Page 86 of A Little Bit Naughty

Remi laughed. “I already brought them up, and yes, it’s going to be a sukkah. As soon as you put it together.” He didn’t think that Isaac was in little space, but he was somewhere in between, his innocence and excitement breaking through his adult exterior.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. With your drill.”

“Oh, Remi!” He picked up the red, plastic case and hugged it to his chest. “Do you think I can do it?”

Or maybe he was in little space. Just a much older little—a middle maybe. He said he regressed as old as eight or nine sometimes, and that was a treat Remi wanted to see. Grown-up or middle, Isaac was clearly enjoying himself.

“Of course.” Remi wanted to pull Isaac into his arms so much that it hurt, but he refrained. Even though Isaac had massaged his back last night and then slept beside him, they hadn’t talked yet about being anything more than friends. “Anyway, my back’s still out. This is your show.”

“Is it feeling any better?” Isaac asked, instantly concerned.

“Much better.” He’d laid in bed most of the day while Isaac was at work. Isaac had taken off early so it was about three p.m. now, and Remi was just on a heavy dose of ibuprofen. He could still feel the edge of the pain, but it was a muted reminder instead of the sharp agony of the day before. “I can show you what to do and brace things as long as you do all of the lifting.”

Isaac skipped over and hugged him, filling his arms with light and joy and cuddly, bouncing boy. “This is truly the best birthday present ever.”

Remi’s heart swelled. They had to make this a permanent relationship. Isaac’s happiness meant more to him than anything. He could see years of this, of building sukkahs in the backyard. Renovating the remaining rooms of the house together. Coming home to his smiling baby boy every evening after a full day of jobs that they both enjoyed.

What was one little year of distance in comparison to that?

But right now wasn’t the time for that chat. They had an eight-foot wooden cube to build. “Why don’t you start by opening the drill and saw. There should be an extension cord somewhere. Maybe in one of those bags.”

That was why he’d forgotten his pills yesterday—he’d been too wrapped up in adding last-minute items, like the extension cord, to the order and then teaching his morning class before racing to the airport.

Isaac opened both cases to reveal the rows of sparkling drill bits with a look of awe. He touched them gently, like they were the most delicate jewels.

Remi hid a chuckle. He’d soon be tossing them around, but for now it was adorable. Remi walked Isaac through finding the box of wood screws, then attaching the drill bit that was just below the same size. The tip of Isaac’s tongue stuck out in concentration, and Remi just wanted to kiss him everywhere.

But Isaac, of course, was completely focused on the drill. When they got all of the lumber unpacked and lined up, Isaac shrieked with delight the first time the drill bit sank—very slowly—into the wood. By the time they had the roof frame completed with a half-dozen lighter pieces spanning it to support the bamboo mats, he was handling it like a pro.

Remi braced one side of the frame while Isaac flipped it over, and Isaac handled pretty much all the work of attaching the four legs at the corners. In between Isaac checked in with Daddy for approval and advice. It was a heady feeling.

Flipping it back upright was the hardest part, but Remi had thought through a plan that would leave Isaac doing most of the lifting to minimize his back strain. When it was standing shakily, Isaac held the mid-height horizontal beams to keep them in place while Remi screwed them in, and then it was done.

Isaac was sweaty and flushed with exertion as he dove back into the pile of supplies. It was an unusually warm September day, and he dragged his shirt up to wipe his face. Remi traced over every inch with his eyes, wishing he could run his hands over the same soft skin and hard muscles. He wanted his mouth there.

He wanted everything with this innocent, joyous man.

“Now the schach!” Isaac exclaimed, pronouncing the beginning and the end of the word with a heavy throat-clearing sound. He hefted the roll of thin bamboo fencing over one shoulder, looking like an angelic blond farm boy from a painting or something, but a Jewish farm boy Remi supposed, and his heart melted again.

“How do we get this up…” He looked around, eyes catching on the three-rung step stool. “Oh, you thought of everything!”

Hopefully. “There are Christmas lights and curtains in there somewhere, too. I think you should start with those.”

Isaac shot him a glare, but it was playful. “Holiday lights. String lights. This isn’t Christmas.”

“Oh, yeah. Um, Sukkot lights.”

Isaac grinned. Abandoning the schach, he opened each of the shower curtains that Remi had found for the walls, exclaiming over the bold patterns. Remi had been tempted to cater toward Isaac’s little side for these, but instead he’d just chosen plant patterns that seemed to be the theme of the holiday. One looked like a branch of wisteria hanging down, while the other two had flowers and leaves growing upward.

“Are these good?” he asked.

“Oh, these are the best. I don’t even know how you figured this all out. But it’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

Just hearing that was a rush. Unfortunately, he could feel his back start to twinge. “How about I go grab the chairs from downstairs while you get started on the walls. My back is starting to hurt.”

“No, let me get them. I’ll bring up the table, too. Maybe we can even fix it! Oh, this is going to be the best Sukkot ever!”