The Christmas Deal

“Right,” Seth repeated. “That’s smart. Let him figure it out for himself.”

Logan shivered, rubbing his bare arms. Jenna’d mentioned that Logan had worked hard to get back in shape after recovering from the accident, and Seth couldn’t imagine how good he’d looked before it, although his brain stubbornly tried.

Logan said, “For a smart kid, it’s sure as hell taking him a while to get the message.”

Seth thought of his own parents—his mother’s round face and big eighties-style curls, his father’s balding head and wire-framed glasses—wondering what they would do if he actually called. “It can be hard to accept.” He knew without a doubt his parents would hang up on him, yet he still thought, Maybe…

“Although the kid’s right that his asswipe father does have a job, at least.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault you’re out of work.”

“That’s not what the railway says. Worked there more than a decade, and I’m out with nothing. I wasn’t speeding, and I know I braked in time. I know it.”

He was obviously referring to the accident. “I’m sure you did.”

“Doesn’t matter anyway. Except for the fact that I can’t seem to get another job without a reference since I worked there so long.” He headed back to the house. “Anyway.”

Seth followed him inside, standing in the doorway as Logan put on a black leather jacket and gloves. It was quiet from down the hall, and Seth hoped that meant Connor was packing. “In the new year, something will turn up.”

“Let’s hope so. For both our sakes.” Logan grimaced. “But don’t worry, I’ll figure something out. The deal is just until January and we’ll be out of your life. Thanks again.”

“Hey, you really are doing me just as big a favor.”

“What favor?” Connor asked. He must have been listening, and now he neared them in the foyer, his socked feet slapping on the parquet.

Seth’s heart sank at the thought of explaining it, embarrassment prickling his skin. He glanced at Logan, who sighed and mumbled to Seth, “Hadn’t got there yet.” Logan faced Connor. “It’s no big deal. Seth needs to pretend he’s getting married so he gets a promotion at work that he really deserves. So I’m going to be his fake fiancé.”

Connor’s face creased with confusion and possibly disgust. “What the fuck?”

It was entirely strange for Seth to hear a kid swear the way Connor did without being reprimanded. Seth would have been belted if so much as a “damn” or “hell” slipped out. Even “darn” or “jeez” or “heck” had been forbidden since they were clear derivatives of curses. Logan seemed to swear regularly, but he was an adult, at least.

Seth cleared his throat. “I’m sure it sounds a little confusing to you.” He tried to smile. “It’s a little confusing to us as well. It started as a white lie and snowballed into this…caper, I suppose you could call it.”

Connor stared at Seth, then Logan. To Logan, he hurled, “You’re gay now?” as if it was a barbed accusation.

“No. I’ll just be pretending for a little while. It’s not a big deal.”

Grunting, Connor shifted his focus to Seth, eyeing him up and down, his lip curling. “So you’re a fag no one wants to date?”

Seth flinched, not sure whether the slur or the accurate assessment of his love life hurt more. “Uh…”

Logan stared at Connor in apparent disbelief before drawing himself up even taller and barking, “What the hell kind of word is that? Jesus Christ, you know better.”

Connor opened his mouth as if to shout back, but then his pimply face flushed, his gaze dropping to his feet. He muttered, “Sorry.”

“What would your mother say, hearing you talk like that?”

In a flash, the defiant rage returned, Connor’s head snapping up and his eyes flashing. “She wouldn’t say anything. She’s dead. Because of you.”

Seth blinked in surprise. From what he recalled, it had been natural causes—an aneurysm, perhaps? Heart attack? But guilt definitely flinched across Logan’s face, his shoulders hunching as he muttered, “You know she’d hate to hear you talk like this anyway.”

To Seth, Logan added, “Sorry. Look, if you want to back out, I don’t blame you.” His gaze flicked up to Seth’s and then away miserably.

Resisting the urge to reach out and touch Logan’s arm, to give some kind of comfort, Seth shook his head. “No. We had a deal. Trust me, I’ve heard worse.”

Logan’s nostrils flared. “Well, you shouldn’t have to. And you won’t, at least not from Connor.” He raised an eyebrow at the boy. “Since when do you call gay people names? Isn’t your buddy Jayden gay?”

Connor fidgeted, his expression miserable. “Yes.” Then panic seemed to seize him, and he sucked in a breath and pleaded with Logan, eyes wide. “Don’t tell him I said that word!”

“I won’t,” Logan assured him. “I think it would hurt his feelings a lot.”