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“Okay. I won’t say anything.”
We worked together to set up the game until Lio returned.
“They didn’t have cookies and cream in a layered cake, but they did have cupcakes,” Lio said. “Who wants one?” Alex and I raised our hands. “Cupcakes and presents first, then Monopoly.”
Alex opened Lio’s gift first, which looked like a regular pair of headphones to me, but they must’ve been the latest and greatest if Alex’s enthusiastic response was anything to go by. He glanced between us and started laughing. I looked at Lio and noticed a rare blush creeping up his cheeks.
“What am I missing?” I asked.
“These are the best noise-canceling headphones on the market,” Alex said. “And they cost a fortune.”
“You’re telling me,” Lio quipped. “I better not see you tossing them around.”
Alex clutched the box to his chest reverently, so I didn’t think Lio had a cause for concern. But then I realized what Alex meant. They weren’t just any old headphones; they were the noise-canceling kind. I continued staring at Lio, making his cheeks turn redder.
“They’re for gaming,” he said dryly. “He and Eric are always online playing something.”
Sadness flashed briefly in Alex’s eyes, but orneriness quickly replaced it. “And they’ll come in handy if Abe stays over.”
“Brat,” I said as I pushed his gift across the table. I had worried I spent too much, but I figured Lio’s present was just as expensive. Alex ripped off the paper and stared in amazement before looking at me.
“Whoa! You bought me a drone? That’s badass!”
“I’ll let that one slide in light of the amazing gift Abe gave you,” Lio said. “And you know I’m going to have strict rules about when, where, and how you use it, right? Invading people’s privacy is wrong and illegal.”
I grimaced because I should’ve gotten Lio’s permission before giving Alex the drone.
“Of course,” Alex said, nodding eagerly. “Could we take this to your cabin, Abe? I’d love to get aerial shots of the lake and trees.”
“Sounds great to me if it’s okay with your dad.”
We both looked at Lio for the final say. “Sounds like an excellent use to me.”
“Yes!” Alex said, pumping his fist. “Thanks for my birthday presents, Dad and Abe.” We told him he was welcome and laughed when he took his gifts inside. “I’m going to charge my new headphones for later.”
I leaned toward Lio and said, “I know you didn’t buy them for the reason Alex is implying, but I feel better about him using them.”
Lio tilted his head and smirked. “I bought them because a boy doesn’t need to overhear what I do to you tonight.”
“Fuck me,” I whispered.
Lio grinned evilly. “Planning on it.” He cupped the back of my neck and pulled me to him for a quick kiss. “That was some gift you gave Alex.”
“I should’ve checked with you first. Sorry.”
“Nah. Bet that baby set you back a little bit,” Lio said.
“Probably as much as those pricey headphones.”
He conceded with a head tilt. “Touché.”
Neither of us regretted the extravagance. Alex was a great kid with a good head on his shoulders, which was the only reason I didn’t tell Lio about his troubles at school. Alex bounded back out with a second cupcake and a glass of milk.
“Ready to trounce you both,” he announced.
Lio snorted. “In your dreams, kid.”
Alex was twice as competitive as Lio when it came to Monopoly, showing no mercy. We played until it got dark, then carefully moved the board inside to resume. I was the first to fall, which surprised no one. I sat back, munched on leftover Indian food and cupcakes, and enjoyed watching father and son duke it out. Alex played like a champ, but Lio still outsmarted him in the end. Alex had looked a little droopy during the last half hour but livened up when his phone chimed with an incoming text.
