After some time, Andi leaned back. “I guess we need to talk about your birthday?”
“I guess we do.”
They were both silent for a moment. “Sooo, what do you usually do on your birthday? I deduce from your comments regarding the topic that you don’t always celebrate with your family?”
“You deduced right. To be honest, the only reason my mom is making such a fuss is because I dodged her for the past few months. She’s not clingy, not in the least, but she does like to be kept in the loop, especially regarding her sons’ careers. I’m also fairly sure she had you investigated the moment I announced I’d be moving in with you. Basically, this is my fault.”
“The way I see it, it would have happened anyway. I’m glad it’s now, after we’ve had a chance to establish some routines. Facing her while still finding our footing would have been unpleasant.”
George pressed a kiss on Andi’s forehead. “Have I told you how much I love your pragmatic streak?”
“You’ve mentioned it once or twice.”
“Rightfully so. Anyway, we don’t have any great traditions. When we celebrate together, it’s usually with a home-cooked meal and cake. Mom and Dad get the same present from Daniel, Griff, and me every year, while they try to give us something different. We brothers don’t give each other presents. None of us has the patience or desire to look for something unique for the others and gift certificates get old after a while. I know you don’t celebrate your birthday, but is there anything you would like to do when it’s your turn?”
“Hmm, a day off would be nice. And breakfast in bed. I’ve heard that’s something people do for their special day.” Andi sounded wistful enough for George to lean back and look at his partner. Normally, Andi was good at hiding his emotions, especially regarding personal things. This seemed to be a sensitive topic, and for Andi, volunteering information meant he was ready to tackle it, at least in parts.
“Yes, breakfast in bed is a nice way to start a birthday. We can definitely do that for yours.”
“Not yours?” Andi lifted a brow.
My man is too damn observant. “You don’t have to go to the trouble. I know how much you hate mornings.” There. That should do the trick.
“You just don’t trust me to make you an edible breakfast.” Andi was grinning now.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you per se.” George tried to soften the blow. “It’s just that I have seen you in a kitchen, and I think we can both agree it’s not your natural habitat.”
“You have such a way with words, Detective Donovan.”
“I’m known for it.” George nodded gravely. Then he leaned in to give Andi a kiss on his forehead. “You’re going to put up with my family. That’s enough of a present for me. Hell, you’re already putting up with them, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact you’re not throwing a tantrum over Mom’s and Griff’s behavior.”
“You’ve seen that situation before?” Andi talked into George’s chest, which made his words a little hard to understand.
“You know I’ve never had any lasting relationships before you, but the few where I thought it could perhaps become more got their kiss of death as soon as my mother made her displeasure known.”
“I’m not the first she didn’t like?”
George snorted. “Why do you think Griff and Daniel are still single?”
“Because of their demanding careers?”
“That too, but also because it takes a special kind of person to deal with the relationship all three of us have with our mother.”
“I’m special.” Andi nuzzled George’s chest with his nose.
“You are a marvel. In every aspect.”
“Does it bother you?”
“That you’re a marvel?”
“No. Your relationship with your mother. It feels strained at times, but there’s also an underlying bond of contentment that’s like this whirl of greens. It grounds you.”
George started stroking Andi’s head while he thought about his answer. He had given up trying to understand his relationship with her before he’d turned twenty. It was just too complicated. “You know mothers can be—difficult.”
Andi made a sound George decided to count as agreement. When it came to complicated, Andi had drawn another winning lot with his mother on top of his geschenk. “My mother is loving and caring, just not in the traditional way. We never had her waiting for us at home in a flowery apron with a freshly cooked meal and cookies for dessert. She’s not the type. Though it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. She just shows it differently. Like checking your background. Making sure you’re not a danger to the future I want to build for myself. Should this thing between us end—which I don’t want, just to be clear—she won’t hug me and tell me everything’s going to be okay and drown me in hot chocolate. She’ll tell me ‘I told you so’ and start looking into options to help me recover from this professionally. And she will absolutely bring it up whenever we have an argument when I don’t listen to her.”
“And that’s love?”
