“Oh, I got a safety deposit box for that stuff. The serious stuff.”
“Yeah? Okay. We can take it down with us and put it all there.” Dillon grinned, coming in carrying a strand of lights.
“Okay.”
He chuckled at Pansy, who was following Dillon, watching the lights move.
“She’s obsessed.” Dillon shook the lights. Pansy bounced.
“She’s beautiful.” He reached over, scratched Jerome’s dewlap.
“They both are.” Dillon turned in a circle. “So. Mantel?”
“Surely.” He leaned back, going through the mail. “I like where we put the tree.”
It was visible from the hot tub, from the sofa. Perfect.
“I do, too! I think it’s still a little bare, though, huh?”
They’d gotten lights and a topper and some fun things, but Dillon wanted to do popcorn or something.
“We keep getting ornaments in the mail, though. Look at these!” Coop had sent this package. It was the baby’s handprint in clay or something.
“Oh, look at that. Dillon peered at it. “Man, that’s cool. We need to gather them all up and put them on the tree, too.”
“They’re coming from all over.” His phone rang and he grabbed it. AJ. “Hey, Aje, how’s Missy?”
“Hey, Gramps. They want to keep her in the hospital, but she’s better.”
“Yeah? Good news. How’s Jase and Andy?”
He gave Dillon the thumbs-up.
Dillon grinned and boogied before going over to string lights. The bassets followed, all fascinated.
He watched that ass, tongue on his lips.
AJ was saying something but he missed it. Dillon was so hot.
“I… Whut?”
Look at that ass…
“I was just saying we’re looking forward to seeing you, but there ain’t no need to come a’runnin’.”
“I’ll be there soon, buddy. You know I will.”
Later.
After their holiday.
“I know. I just wanted to let you know. Oh, I had the kids all make something. It’s in the mail. Tell Dillon, huh?”
“Sure. Sure. Thanks, Aje. You take care. I got a big box coming for all y’all.” Toys and clothes, books on CD for Jase, a gift certificate for a weight bench for Andy.
“Oh, you’re the top, Gramps. Thanks. It’s been a little Western around here.”
“I bet it has.” No guilt. No guilt.
