Chapter 16
If there was ever any chance of Julian developing a serious interest in Rob as a man, that probably evaporated today thanks to Rico. Like it wasn't already a long shot for Julian to take him seriously. Still, Rob wished Julian hadn't been so quick to deny that there could be anything going on between them.
He was surprised that Julian actually put on that costume. He might seem stuffy, but that man was willing to do anything for his little brother.
Main Street was still streaming with people, but their group was on the way to the Halloween dinner at Julian's. Driving up the hill, Rob watched the house as it came into view and pointed it out to Danny. With its windows lit up with orange lights as well as the pumpkin lights along the driveway, it actually didn't look all that spooky. It was more like the lights gave it a friendly, welcoming glow. There were goofy scarecrows on the front porch and friendly witches in the foyer.
"We can get out of these now," Julian said as soon as they were through the front doors. "I know you said doing silly things is good for me, but..."
"No. This is going too far. But at least Danny is happy," Rob told him. "He keeps looking up at us and smiling."
Danny had another reason to smile. "I got a lot," he said, amazed with his haul of candy.
"Keep it away from Lenny," Rob warned him.
The others were pulling up in front already, so Julian and Rob went to put out the drinks and appetizers. As they got busy, their costumes stayed on, but not for much longer.
Rob was hoping they would be out of them before the others arrived, but that didn't happen.
"They're here!" Danny announced. He was so happy to see everyone especially the kids and the dogs. "We have more dogs."
Now Rob and Julian were busy again helping set up the food the others brought. They missed their chance to get rid of their costumes.
"Looks good. You guys outdid yourselves," Rob said seeing all the food laid out on the big dining table, though they were eating it buffet style.
It was nothing like the potluck dinners from Rob's college days. There was a lot of real food there including mini corn muffins in different flavors that Noreen made and pork loin sliced and served cold with a lemon mustard sauce.
"It's a feast," Rico said loading up his plate. "And what's this?" He had discovered some kind of dip topped with bacon inside a big, round, crusty loaf of bread. He dipped a pretzel in it and tasted it before he got an answer.
While he handed out corn muffins to the kids, Sam told him what it was. "It's beer, cheese and bacon dip."
"You are a genius," Rico praised him.
"Wyatt made it," Sam said and gestured toward him among those who had gone to the bar before the buffet table.
"I didn't hear that. I heard cheese. I heard beer. I heard bacon. That was it. Game over." Rico then wheeled on Julian. "Too lowbrow for you, Jules?"
Julian got a pretzel, dipped it and ate it while glaring at Rico.
Watching Julian trying the different foods everyone made, Rob wished he could cook. The kids were too hyper to eat anything they couldn't run around with, but everyone else had plenty.
While everyone was focused on stuffing their faces, Rob saw their chance. First he got an OK from Danny though. With his approval, Rob snagged Julian.
"Let's go," Rob hissed in Julian's ear urgently.
"What?" Julian asked, confused.
"Let's go change before they try to stop us," Rob said and dragged him upstairs.
They made it and Julian couldn't help laughing when they safely reached the top of the stairs.
"Ssh. They'll hear us and then we'll spend all night in these things," Rob was dead serious, but Julian just kept smiling at him.
"You need help getting out of that?" Julian asked then realized what he said. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"It's tempting," Rob told him, but they split up, going off to their own bedrooms to change. They had their own clothes underneath, but they both wanted fresh ones.
After skulking upstairs, they came back down as themselves. "It's a relief to look like a human being again," Julian said.
