The Christmas Curse (The Christmas Curse #1)

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

C alyx didn’t know where to look, so he hurried away from Griffith. What the fuck had just happened? What had Calyx done?

He’d known that Griffith had intended for the kiss to be a quick peck on the lips, but instead, Calyx had to ruin everything. He hadn’t been able to resist. He doubted he’d ever have another opportunity to taste Griffith’s lips, so he’d kissed Griffith the way he’d always wanted to. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to back off and ignore his feelings after that, but he’d done it anyway.

No one had been more stunned than Calyx when Griffith had opened his mouth. It probably had been instinct, something he would have done if anyone else had licked into his mouth, but Calyx had. He had no doubt that Griffith was confused and possibly horrified. How was Calyx supposed to look him in the eyes again? He didn’t know, but he was going to have to find out.

For now, he told himself to focus on the task at hand. He had to gather the ingredients for the spell so they could go home and get Justin back. Calyx was afraid that something had happened to him and that they were running out of time. He might be wrong, but he also might not, and if Justin was getting hurt, Calyx didn’t want him to have to stay in the underworld for one second longer than necessary.

“He’s handsome,” Lorna said, popping out from behind a shelf.

Calyx glared at her. “Not only did you force me to kiss Griffith, but you’re also trying to give me a heart attack?”

Lorna flopped her hand back and forth. “You’re too young to have a heart attack. I know your guy used to live with you and the others, but you didn’t exactly act brotherly.”

“I had to kiss him because of the mistletoe.” Calyx grabbed a packet of sage. “Which you put there. What are you thinking, ambushing your customers like that?”

“You know as well as I do that magical mistletoe only works when there are feelings present.”

Calyx groaned. He did know that which was one of the reasons he’d freaked out so badly. Of course the mistletoe had latched onto his feelings. He hated that the damn thing had forced Griffith into this, though.

“So, feelings,” Lorna drawled.

“I’m not talking about this with you or anyone else. I have to go home and cast the spell.”

Her expression softened. “I hope you get your brother back safely.”

“Same. I just hope I can do this.”

“You’ll get your brother back. You’re one of the best mages I’ve ever worked with. Caitlin made sure you know what you’re doing, so don’t worry too much. You’ll be fine.”

Calyx wasn’t sure about that, but he didn’t have a choice. He brought his ingredients to the counter, relieved to see that Griffith was waiting for him outside through the window. Lorna stuck everything into a bag and, after Calyx paid, leaned closer. “Maybe think about it once you have your brother back.”

“Think about what?” Calyx asked, even though he knew better.

“Kissing your other brother. That kiss was something, Calyx. There was chemistry there.”

“Because we know each other well. It doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be together.”

“It also doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be together. You deserve to be happy, and I’m sure Griffith does, too. He’s also incredibly handsome, and if you don’t lock him down, someone else will.”

“I don’t want to hear this,” Calyx shouted as he rushed for the door.

He almost fell flat on his face as he stumbled onto the sidewalk. Griffith had to reach for him and keep him upright, which made everything worse. Calyx carefully avoided looking at him, but unfortunately, they had to drive back to the house together.

He expected Griffith to ask him what all of that had been about, but he didn’t. He didn’t even ask if Calyx had found everything he needed. Instead, he stared straight ahead the entire drive back to the house. A few times, Calyx noticed his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something, but he never did.

Calyx ran out of the car as soon as it was parked and the engine was off. He heard Griffith calling for him, but he ignored him because he didn’t have time for this right now. He needed to save Justin, and the spell needed preparation.

He swung open the front door, quickly took off his jacket and boots, and abandoned everything there to rush to his office. He ignored Travis, even though the man tried to get his attention, and ran up the stairs.

He breathed easier only once he was there. The door was closed, which meant Griffith couldn’t come in. Calyx would have to see him again eventually, but for now, he’d be happy to stay as far away from him as he could.

He dropped the bag with the ingredients on his desk and went to work right away. Of course, that meant that someone knocked on his door seconds later.

“I’m working,” he yelled, wondering if it was Griffith. It would make sense for him to want to talk, even though he knew better than to bother Calyx when he was working.

The door opened, which wasn’t something Griffith would have done, so Calyx wasn’t surprised when Shelby walked in.

“I’m working,” he repeated.

“Why did you run through the house as if your ass were on fire?” Shelby asked, ignoring everything coming out of Calyx’s mouth.

“I want to get Justin back as soon as possible, so I have to start the spell as soon as possible. I need some privacy to do that because I have to focus.”

“What happened in town? Or was it with Griffith?”

Calyx groaned and buried his face into his hands. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“I thought you knew me better than that.”

“Sometimes, I think there was a mistake and that there’s no way you’re a half-angel because you’re an absolute demon.”

Shelby didn’t appear bothered by Calyx’s words. “Whatever. So? Did something happen?”

“There was magical mistletoe in the shop.”

Shelby and Justin had always been more interested in magic than Yancey and Griffith. Calyx could tell that Shelby knew what magical mistletoe did because he looked downright giddy.

“You and Griffith had to kiss.”

“We did. My feelings got us stuck there, and there was no choice.”

“What kind of kiss was it? Did you make out? Was there tongue?”

Calyx’s cheeks heated. “I didn’t mean to. He kissed me, and I knew it was my only chance to do that, and I guess we started making out just a bit.”

“How do you make out just a bit?”

“It’s when you start making out, and someone interrupts you.”

Shelby’s smile was wide. “Really?”

“I know. I won’t ever be able to look him in the eyes again.”

Shelby rolled his eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. He wants you as much as you want him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on. You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed. He’s always staring at you, and he sticks by your side as much as he can. He came back, didn’t he?”

“So did you and Yancey. You all came back because you had to.”

“That’s not the only reason Griffith is here. Maybe give it a chance once you’re done with the Justin thing, yeah? Both you and Griffith could be happy if you had the courage to do something about it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I need to get to work.”

“Fine, I’m going. This isn’t over, though. I want a Christmas miracle, and I'm not talking about Justin.”

Calyx knew what Shelby was talking about, and he wasn’t wrong. It would take a miracle or Calyx and Griffith to end up together.

Griffith followed Calyx inside the house but at a more sedate pace. He couldn’t help but wonder if Calyx was running away from him. It sure felt like he was, and it could only be because of the kiss.

“Did something happen?” Travis asked as soon as Griffith was in the house.

“Why do you ask?”

“Your boyfriend just ran into the house and completely ignored me.”

“Everyone is ignoring you,” Yancey yelled from the living room.

“You’re not. You keep staring at my ass,” Travis yelled back.

Griffith had no idea what to make of these two, and he didn’t care much. He was too busy dealing with his feelings for Calyx and whatever the fuck had happened at the store. “He just wants to get started on the spell as soon as possible,” he quickly explained before leaving Travis in the entrance. He wanted some peace, but it was almost impossible to find space in the house when everyone was here. Maybe he could grab a bottle of water and spend some time in his bedroom.

He decided to do just that, but of course, things didn’t come out the way he planned. When he stepped into the kitchen and saw that Caitlin was there, he tried to turn and leave, but she stopped him.

“I want to apologize to you,” she said.

“I’m not the person you should apologize to.”

“I know. What I did was wrong. I should have explained why I left the house to Calyx to you and your brothers. I was there during the fight, and I hate that I put all of you in that position. I know how important this family is to Calyx, and I’m happy that you came home.”

Griffith pulled down the collar of his sweater so he could show Caitlin some of the Christmasy artwork on his body. “There’s only one reason we’re here.”

She snickered. “Is there? Don’t tell me you would never have come home even if Calyx hadn’t done something this stupid.”

Griffith couldn’t lie to her. Sometimes, he tried, but she could always see right through him. “Fine. I would have come home anyway. It might have taken me some time, but I would never abandon him forever.”

“Because you love him.”

Was there any benefit to denying it? Griffith was tired of keeping it a secret. Besides, he was pretty sure that all his brothers knew how he felt except Calyx. He couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if Calyx ever found out, but he didn’t have to hide from everyone else. “Yeah, I do love him,” he admitted.

“Will you be staying after Christmas, then?”

“Why would I? The curse will have run its course.”

“It will have, but Calyx will still be here on his own. You could make him happy, Griffith.”

“What are you talking about? You can’t be suggesting that I should tell him how I feel about him.” The thought was enough to make Griffith want to pack up his stuff and leave.

“Why not? He loves you as much as you love him.”

Griffith shook his head. “No. I can’t risk losing him. He’s too important to me, and I know he’d be devastated if he had to reject me. He’d blame himself, and he might even agree to try being with me just to keep me here. I’ll get over these feelings eventually, but not if I live here. Why do you think I left and stayed away for so long?”

“You really thought you’d manage to forget that you love Calyx?”

“No. I thought I would stop loving him if I was far away from him. I knew it wouldn’t work if I stayed and saw him every day.” And he’d been right. Now that he was back, the only thing he could focus on was Calyx. Calyx was in his every thought, always there in front of him, and Griffith didn’t know what to do about it.

Nothing came to mind.

“It was just a suggestion,” Caitlin said. “No one is going to force the issue if you don’t feel ready to tell Calyx, but think about it, all right? All I’ve ever wanted was for my boys to be happy. I might have gone about it the wrong way, and I regret many of the things I did over the years, but that hasn’t changed. You deserve to have what you want in life. All of you do.”

They might, but it wasn’t like Griffith could force Calyx to fall in love with him. What he needed to be happy was Calyx, but he would never have him.

No matter what his mother seemed to think.