The Christmas Deal

“Right. Yes.” The white trim was done along with the pale gray walls. Seth groaned. “I shouldn’t have put it off so long.”

“We’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.”

“Whoa!” Connor’s exclamation echoed from beyond the short little space, barely a hall, that led to the great room at the back of the house.

Seth smiled as he and Logan joined him, taking the two steps down into the room. This was the space Seth could actually be proud of—a vaulted white ceiling with wood beams, tall and wide windows, a sleek gas fireplace stove in one corner and a massive TV in the other. A curved black leather sectional with chaises on both ends dominated the right side, facing the fireplace and the TV. On the far side of the room there was a sliding glass door to the patio.

“This is dope,” Connor said, gazing around in apparent awe.

Seth felt ridiculously pleased to have impressed him. “Thanks.”

Logan seemed equally awed. “Wow.” He walked across the thick area rug, which was a navy and gray diamond pattern, and cupped his hands around his eyes to peek out the sliding door. “Is that a built-in barbecue?”

“Yep. We had a gas line put in, so figured why not?” He’d barely used it, and shifted guiltily. “There’s a fire pit back there too. The outdoor space was a big selling point. And this room, of course. Got them to vault the ceiling and put in new windows. It was small and dim before, and now it’s, well, this. An improvement, I think.”

Logan gave him a look. “You could say that. Anyway, we should bring in the boxes. Have to get Connor back to school by nine.”

Mouth full of Doritos, Connor said, “Yeah, you’ll be in shit if you don’t.”

It was still jarring to hear the way Connor and Logan cursed freely around each other, but it wasn’t Seth’s place to say anything. Logan didn’t seem to think anything of it, but of course he’d been in the military. Seth imagined he’d become inured to obscenity.

They put their boots back on and went out, unloading the boxes and bags into the foyer. Between the three of them, it didn’t take long. There were some boxes of kitchen and miscellaneous items that Seth left in the empty sitting room before they took Connor’s things up to the spare room. It was a nondescript guest room—a double bed, dresser, closet, and generic art of a sailboat and a country road up on the pale gray walls.

Seth cleared his throat as Logan and Connor came in. “So, there’s only the one extra room. I figured two bedrooms would be enough since I don’t have any family and Brandon’s are real homebodies who don’t travel much. There was another small room, but we sacrificed it for the great room ceiling.”

Connor frowned. “Why don’t you have any family?”

“Don’t be nosy,” Logan snapped, a little harshly in Seth’s opinion.

Before Connor could retaliate, Seth said calmly, “It’s all right. I don’t mind talking about it.” It wasn’t pleasant, but he tried to be matter of fact about it when it came up. “My family cut me out of their lives after I told them I was gay. It was twelve years ago now. They’re very religious, and their church is quite homophobic. They believe I’m choosing a life of sin and all that kind of stuff.” He shrugged tightly. “I knew this could happen when I came out, but I’d hoped for the best anyway.”

Connor and Logan seemed to be taking it in. Logan shook his head and said, “Sorry, man.”

“It’s okay.” Seth forced a laugh. “I mean, it’s not okay, but it is what it is. I couldn’t stay in the closet. I like to believe in a God who made people the way they’re supposed to be.”

Connor was watching him silently. Then he said, “Your family are dicks, huh?”

Seth had to laugh for real this time. “They are.” Of course guilt slammed him immediately, and his smile faded. “I shouldn’t say that. They’re good people—they just have their beliefs.”

“That gay people are going to hell?” Connor asked, eyebrows shooting up. “That’s bullshit. Good people shouldn’t think that. And good people shouldn’t choose to never see their own kid again because of the way they were born.”

Logan said, “Hard to argue with that.”

“My friend Jayden? His parents are awesome. They love him the way he is. That’s what parents are supposed to do.”

Guilt still lingered, leaving sticky trails like gum on the bottom of Seth’s shoe, stuck in the crevices. He simply said, “Anyhow, we should get the sleeping arrangements sorted out.”

“Right. I’ll sleep on the couch if that’s okay?” Logan asked. “Connor, this can be your room while we’re staying with Seth.”

“You could stay in here while Connor’s at school.” Seth knew the couch was comfy, but he felt like a bad host regardless.