“I liked your gift,” Dylan replied as he cooked.
Kaiden had gotten a semi-decent gift for Rus and Dylan thanks to each of their assistance. Basically, he made them shopfor each other and simply paid for the gift. Sentimentality wasn’t Kaiden’s best quality. And he gave them both their gifts early because he didn’t like or understand the importance of waiting for the day. Plus, he was terrible at keeping secrets. Not to mention, Rus was leaving town, so he needed it early, and if Rus got his early, then it was only fair Dylan did too.
They’d actually made him wait until Christmas Day. Kaiden sort of forgot the whole gift exchange thing was happening.
“What is it?”
“It’s from me and Rus,” Dylan said.
“Do we wait till he’s back in town?”
“No, but you do owe him a gratitude blowie for not making me film the experience.”
Kaiden tsked. “Shut up.”
“Maybe just a gratitude blowie for the awesome gift,” Dylan said as he swaggered back and forth in front of the stove. “I’ll take a gratitude blowie for sure.”
“I bet.” Kaiden went to unwrap the gift, finding himself carefully lifting up the tape and unpeeling the wrapping.
“Just tear it apart.”
“But it looks like y’all put so much work into wrapping it.”
Truthfully, the gift wrapping alone made this special enough to put on display. Maybe he didn’t need to open it at all. Dylan’s protests quickly changed Kaiden’s mind, and he reluctantly ripped open the bundled package.
Kaiden stared in awe. “Seriously?”
“Do you not like it?” Dylan dropped what he was doing and spun around to check on Kaiden.
They’d picked out a few sketch books, some boxes of fancy pencils, colored pencils, and a cool figurine designed to be posed in different positions. Kaiden rarely thought about drawing anymore, but every now and then, he’d mention it.
“I love it.” Kaiden’s face fell into a perfect smile for the perfect gift. “Thank you.”
“Nothing says thank you quite like a—”
“Get back to cooking before you ruin the moment,” Kaiden said a bit sternly as he went to put his gift away in his bedroom, where he’d definitely be dragging Dylan later this evening.
They ate in the living room since Kaiden had never really grown up eating at a kitchen table and hadn’t bothered buying one for his place yet. He still needed to get more furniture. Right now, they made do with the sofa and coffee table.
After finishing their food, Kaiden turned on the television, a small one, but big enough for Dylan and Rus to enjoy when they visited. Dylan leaned back, practically sprawling out on top of Kaiden, using him as a body pillow.
“The point of a couch is so we all have space.”
“What?” Dylan rubbed his back against Kaiden’s chest. “You’re so cozy.”
“Fine.” Kaiden lay back, giving Dylan free rein to rest on him.
About halfway through the movie Dylan picked, he rolled over, sitting with his stomach between Kaiden’s thighs and his head resting almost up to Kaiden’s chest.
“How’s the holiday been going so far?”
“Pretty good, mostly. Helped at a few charities, played an elf a few times.”
“Oh?”
“Yep, you should see me in those striped tights.”
“Now, that would’ve been a hell of a Christmas present.”
