Egg the Halls

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Making it to lunch break at work on Monday was brutal. Dom didn’t want to admit at least one of the interruptions the night before was his fault, but then, he didn’t think he was supposed to know that geese could get onto places like a cat. Still, after cleaning everything up, he and Kiko both decided sleep was the better option, so now here he was, well-rested, grumpy, and dissatisfied, and standing outside the building in the freezing cold, trying to muster the ability to make the call to his brother.

Devin probably wouldn’t bother answering anyway, Dom figured, but the cold prompted him to get it over with. He tried to channel some of the smug feeling he’d had the night before as he pressed his phone to his ear and heard it ringing.

“Dom?” asked Devin when he picked up, like he couldn’t believe Dom was actually calling back. Dom held back a groan. He’d been hoping he could leave a message.

“Yeah,” said Dom, closing his eyes and leaning back against the brick of the building. s**t, winter was cold. He should have brought a hat. He tried to focus. “You left me a message.”

“But I figured you’d ignore it like you always do. Ready to come home for Christmas this year?”

“No, actually,” said Dom, and he could picture Devin frowning on the other end of the line.

“Look, Mom’s being generous this year. She’s talking about your favorite foods and an adult gift exchange, a real tree, everything,” said Devin. He clearly didn’t give a s**t about whatever it was Dom had going on in his life that would cause him to turn down the invitation. In fact, knowing Dev, he probably didn’t suspect Dom was doing anything other than eating frozen food at home alone.

“Sounds like you’ll all have a good time.”

“Did you not hear what I said? Mom wants you there. She misses you.”

Dom clenched his teeth. The terms of his involvement with his family had always been conditional.

“I’m still gay, Dev,” he said, and his brother paused on the other end. “What, is she sick? Why is she suddenly reaching out?”

“You still need everything spelled out for you, don’t you? She loves you. She misses you.” Devin sounded irritated Dom was not just going along with him. Typical for a member of Dom’s family. “We all do. There’s no suddenly. You know one of us calls now and then. We don’t give up on family.”

Dom bit back all the things he wanted to swear at Devin. As though all this was Dom’s fault. He remembered the plan from the night before and focused instead on getting back that feeling of smug contentment. He had Kiko. They were good together. He didn’t need all the stress and judgment.

“Well, I still have to decline. I have Christmas plans already.”

“Really?” asked Devin, nearly laughing. “Box of cookies from the store and a frozen pizza?”

“Family Christmas with my boyfriend,” said Dom, liking how good it felt to say. His veins warmed at the thought of Kiko; he hadn’t felt this certain about anyone. Christmas would be all right.

“Don’t be such an ass, Dom. You’d rather spend Christmas with a holiday hookup than your family?”

“I’d rather spend Christmas with someone who loves me,” said Dom, and it felt good. Devin got very silent on the other end of the line. Dom felt bold. “It’s great, you know, Dev. Actually caring about someone.”

“You’re lucky it’s me calling and not Mom,” said Devin like it was so easy for him to let the insult roll off him. But Dom could hear how stiff his voice was. “You’d break her heart again.”

“By living my life? I’m happy, Dev. What kind of mother doesn’t want that for her kid?”

“Look,” said Devin, voice short. “I’m offering you a chance to come back. Again. Take it or leave it, but it’s up to you.”

“I’m not driving back down to Illinois for Christmas,” said Dom. “I’m in Wisconsin now. But you’re welcome to come up to Mount Angus and celebrate with me and Kiko.”

It felt good to have something over his brother like this, a counter-offer that finally made Dom out to be a better person. He’d have to remember to thank Kiko for this later. He could imagine how irritated it made Devin to be invited to Christmas with Dom—but turning down the offer would prove to Dom just how little his family cared. Devin had to know that. But there was no way he’d want to participate in Dom’s life. Dom leaned back against the cold brick, eagerly awaiting the silence as his brother ended the call.

“All right,” said Devin, words sounding forced through his teeth. Dom’s warm cloud of smugness faded.

“What?” he asked before he could stop himself. He must have misheard.

“I’ll come up and spend Christmas with you.”

Shit. Devin was not supposed to actually agree. Dom tried not to panic. He fought against the urge to immediately come up with an excuse for why this wouldn’t work out anymore, but reminded himself Kiko was a little better at that than he was. He needed to keep calm. Kiko would help him figure it out later.

“That’s what you want, isn’t it?” asked Devin. “Send me the directions and time and I’ll be up.”

“Right,” said Dom. “I’ll do that. Look, I gotta get back to work…”

Dom ended the call and trudged back inside to eat his lunch. Making it to the end of the workday Monday was brutal.