“Exactly!” Nix nudged Evan’s side. “You finally get it.”
Aries giggled around his pacifier before whining when Vin removed it from his mouth.
“Eat, baby,” Vin said.
“Yeah, eat,” Nix told him. “You get to open presents after dinner.”
Aries nearly fell off the stool in his rush to grab his fork.
“Great,” Vin complained. “That reminder was a brilliant idea.”
Of course it was. Presents were the best!
* * * * *
Aries
The stack was overwhelming. And Aries had only bought Nix two gifts and Evan one. He shuffled backward until his back hit Vin’s chest.
“It’s a little much,” Nix said as he knelt by the tree sorting through the presents. “I know that. It’s just…once I started shopping, I couldn’t help myself. There is so much cool stuff nowadays! We didn’t have half of this when we were younger.”
Aries understood. He did. When Nix put his mind to something, there was something that made him go overboard.
“Okay, baby?” Vin asked.
“Sure.” Aries forced the words out and didn’t even know if they were true or not. “How are we going to get all this home?”
Nix glanced up and his face turned red. “Evan thought of that. We got you an extra suitcase to pack your stuff in.”
Oh. That was smart.
“You don’t have to…” Nix waved his hand around. “Did I mess up? Is this pressuring you? I just wanted you to have a special Christmas celebration as your little self. I knew you likely wouldn’t be comfortable in front of Mom or Dad.”
Now he felt bad. Aries dropped to his knees to crawl closer to Nix until their knees touched. “I feel weird getting all of this when no one else has anything to open.”
A naughty look passed over Nix’s face. “Don’t you worry, baby bro. Evan will be opening me up later tonight, all night.”
Eww! Aries reared back.
“Phoenix!” Evan barked.
Nix’s eyes grew impossibly wide.
“One more word like that and you will spend the night in the corner,” Evan threatened.
“Sorry!” Nix said quickly. He turned to Aries. “Sorry. I just wanted to assure you that you’re not the only one getting what they want for Christmas.”
Aries nodded but wished he hadn’t brought up his concern. He didn’t like his brother getting in trouble.
“You can open one if you want.” Nix gave him a wrapped gift.
“Okay.” Aries took the box and set it on his knee. There was just enough room between the tree and the bed for him and Nix to fit.
Vin and Evan sat on the edge of the mattress, looking down on them.
The positions made Aries feel even littler.
Vin was smiling encouragement while Evan’s gaze was on Nix.
