Brody excitedly chimes in, “Cam, do you want my uncle to sign you a football so you can have one in your room, just like me?”
Cameron’s jaw is still scraping the ground. “Uh, this is all making sense now. I mean, why you don’t pay attention to many professional sports, yet you still have so much Mayberry paraphernalia in your room. I thought it was just because of the same last name as your mom…”
Brody rolls his eyes. “Well, duh. ‘Cuz they’re siblings.”
Grady huffs dramatically, pouting like a stereotypical middle child because no one is heraldinghisachievements at the moment. Xavier’s getting his recognition right now, and Lauren got her praises sung earlier when she told everyone about her new job.
I snort, leaning in to whisper to him, “Someone a little jealous because Brody doesn’t have any ‘I pooped today!’ trophies in his room to commemorateyou?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Says the one wearing a dress…” he hisses.
Lauren stands, crossing the room in an instant. “Lay off, dweeb.Don’ttalk to my husband like that.”
Grady flings his hands up in the air. “He’s making fun of my condition!”
Xavier, Lauren, Jackson,andMaribel all snap back in unison a similar version of, “Because all you talk about is how you shit!”
Jackson steps in next, slipping his arms between Lauren and Grady, pushing them apart. “Grady, seriously. It’s Christmas. Don’t start drama, please. You know very well that we’d be proud of youraccomplishments too, but you never brag about them. Hell, have you even mentioned anything to anyone here about how you’ve gotten that internship you’ve been working your ass off for?”
Grady shakes his head.
“Maybe lead with that then, hun,” Maribel offers.
“I didn’t think anyone here cared about coding and web development. Toonerdyor whatever,” Grady huffs.
Brody chimes in, “I care, Uncle Grady.”
Cameron also pipes up, “I actually have a huge interest in that as well. I’m looking into colleges and am thinking about majoring in graphic design…”
“Seriously?” Grady wrinkles his nose.
“Yeah, man,” I agree. “So maybe, uh, I don’t know—stop harping on me about how grape skins make you bloated and let me finish this charcuterie board?” I add, passing him what should be a gut-friendly strawberry.
He pops it into his mouth. “Fanks,” he murmurs around the mouthful. He swallows, gulping hard. “And, uh, sorry for the nasty tone about the dress. It actually looks pretty good on you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you just saying that?”
He scoffs. “I mean, if I say it looks hot on you, I’m probably going to get slapped by not only my sister but your man over there as well, so I’m not going to test my luck…”
Xavier chuckles. “It’s definitely not what I expected, Antonucci, but if anyone can rock it, it’s you. What’s this I hear about you finally having a man though?”
I nod over at Caleb, who approaches Xavier to shake his hand. Lauren practically trips over herself, rushing back over to make a proper introduction for her eldest brother.
Just like at Thanksgiving, with Caleb’s family, we settle in now that everyone is here, and the story of our relationship unfolds. Lauren’s entire family has known I’m gay anyway, so finding out that Caleb is my partner wasn’t shocking to them. When it comes to Lo, however, they know her trauma, so they were a little stunned to see her so affectionate with Caleb over the course of our meal and subsequent setting up of sleeping spaces.
By the time we’re all spread out in different corners of the living room, watching Christmas classics, the novelty of Lauren, Caleb, and me being in a throuple has worn off. Mostly, I think everyone is focused on keeping discreet eyes on Xavier, just to see if he ever picks his nose. Thankfully, he does not.
At one point during the movie, Maribel leans in and whispers to me, “Thank you, hun.”
My brows knit. “For what?” I whisper back.
She looks around the room. “You’ve given Lauren the life we’ve always dreamed of having for her. You’ve been her best friend and her soulmate for so long, and Jack and I are just so, so happy she’s had you to count on for forever. Brody has an amazing father in you. We’re just—so grateful, Marcus.”
I smile softly at her.
“I know you worry a lot about your parents, hun,” she continues. “I just want you to know that if you do decide to tell them, Jack and I will have your back. We’ve seen, first hand, just how beautifully your arrangement works for all of you. There ain’t a single person you’re hurting by doing what you’re doing, living how you’re living.”
“Thank you,” I croak, tears stinging my eyes.
