“After figure skaters in short dresses, that is,” Adrien says under his breath.
Holden laughs and holds his hand out for Adrien to give him a high five.
Sergio shrugs and says, “What can I say, I like what I like.”
“And you will not be liking Allison,” Rose scolds from across the room. “With Nationals and the Olympics coming up, I don’t need you fucking up her focus.”
Henry laughs beside him. “Mom said ‘the eff word.’”
“Can you believe it?” Sergio asks him, his eyebrows raising and his mouth dropping open wide. Henry laughs some more.
“I mean it, Sergio,” Rose scolds again. “I will ban you from my ice rink during your stay here if I have to.”
Sergio holds his hands up in defense. “Ye of little faith in this house. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Yourbest behavior isn’t good enough,” Rose says, pointing a finger at him. Sergio can’t help but notice the way Jeremy tries to hide his laughter behind a slightly shaky hand. “I need you to be on Adrien’s best behavior.”
Adrien reaches over and slaps her a high five from where he is sitting.
“Well, that’s boring,” Sergio says, with indignation. “Adrien doesn’t know the meaning of the word fun.”
“I think I’m a lot of fun,” Adrien says with a shrug of his shoulders.
“So do I,” Rose agrees.
“Yeah, me too,” Holden says, then looks at Sergio. “In a different way than you are, of course.”
“Thanks, that’s really reassuring.”
“I think you’re fun!” Henry says.
“And I think you’re my favorite,” Sergio says, pulling Henry into his lap.
“And I think it’s getting late,” Jeremy says. He places his empty plate onto the nearby coffee table. “It’s time for me to head back to the barn to lie down.”
“I’ll walk with you.” Rose places her own plate down.
“You don’t need to do that,” Jeremy assures her and rises to his feet, his hand holding onto the couch’s arm as he does. He stands still for a moment, almost like he’s trying to catch his balance, which is strange to Sergio as Jeremy is supposed to be a world-class athlete, the pinnacle of grace and strength, and yet here he appears to struggle on his feet. “I’m sure I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Yes, come by for breakfast,” Holden says. “I’m making a huge spread before we hit the slopes.”
“Alright.” Jeremy nods and takes a step away from the couch. On his third, he stumbles, knocking into the coffee table. Holden is quick to his feet and catches him before he hits the floor, then rights him back onto his feet.
“Have a little too much to drink there, Jeremy?” Sergio teases. “Maybe you should take that escort home after all.”
Deafening silence meets him. He looks around the room, waiting for anyone else to join in on the joke. Instead, Adrien hides his head behind his hand, Holden sucks on his teeth, and Rose glares at him like he sacrificed her cat on her living room floor.
Henry breaks the silence. “Not cool, Uncle Sergio,” he says and jumps off his lap, then runs over to where Jeremy and Holden are standing. Henry wraps his arms around Jeremy’s thigh.
“What?” Sergio exclaims, still trying to catch what he’s missed.
Rose rises to her feet and walks towards Jeremy, her face flushed with anger. “He’s not drunk, you asshole. He has MS.” She gently places a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “Come on,” she says. “I want to talk to you about your ideas for Allison’s choreography, anyway. We can have some tea at your place.”
“Can I come?” Henry asks.
Jeremy looks at Rose and nods yes.
“Okay,” she says. “But you have to be good and quiet, alright?”
