Merry Cherry Christmas

“I’m so glad you two could make it,” Dad said.

“Sorry we had to miss the open house.” Alicia gave Honey a sidelong look. “Someone needs to put things in his calendar, so we don’t double book.”

Honey shrugged. “You’re not wrong, but now we get the whole place to ourselves.” He slung an arm around Max. “You finally got me up here. I’m ready to dive into a vat of syrup or whatever it is you do for fun. Where’s Meg?”

“Out with friends. You’ll just have to tease her mercilessly next time.”

“Oh, like she doesn’t start it every time?” Honey made a hmph sound. “But here’s my man Jeremy!” He strode off to the porch, where Jeremy had emerged, bundled up and smiling tentatively as though he was waiting to be the butt of a joke.

“Ohh,” Alicia said softly. “Cute.” She elbowed Max playfully. “Not your usual type.”

“We’re just friends!” Max insisted way too quickly and with way too much vigor. He glanced at Dad and Valerie, who had been saying something to each other and hopefully hadn’t been paying attention. Max was being ridiculous. He was supposed to be an adult. The house rule was only about sleeping with someone under their roof.

Valerie smiled like usual, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. “Come to the sugar house when you’re ready and grab the camp stove. You kids can make taffy.” She and Max’s dad headed back to work going through the remaining inventory.

Alicia’s graceful, sculpted eyebrows met. “Sorry. I thought you were a thing? Honey was going on about how he’s never seen you so into a guy. He was sure you two would be hooking up, down, and around the town. His words.”

Max looked to the porch, where Honey was animatedly telling Jeremy some story. The hunch was gone from Jeremy’s shoulders. His smile lit up his face, the music of his laughter carried on the wind.

“Uh…”

He turned back to Alicia. “Sorry. What?”

With a laugh, she drew a circle in the air near Max’s face, her leather gloves sleek. “I see what he means. Your poker face needs work, son.”

“Fine,” he muttered. “We’re hooking up.” He didn’t like how those words felt, though. “We’re together.”

Alicia frowned. “Then what’s the prob with your folks? You’re ashamed of him or something?”

“No!” He practically shouted it. “It’s just so new. I wanted it to still only be ours. And my family can be so embarrassing. They’ll be cringey and make a big deal about it. I don’t usually bring guys home. Like, ever.”

“So let them make a big deal. You may have been captain of the football team, but don’t act like you’re too cool.”

“But we only met over a week ago. It might not go anywhere.”

Again, Alicia circled her finger near Max’s face. “It’s going somewhere. So I suggest you go with it. When I met Honey, I thought it would be one night and done. When you least expect it, the right one comes your way. Now introduce me.”

Before long, Max had the camp stove going, the syrup coming to a boil as the four of them packed fresh snow into the planter and talked about a bunch of stuff. When they all had their taffy balls on Popsicle sticks, Honey ate his almost in one bite before launching into a diatribe about the Steelers’ offense.

Alicia kept steering the conversation Jeremy’s way, asking him questions about everything from his major to BC sightseeing tips. She tucked her arm through his and asked him to show her where the bathroom was, although clearly it was in the house and it was an excuse to get him alone.

Honey watched them go with a grin. “Maxwell, she has taken to your boy, so you’d better not fuck this up.” His grin widened. “You popped that cherry yet?”

“Almost.” Max had to grin in return, meeting Honey’s fist bump. Excitement skipped through him. He had to get Jeremy alone where they could have real privacy. Not that sneaking around wasn’t exciting in its own way. Mmm, the wet breath against his palm when he’d had his hand over Jeremy’s mouth…

“I told you so.”

“You did.” An idea popped into his head with joyful clarity. “You wanna help me set up a date?”

Before long, Max had a bulging backpack of supplies tucked away out of sight and the snowmobile out of the garage.

“Can I drive?” Honey rubbed his hands together gleefully.

“You certainly may not,” Valerie said firmly. “Max has taken a snowmobile safety course, and he’s the only one allowed to drive.”

“Aw, come on, Mrs. N-P!” Honey batted his eyelashes. “Pretty please?”

Valerie gave him a perky smile. “Nope!”

“Dude, trust me.” Max laughed. “No way she’s backing down.”

“No way, no how,” Valerie agreed. “Helmets on! Alicia and Jeremy, do you want a turn after Honey? You can use my helmet. It’s a bit smaller.”