While he didn’t see the harm in that, he could admit he wasn’t the most objective or knowledgeable person when it came to relationship boundaries. Especially when a kid was added to the mix.
It would probably be better for everyone if he just focused on work and stayed out of their way. But damned if he didn’t enjoy spending time with them.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The next afternoon, Rudy helped Alex drag the tree up to Julia’s condo. Once they wrestled it into the stand and propped it up straight, Rudy left. When Alex tried to say goodbye, Calvin begged him to stay and help decorate.
“You gotta put the star on, cuz me and my mom’s not tall enough,” he said. “We’re gonna make cocoa and play Christmas songs.”
Well, crap. He should have seen this coming. He shot Julia a look of panic, but she seemed unsympathetic. “Told you,” she mouthed.
He sidled over to where she stood. “What should I say?” he whispered.
“Tell him you need to go.”
“Mr. Alex, come see the ordament I made in preschool,” Cal said, mispronouncing ornament in the most adorable way.
“I see what you mean about breaking his heart,” Alex muttered. He knew what heshouldsay, but that’s not what came out. “All right. Just for a bit though.”
Julia smacked him on the arm. “Wuss.”
While Alex messed with the tree, Julia hauled out several red and green totes full of Christmas décor. She sat in the corner, cussing quietly over a ball of lights.
“Trouble?” he asked.
“I should invent lights that can’t tangle. Then I’d be a millionaire.”
“I have a feeling if it was possible, someone would have already done it.”
“True. Wanna take a stab?”
He took the wad of lights and worked to untie the knots while she unpacked garlands, ornaments, bells, snowflakes, and tinsel. While Alex fought with the lights, Julia and Calvin decorated the bookshelves, fireplace mantle, and entryway cabinet with stuffed reindeer, candles, and holiday knickknacks.
“Ha!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “Got ’em.” Three separate strands of lights lay on the floor. Julia clapped, and he took a bow.
A pop version of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” came on the playlist, and Calvin started dancing. In a fit of Christmas spirit, Alex grabbed his hand and danced along, doing his best John Travolta impression. Calvin laughed and told him he danced funny. Alex clutched his chest and pretended to be hurt. When the song ended, they went back to decorating the tree.
Alex had been hanging decorations near the top, and Calvin had saturated the bottom third. “Hey,” Alex said. “Let’s work on the middle. We’ve got some holes.”
“Mr. Alex,” Calvin said, reaching as high as he could to fill a bare area. “What about your tree?”
“I don’t have a tree.” He picked up Calvin so he could reach the empty spot, waited until he hung the bulb, and then set him back on the ground. “No one ever comes to my house, and I spend Christmas with my family, so I don’t need one.”
“Where will Santa put your presents?” Calvin asked, his brows knitting with concern.
“Oh, um. He leaves them on the table.”
Calvin looked thoughtful for a minute. “Okay.”
Julia had been in the kitchen, making hot cocoa. She came out and handed Alex a mug. “Don’t let Calvin drink this. There’s a little somethin’ somethin’ he didn’t get in his,” she said with a wink.
“Um. Somethin’ isn’t a metaphor for some weird chocolate wannabe substitute, is it?” he asked, looking dubiously into the mug.
“No.” She laughed.
He took a sip and tasted peppermint schnapps. “Ah, just the way I like it,” Alex said. “Chocolate and somethin’.”
They were sitting on the couch, taking a break and enjoying their cocoa, when Julia perked up. “Where’s Calvin? It’s too quiet.”
