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Silas: We’ll just go to Ren’s for beers and burgers. It’s safer.
Jupiter: Boring, the lot of you.
Kari: You didn’t have to get naked as I recall, so how are we boring?
Kodi: I’m not stripping for anyone, Lennon wouldn’t like that. And I’ll be moving out before Christmas as I bought a house!
Jupiter: You sweetheart you… WTF hang on, you bought a house? When did that happen?
Kodi: I’m sending you the finger, go swivel Jup. I only signed the contracts yesterday. And remember, revenge is best served cold.
Silas: Remember you can’t escape doing the family thing at Christmas, Kodi, regardless of where you live! We’ll all be there and there won’t be any mercy then.
Kodi: Red shoes… and picture evidence I found on Monday… that’s all I’m going to say big brother.
Dad: You will not ruin Christmas by playing one-up-man-ship, you hear me? Kodi, you need to speak to your Popi.
Kodi: Can’t you?
Booker: You need to shout louder Dad, Jup has his head buried under a pillow. Like that will save him from Wilder’s clutches.
Jupiter: I don’t need saving, but you will if I tell Frey about Thelma.
Booker: You wouldn’t?
Dad: Gods, behave before I come and bang your heads together to knock some sense into both of you. Kodi, not a cat in hell’s chance. That emotional crisis is all yours.
Chapter Forty
Kodi
The banter with his brothers was all bravado because right now he was about to shit his pants. Taking Lennon to show him the house was a piece of piss compared to this. He walked at Lennon’s side into a house that seemed to be packed with people, and it was terrifying. He was used to a big family, he came from one, but this was something else entirely.
“Are all these people your family?” he whispered out the corner of his mouth, trying not to draw attention as they stopped at a door which Lennon opened to reveal was a full coat closet.
“Yep. Every year, one of the aunts and uncles host a Christmas get together. This year it was my parents’ turn.” He took off his coat and walked a little deeper into the closet, shoving aside coats to find a space to hang his. Kodi was right behind him, clutching the mountain of tubs, his head twisting from side to side as voices and laughter drowned out the music playing in the background.
“Fuck, are you sure it’s wise to tell your parents tonight about… you know what?” He was whispering and praying at the same time Lennon would say no, even though they’d discussed it happening tonight.
“Of course.” He reached for the tubs and nodded at Kodi. “You can hook your coat next to mine.”
Seeing no way out with how Lennon was beaming at him, Kodi didn’t hand over the tubs, but placed them down to slip off his coat, then pick them back up. Lennon had not lost the happiness that seemed to halo him in light since they’d walked through the house he’d bought. He’d originally kept his plans to buy a house to himself before sharing with Dad, when living back at home was okay temporarily. When his brothers started moving out, and Popi got this sad look about him until Frey and Emmy moved in, Kodi remained reticent about telling everyone.
“Lennon, is that you hiding in the closet?” a booming voice shouted over the music and voices.
The smile he wore grew impossibly wide as he wiggled past Kodi. “Dad, how can I be hiding when you can see me? Though I’m not sure how when the closet is crammed with coats. Did everyone come this year?”
The gigantic man was nothing like Lennon, who was positively delicate next to him. The man had a shock of white hair and a big beard. He looked like Father Christmas! All that was missing was the hat and belt. He wore black trousers and a red and white knit jumper that looked handmade.
“Of course they did, your mother was catering.” He laughed and reached for Lennon, and his gaze switched to Kodi, and there was the similarity. Deep jade eyes, identical to Lennon’s, stared at Kodi with interest. “And who’s this with you?”
“Dad, this is Kodi, my boyfriend. Kodi, this is my dad, Nigel.”
“Fiancé,” Kodi muttered, stepping closer to Lennon, standing straight and holding out his hand, ignoring the choked cough coming from Lennon.
The grip of Nigel’s hand was firm as he shook it. Those jade eyes narrowed and moved between the two of them.
You’ll be in trouble for that.
