Page 19 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

“Come on, Wally,” he said, making a decision. If he had to play a good boyfriend, he would play it well. A selfish part of him considered how if he got to enjoy some cliché Christmas traditions, that would be a bit of a bonus. “Let’s get in there.” He clapped Wally on the back and nodded toward the group.

He shifted his foot carefully, and Duke didn’t notice that hisbed was gone.

Walter looked confused, his mouth open and his eyes wide. “I…oh, okay. Sure, yeah.” Wally followed his lead.

“Do you need us to do anything?” Julien asked. He rested his hand on Tyler’s lower back. He felt Tyler stiffen a little, then relax as he tilted his head back to look at him. The soft smile on his mouth looked inviting. Julien considered leaning in and kissing him for a moment. They were boyfriends. He could do that.

Before he could make the choice, Hailey piped up.

“Yes! I need you guys on the nuts. They’re not going to chop themselves.” She handed them both a knife and a few different bags of nuts. “Don’t chop all of them. We have to roast a few of each variety, too.”

“I think we can handle our nuts, right, Wally?” He stepped away from Tyler and nudged Walter.

Walter laughed with a loud snort, causing everyone, even Duke, to look at him. “Wouldn’t be the first time I handled my nuts, Jules,” he said as he sat down to chop. Julien laughed at his joke.

Hailey watched Walter with such an awestruck expression Julien didn’t want to witness it. He looked back to Tyler, who regardedhimwith almost the same expression his sister wore.

Julien’s smile fell a little. He was suddenly unsure if he had done something wrong. Still, Walter chatted onward, and Jules didn’t think the atmosphere had become awkward. He continued to chop nuts, then helped Cece take some trays out of the oven, even when she had barked the order to Brad.

When the rum came out for the rum balls, Mr. Ashford suggested they all have a little tipple, even though Mrs. Ashford came in and scoffed, telling them it wasn’t even five o’clock.

“It’s five o’clock somewhere, Mom.” Hailey poured them all a shot.

Hmm, I’m starting to like Hailey,thought Julien.

Ultimately, Connie did the shot with them, sipping itdelicately.

Once the cookies were done, Hailey chased everyone outside the kitchen except the kids, whom she employed as her helpers to make dinner.

Mr. Ashford poured the rest of them a chilled white wine, which he explained was 2002 Chablis.

“Mr. Ashford is really into wine,” Walter whispered, sitting on Julien’s other side on the sectional sofa. It wasn’t nearly as soft as Tyler’s, but it was still comfortable. No springs in his butt here, either.

“I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about half the time. I just agree with whatever he tells me it’s supposed to taste like,” Walter continued with a grin.

Julien grinned in return and took a sip. “Ah yes, I’m getting strong notes of grape and, hmm, yep, more grape,” he said in a low, serious voice.

Walter snorted a laugh again. “God, this guy is hilarious,” he announced.

Julien hadn’t ever considered himself funny, but he was getting the sense that Walter didn’t spend much time around anyone with even a minuscule sense of humor.

“Yeah, I know.” Tyler’s brow was furrowed in a puzzled way.

Julien shifted and draped his arm behind Tyler. He reminded himself they had to sell it, and casual touching was normal.

Tyler immediately snuggled against him and swirled the wine in his glass, his blue eyes intently focused on the liquid.

“So, how was it you two met?” Mr. Ashford asked after he had sniffed and savored his first three sips of wine.

“Cameron,” Tyler said quickly. “Cam introduced us. At one of his shows.”

Julien nodded, remembering the basic story they had spun. So far, he’d managed to keep their story pretty straight. No one had asked anything profound, looked at him, said Julien was fake, and demanded that he leave their house immediately. He took that as a good sign that he was doing well. “Yeah, then we went out for dinner and hit it off.”

“That’s nice of Cameron to hook you guys up. I know we were all waiting for Tyler to finally meet someone,” Mr. Ashfordsaid.

Tyler sunk into the seat, pushing himself deeper under Julien’s arm. “Come on, Dad,” he said. “I was fine.”

“I know, I know. You just are so lonely all the time. We’re glad you’re in the picture now, Julien.” Mr. Ashford took another lingering sip of his wine.

---