Page 61 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“Mom, stop.” Colin glares at her, and she glares right back. It isn’t difficult to see where he gets his sass from. “I told you Gil had to stay for football. He got us into the playoffs.”

“It wasn’t just me,” I say, accepting the hug from her. She squeezes my arm and winks. “We watched the game, hon. You did great. Although I can’t believe you let that Nebraska kid take the ball from you in the second quarter.”

Colin opens his mouth to say something when a loud screech breaks my eardrums and I’m run over by a hundred-pound teenager. “Gil, you’re here!”

I hug her back. “Nat. Good to see you.”

“I’m here too, you know,” Colin says, holding his arms out. Nat rolls her eyes but gives him a quick hug.

“So, is it official?” She dances first around Colin and then me.

“Is what official? Don’t tell me you two are getting hitched.”

“Oh my God. I bring a boyfriend home, and you all get so weird.”

“First of all, this isn’t the first boyfriend you’ve brought home. How is sweet Remi doing?”

“Not always sweet.” Everyone ignores me, including Colin.

“He’s fine—”

“And,” his mom says over him as she leads us through the hall to the living room, “this isn’t even Gil’s first time here.”

“Do you guys have rings?” Nat asks, walking backward so she’s facing me.

“Not yet,” I say, “there hasn’t been time.”

“We’re not getting married.” Colin takes my hand. “We don’t need rings.”

“Why are you being so negative, Colin Jason Attwood?”

“What have you done now?” Mr. Attwood—John—says, shaking his head and getting up from the chair he’s been lounging in. “It’s been less than five minutes and you already got middle-named.”

“I swear it wasn’t my fault, Dad.” Colin hugs his dad, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“It never is, son.”

And the thing is, he sounds sincere. The familiar prickling behind my eyes starts at seeing the bond Colin has with his dad. John hugs me next. “Welcome to the family, Gil. I mean, you were already part of the family. Now, it’s a little more official.” And now I’m worried about breaking down right here in the Attwood living room.

“We’re not getting married,” Colin says, loud enough to be heard over the television where highlights from a game are playing.

Everyone gets quiet, and Colin’s face turns red.

“Is there a problem?” his dad asks, and Colin shakes his head.

“It’s just new.” I pull Colin close to me. “We don’t want to jinx anything. But we appreciate your enthusiasm. Don’t we, Colin?”

He nods, and I kiss the side of his face.

“Geesh. It’s not new,” Nat says. “Not for us. We could tell right away you guys were hot for each other—”

“Nat, don’t be crass.”

“Sorry, Mom. That you liked each other. Not our fault it took you two whole years to figure it out.”

“Better. And she does have a point. And it’s just natural we have questions.”

I nod at Mabel and squeeze Colin’s hand. “Go ahead. Let’s hear them.”

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