to test your luck.” I kissed his forehead, happy to have him in my arms.

He then shifted his eyes to Rolly. “I’m sorry I said you aren’t my Master. You are and treat me so well. I love you.”

Rolly caught his lips in a claiming kiss, and I had to bite back a snicker. Our Master was such a sucker for this wily cat. He broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together. “I love you, too, Pineapple.” He leaned back to give him a hard look. “But don’t you ever forget who you belong to again, you hear me?”

Angel gave a little eep and nodded his head like his life depended on it. Just like that, we were all good again, and my heart had never been more full.