Bad Ideas (First & Forever 4)

We filled our plates and settled in around the living room while Lark paced and told us to hurry up. Once we finished eating, JoJo said, “Okay, Lark, you can open your presents now. We know you’ve been dying to do that.”

“I need to do something more important first,” he said, as he scooped up an armload of messily-wrapped gifts from beneath the tree. There was one for each of us, including Theo, Seth, and Eden. “I made some for George and Flora too,” Lark told us. “I hope they come by later.”

“They’re planning on it,” Eden said, “after they have brunch with some friends.”

“Okay, good,” Lark murmured, as he returned two of the presents to their spot beneath the tree.

We all unwrapped our gifts at the same time. It turned out he’d made us absolutely beautiful ceramic Christmas ornaments. Each was glazed in a different vibrant color, and our names were neatly painted on them in gold. JoJo was the first to exclaim, “These are gorgeous, Lark, thank you! I didn’t know you could do this.”

He grinned shyly. “I’ve been taking classes at a community art center. I still have a lot to learn, but it’s been fun to go and get all messy and play with the clay.”

We all got up and hung our ornaments on the tree, and Lark said softly, “It’s exactly how I pictured it.” He’d made himself an ornament too, and we’d all placed ours around it.

I gave him a hug and told him sincerely, “That was a wonderful gift, and I’ll always cherish it.”

Theo hugged Lark after I let go of him and whispered, “Thank you. I can’t tell you what this means to me.”

Most of the next hour was spent opening gifts. It touched my heart that there were as many for Theo as there were for me. Each present seemed to take him by surprise, and he slowly and carefully unwrapped them with a look of wonder.

At the same time, the pink Victorian crew was very excited about the chocolate and the gift cards he’d brought. We started playing what we called calendar bingo, calling out dates to try to figure out a time when we could all have dinner together.

When I told Eden and Seth about the season tickets, their jaws dropped in identical stunned expressions, which made me chuckle. While they thanked Theo profusely, I got up to refill my coffee cup. Just then, someone knocked on the door. I assumed it was George and Flora, and I called, “I’ll get it.”

I flung open the door and exclaimed, “Holy shit!” Instead of a pair of senior citizens, a very tall, muscular blond was standing on the front porch, and I blurted, “You’re Hudson Royce! I’ve followed your career for years!”

He played in the NFL and had been traded to San Francisco earlier this year, although he’d been benched most of the season with a knee injury. His father had also played pro football and was a legendary Hall of Famer, as well as a commentator for one of the major networks.

Royce colored slightly. He was dressed in a wrinkled, light gray suit and a white shirt, and there was a flexible brace around one of his knees. He shifted the rectangular tote that was slung over his shoulder as he muttered, “Um, hello. Is Kellan Cho home?” Oh. So, this must be the closeted boyfriend.

I stepped aside to let him in as Kel joined us in the foyer. My roommate seemed torn between running to Royce and hugging him, or yelling at him. There was clearly a lot these two needed to work out.

Kel crossed his arms over his chest. My roommate was all of about five-foot-eight, but he squared his shoulders and stared down the blond giant as he said, “I thought you were in Illinois with your parents.”

“I spent the last few days with them, but I had to come back and fix things with you, Kel. I missed you so much, and I couldn’t stand the thought of spending Christmas without you.”

Kel’s posture eased, just a little. I tried to slip out of the foyer to give them some privacy, but Kel’s hand shot out and caught my sleeve. “You don’t have to leave, Casey. In fact, if everyone wants to join us, they’re welcome.”

Every single person in the living room had been trying to eavesdrop on that conversation, and they all got up and clustered around Kel in a show of support. Royce turned red as he mumbled, “I was hoping we could talk in private.”

Kel shook his head. “If you want to say something to me, you can say it to my friends, too.”

Even though Royce looked mortified, he said, “If that’s what you want, fine.” He stepped forward, then awkwardly dropped down on his good knee, while trying to keep the one in a brace stuck out to the side. “I’m so sorry, Kel, about that dumb fight we had and everything else. I know I haven’t been fair to you, and that my refusal to come out has had a huge impact on our relationship. You deserve so much better than that. You deserve better than me. But I love you with all my heart, and I’m begging on my knees for your forgiveness.”