The Christmas Curse (The Christmas Curse #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

C alyx couldn’t believe that he could kiss Griffith whenever he wanted now—in bed when they first woke up, in the bathroom while Griffith was shaving, or, like now, in the kitchen when they were supposed to get breakfast ready.

It had been a few days, but he suspected it would take him many more days to get used to this. Griffith was here to stay, and even if the others left after Christmas, Calyx wouldn’t be alone again. More importantly, he’d be with the man he’d been in love with since he was a teenager.

If this wasn’t a Christmas miracle, he didn’t know what was.

“You’re going to burn the bacon,” Griffith murmured against Calyx’s lips.

Calyx blindly reached for the spatula. “You’ll eat it even if it’s burned,” he whispered back.

“But I won’t,” Shelby announced as he walked into the room. “So if you two don’t stop making out over the bacon, I’ll go eat at the diner in town.”

Calyx jumped away from Griffith and looked at him with wide eyes. They hadn’t talked about telling their brothers that the two of them were together. Part of Calyx was afraid they’d find it weird because they’d grown up together and, for all intents and purposes, were brothers. They’d all been adopted by Caitlin and had grown up as siblings, but Calyx didn’t feel the way he felt about Griffith for all the others. They truly were brothers, but Griffith never had been.

“It was for the mistletoe,” Calyx quickly said, staring at the ceiling and scowling at himself for not anticipating they’d need mistletoe and not hanging any in the kitchen. Now that everyone was here, he needed to finish decorating the house.

“Is it invisible mistletoe?” Shelby asked. If he did find this weird, he was hiding it well. He was smiling as he teased Calyx.

“Calyx and I are together,” Griffith announced as he hooked an arm around Calyx’s waist and pulled him close. He stole the spatula from him and turned to check the bacon while Calyx stared at Shelby.

Shelby beamed. “It was about time.”

“You don’t think it’s weird?”

Shelby rolled his eyes. “I think it’s weird that it took you so long when the two of you are clearly in love. I’m glad I won’t have to listen to you whine about Griffith anymore, Cal.”

Calyx’s cheeks heated. “I never whined about him.”

Shelby clasped his hands in front of his chest and batted his lashes. “Oh, Shelby, have you seen how handsome Griffith was this morning? Oh, did you see the way he ate that burger?”

Shelby squeaked when Calyx threw the dishtowel at his head.

“What? You did exactly that just a few months ago,” he insisted.

It had been longer than that since they hadn’t been on speaking terms a few months ago, but Calyx let it go. They were all here now, and that was all that mattered.

Shelby came forward to hug Calyx. They made it work around Griffith, who was still holding onto Calyx as if he was afraid he’d disappear if he didn’t.

“I’m happy for the two of you, although I hope you won’t make as much noise as Justin and Mynor. Maybe I should start dating demons, too. Those two sure are having a lot of fun in Justin’s bedroom.”

Calyx’s cheeks were on fire. “And in the closet under the stairs,” he muttered. He knew that from experience since yesterday, he’d been looking for the broom and he’d instead found Justin and Mynor entwined and making out. He was pretty sure that Justin’s hand had been in Mynor’s pants, but he hadn’t stuck around to check.

Shelby’s eyes widened. He looked delighted. “Really?”

“I saw them behind the couch two days ago,” Travis announced as he dragged Yancey into the kitchen. “Good morning. Calyx, do you need help with anything?”

“You can set the table,” Calyx told him.

“Have you heard the news?” Shelby asks. “Griffith and Calyx are finally together.”

“It was about time,” Yancey grumbled.

“That’s what I said,” Shelby exclaimed. “We all knew they were in love, right?”

“Who’s in love?” Justin asked as he walked in, looking well kissed and with Mynor trailing behind him.

“Griffith and Calyx. They finally got their heads out of their asses and started dating.”

“They got their heads out of their asses?” Mynor asked. “That sounds painful.”

Calyx moaned and hid his face in his hands. He’d wanted this. He’d desperately wanted his family to come home and for them to be as close as they’d been growing up, and he had it. He couldn’t complain about the sex jokes, right?

He couldn’t complain about anything. He was too happy, especially as he leaned against Griffith’s side and watched him finish cooking the bacon. His brothers were here, bickering and poking fun at each other like they had before. This kind of breakfast was Calyx’s past, but hopefully, it would also be his future.

****

When everyone was gathered in the kitchen for breakfast, it was as if everything was back to normal. They’d done this when Caitlin had been alive, and even though it had been more than a year since then, it was still familiar. Griffith understood better why it had been so important for Calyx to do this. He’d missed Griffith and the others, of course, but he’d probably also missed the familiarity of everything. He’d always been a nester, and it had to have been hell for him to lose everyone all at once.

Griffith glanced around the table. He didn’t know if he would be the only one staying behind once the Christmas holiday was over. He doubted Yancey would want to stick around, but what about Shelby and Justin? It wouldn’t be the same without Yancey, but the five of them were adults, and it was normal for some of them to build new lives, maybe even a family, away from home.

Griffith couldn’t imagine Yancey with children or a wife, and he was pretty sure that if Travis had something to say about it, no wife would ever be in the picture. Griffith was curious, but he was happy to stay away from whatever was happening between those two.

Breakfast was almost over when Calyx cleared his throat. Yancey immediately narrowed his eyes at him as if he expected Calyx to say or do something he wouldn’t like. Griffith suspected that would be the case because Yancey disliked pretty much anything Calyx said or did these days.

“So, today is Christmas Eve,” Calyx said as if they didn’t know what day it was. “I organized some stuff we can do as a family. I have everything to bake cookies and several Christmas movies lined up.”

It was a tradition they’d had when Caitlin had been alive. The only year they hadn’t done it was last year because Caitlin had just passed away. It made sense that Calyx wanted to continue the tradition, but also that the others looked less than enthusiastic.

“I like cookies,” Mynor declared.

Calyx smiled at him as if he weren’t a demon they barely knew. “That’s good. You can be included. You too, Travis. It’s a family tradition, but I’m sure no one will mind if you participate.”

Yancey opened his mouth. Griffith could tell from his expression that he was about to tell Calyx that he didn’t want to do it, so Griffith kicked him. Yancey jumped, jostling the table, and glared at Griffith, who glared right back. No one was going to ruin Calyx’s Christmas, especially not Yancey.

“We’ll all be happy to do this,” Griffith said, still staring at Yancey.

When Yancey didn’t argue, Griffith glanced around the table. Thankfully, no one else seemed to have anything to say about Calyx’s plans for the day. Shelby was still munching on a piece of toast while Justin was focused on Mynor. Travis just looked happy to be there. It was a stark contrast with Yancey’s expression, and Griffith wondered if things would ever work between them.

None of his business.

They all helped clean up, and Justin and Mynor vanished upstairs, apparently to get dressed, but Griffith was sure there would be a lot of undressing, too. He didn’t care. Justin was his brother, and he didn’t want to think about him doing anything with Mynor.

“Griffith.”

Griffith turned to Yancey, who was hovering in the kitchen door. Calyx was at the sink, talking with Shelby and Travis, so Griffith decided he could give Yancey a few minutes. His boyfriend would be fine without him for a little while.

It thrilled Griffith to be able to think of Calyx like that. He’d wanted nothing more for a long time, but he’d been too afraid, even when he suspected that Calyx felt the same. They’d lost too much time, and he’d always regret that, but it wasn’t something he wanted to think about anymore. Only the present mattered, and he had Calyx now.

“What?” Griffith asked when he reached Yancey.

Yancey stared at him for a moment. “You and Calyx, huh?”

Griffith doubted that was actually what Yancey wanted to talk about, but he nodded anyway. “It was a long time coming.”

“It really was. We all thought you’d get together a few years ago. We even bet on it.”

Griffith snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you know us.”

That much was true. He knew his brothers like the back of his hand—some a little more, some a little less, but still. They were his family.

Including Yancey, who was shuffling his feet and looked like he was about to bolt.

“What is it?” Griffith asked.

“I just wanted to tell you that I’m happy for the two of you. Like you said, it was a long time coming, and I hope that you’ll get everything you’ve ever wanted from this relationship.”

“I think I will.”

“But as happy as you and Calyx are, I can’t wait to go back to my life. You’ve always had something keeping you here because Calyx isn’t going anywhere, but I’ve changed over the past year. I have things to go back to.”

A loud snort made Griffith turn in time to see Travis walk out of the kitchen. “You have a life?” he asked.

“Fuck off,” Yancey said, but there was no heat in his voice.

That was Griffith’s cue to leave. He didn’t want anything to do with whatever was happening between Travis and Yancey. He’d rather focus on his own relationship, and Calyx was still in the kitchen.

He clasped Yancey’s shoulder before walking away, idly listening to him bickering with Travis. Calyx was still by the sink, but he looked up when he heard Griffith, and the smile on his face made Griffith want to sing—which wouldn’t be a good idea because he sang badly enough that he could wake the dead.

“They’re all going to participate,” Calyx said, bouncing a little.

Griffith wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close. “Of course they will. I’m sure they missed this tradition as much as we did.”

“I wasn’t sure Yancey would be up for it, but I think he’ll stick around for a bit.”

Griffith kissed Calyx’s forehead. “For today, anyway.”

“It’s longer than I expected.”

Griffith wished he could give Calyx the moon and the sun and every planet out there, but he couldn’t even give him his into do anything, but he’d be there for Calyx, and that would have to be enough.

He would make sure it was, one way or another.

Calyx snuggled deeper into the couch and sighed in happiness. On the TV screen, Kevin McAllister was kicking ass. Calyx had watched the movie dozens of times, but he never got enough of it. Even more so, he never got enough of this tradition. He was here with his brothers, drinking hot cocoa and snacking on the cookies they’d baked earlier that day, and just for tonight, he could fool himself into thinking that everything was all right in the world.

Everything wasn’t all right. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he woke up to find that his brothers were gone. Yancey would only wait until midnight and one minute, and once the colors on his skin started fading, he’d be out of the house. Calyx wasn’t sure about Travis, but he wouldn’t mind if the man decided to stick around a bit longer. He liked him, and he hoped he’d have time to get to know him better.

Maybe he would. After all, Travis lived in town. Yancey, Shelby, and Justin might leave, but Travis wasn’t going anywhere, so he and Calyx could be friends.

Griffith, who had an arm wrapped around Calyx’s shoulders, gave him a squeeze and kissed his temple. “Everything all right?”

Calyx glanced around the living room. The room had two couches and several armchairs. It was necessary when someone adopted five growing boys. With the addition of Mynor and Travis, the room was a little cramped, but everyone had found a spot to sit.

To no one’s surprise, Calyx and Griffith had snuggled on one of the couches. Griffith was at the end of it, with Calyx leaning against him, his legs stretched out over Shelby’s lap, who was on his other side. Shelby had wrapped one hand around Calyx’s ankle almost absently, but the pressure reminded Calyx that even though his family wasn’t back to what it had been before, they weren’t completely gone.

The curse had worked. It had brought all of his brothers home, and Calyx had been able to apologize and talk to them. Even if they left again, he had hope that they could still have a relationship, unlike the past year. It was all Calyx needed. He could deal with his brothers living elsewhere as long as they talked regularly and saw each other as often as they could.

Justin and Mynor were on the other couch, while Yancey and Travis had both chosen an armchair. Travis had dragged his closer to Yancey’s, and every time he touched Yancey, Yancey looked like he was about to bolt. Calyx desperately wanted to ask them what was happening between them, but he didn’t dare. They probably wouldn’t answer, and he didn’t want to make either of them angry since Yancey would leave tomorrow.

But tonight, they were all here. They were a family again. The house looked incredible because everyone had helped finish up decorating like they always had when they were younger. All the lights, mistletoe, garlands, and stockings had been dragged out of the attic. The lights twinkled and glimmered, casting a warm glow on the house. Mistletoe hung from every doorway, and garlands adorned the stair railings. Stockings were hung above the fireplace, one for every single one of them. Calyx had even found a few spare ones for Travis and Myron, who’d been confused about what they were for.

The house was filled with the scents of pine, cinnamon, and gingerbread from the freshly baked cookies everyone had worked on this afternoon, evoking memories of the family Christmases none of them would have had if Caitlin hadn’t taken them in. Calyx had always known how lucky they’d all been, but it was never more obvious than during the holidays.

“Everything is perfect,” he whispered back to Griffith.

Griffith’s smile was soft as he leaned forward to kiss Calyx’s nose. Calyx sighed heavily and leaned harder against his boyfriend. Even if his brothers left, he would always have Griffith. Griffith had promised that he was moving back home, and Calyx believed him. Even if they had to live in this big house on their own, he’d be happy.

Things would change tomorrow, but for tonight, Calyx could relax and enjoy the moment. This might be their last family Christmas, but the memories would always be there.

Just like Griffith.