Ellis didn’t laugh, but he wanted to, because Ichabod made him happy. Seriously.
The utter shock that someone would dare come here and try to disrupt their holiday made Ichabod about as crazy as it made him. And he loved that in a weird, sick sort of way.
“So what do we do? He’s your friend. I don’t know him.” And he didn’t particularly like him.
“First, he doesn’t get to redesign the living room. That’s not cool. He can have ideas, but that’s it. He doesn’t get to design anything, and for God’s sake don’t let him try to talk you into doing the bedroom. I like our bedroom, and I want us to decide what color the walls are. Second, he’s a little finicky but basically a good man and he does love me and the kids—not like that kind of love. He’s got a hot lover at home, so we give him a little grace and hope that he has a hotel room or a return airline ticket, he has to go home to his lover. And that he’s here to do a welfare check and possibly take the kids out and spend a lot of money on them.”
“Well, they sure would love gifts.” Those kids adore presents, even if they’re weird or handmade. He had to admit that if he had a wealthy uncle who liked to take him out and spend money, he’d be all over it.
“That’s what uncles are for, right? To spoil. So. Okay. We’re okay?” Ichabod searched his eyes.
“Fine. I’m going to assume that he was worried and afraid, and now he’s going to love me.”
“I don’t see how he couldn’t. I love you,” Ichabod said. And that melted him all over the place. Lord knew he lovedthis man. And the fact Ichabod had his back and was willing to talk to him about stuff like this, like they were both adults, well, it cooked his bacon.
“I love you too, baby, and we’ll all figure this shit out without him redecorating.” He held Ichabod’s hand because he wanted Ichabod to feel his sincerity through their skin.
And then if the guy pissed him off again, maybe he would kick his ass out of the house.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Dad, is Uncle Brian gonna stay for Christmas?” Michael caught him right outside his studio, and when he looked at his son, Michael’s hands were in his pockets and his shoulders were up around his ears. “It’s just that it’s a little weird. Like, I know Ellis’s daddy is coming, and we haven’t decorated everything yet. And Uncle Brian is kind of squirrely.”
“Brian’s a little worried about us, kiddo. He thinks that we’re out in the middle of nowhere, and that some bear is going to eat us or something.” Ichabod felt awful because he knew Brian had upset the boys. Even though the girls were ecstatic to see him, and he brought them presents. Zane and Michael both felt like Brian had totally disrupted their holiday season, and that things weren’t going well.
Ellis didn’t like him. Not that he could blame Ellis.
Brian had come in like a wrecking ball and made a mess, throwing accusations around and not giving Ellis a chance to even show what a neat man he was.
“Okay, I just wondered.”
“You look upset, Michael.” What the hell had Brian saidnow? Because Michael seemed more than worried about Christmas.
“He said that I shouldn’t mess with the animals that they were dangerous. Brian, I mean.”
Oh damn, that was going to be the worst thing Brian could say to Michael. That kid was wild about the horses and the cattle, and he wanted things for 4-H like goats and llamas.
“Well, you know I trust Ellis, and if Ellis says that you’re ready to be around the animals, then you are. And you know that you can’t go out there and do stuff with them without one of us. So, Brian can let it go, huh?” He ruffled Michael’s hair.
“Zane is worried this is going to ruin his Christmas parties.” Michael chewed on his lower lip. “You know I love Uncle Brian, but?—”
“I do, kiddo. I get it, but this is our first year here, right? And we want to have our first Christmas here be all magical and stuff. Be us as a family. Brian won’t stay—not through the holiday. He’ll go home soon.”
“Promise?” That was Zane. He came sauntering up with something in his hand that looked like maybe a sub sandwich wrapped up in paper.
“What’s that?” Ichabod nodded to this wrapped hunk of whatever in Zane’s hand.
“It’s a sandwich. When Ellis went and picked me up today at Jason’s, we stopped and got subs on the way. I thought I’d bring you yours because I know you want to get to work.” Zane thrust the sandwich at him.
Ichabod frowned. “Did you get one for Brian, too? Please tell me you guys didn’t leave him out.”
“Dude, Dad, I’m not an asshole and neither is Ellis.”
Ichabod forced himself not to roll his eyes, and that was because it was all at himself. He didn’t want Zane to believefor a second it was at him. “You’re right. Gosh! Guys, I’m so stressed.”
He figured that was the best way to be. These kids were old enough to understand, especially Zane.
“Then, I think it’s time for you to tell Uncle Brian he needs to go.” Zane sounded so sure with all the confidence of a fifteen-year-old white boy. “Seriously, it’s time. We have crap to do. Plans. And we love him and stuff, but damn.”
