Page 99 of Mr. Frosty Pants
It was a new experience to come home to someone. He sat in his car, looking at the half-melted snow and the shadow moving inside, trying to decide if he liked it or if he loved it. His heart fluttered, and he couldn’t stop his grin.
“Hey honey, I’m home,” he said sardonically as he pulled off his coat and hung it up, patting an almost demure Bruno on the head. He was much calmer having had Casey with him already and not having spent the whole day alone.
“Hey there.” Casey came around the corner in fresh jeans and aHarkeningT-shirt he’d clearly picked up that day from his parents’ place. “I’m making burgers and veggies. Hope you saved room.”
Joel had texted Casey from the Starbucks on his way home asking if he wanted anything, but Casey had said no. Joel had picked up a box of decent instant coffee for the next morning and some iced snowmen cookies for dessert, it was still Christmas after all, and a splurge to fight his nicotine craving seemed fair. But he hadn’t eaten them yet.
“I’m plenty hungry.” He grinned, taking a kiss from Casey, his heart warm and his blood pumping happily. “This is good. Coming home to you. I could get used to it.”
Casey’s smile softened, and he nuzzled Joel’s hair briefly before turning back to the kitchen. “Don’t want to burn the meat.”
Joel followed him in and sat at the table. Bruno begged at Casey’s feet while he pan-fried burgers.
“I made an extra one to cut up for Bruno’s bowl,” Casey said, looking down at Bruno fondly. “He’ll like that.”
“Keep that up, and he’ll like you better than me before long.”
Casey took the burgers off the heat, pulling buns out of a package and roasted potatoes from the oven, and plating them all. He cleared his throat anxiously. “Yeah, well, it looks like he won’t have time to get used to me before I have to go.”
Joel went cold as a wave of disappointment crashed down. This was what he’d wanted, wasn’t it? It was why he’d gone to Casey’s dad today. So why was he regretting that now?
“They forgave you?” What a weird way to put it, like being with Joel was something that required absolution, but they both knew it was true.
“I don’t know about that. But they’re letting me return to NYU to graduate and keep my apartment for the next semester. They’re also not going to fight me on whether or not I go to Wharton this fall. They say that’s up to me. So long as I understand that Christmas a year from now they expect me to be self-sufficient if I’m not going to follow their wishes.” Casey sat the plates on the table and took a seat.
Joel swallowed, staring down at the burger and potatoes on his plate. “Do ‘their wishes’ include breaking up with me?”
“No. Just school.”
“Ah. So, you have half a year to get on your feet if you don’t go?”
“Exactly. But I already know what I want to do and with your help—between the books and Vreeland’s—I’ll have some success under my belt to help draw in new clients.” He smiled broadly, putting a potato piece into his mouth. “I’m going to open my own local marketing firm. Hipster-sized at first: just me, myself, and I. But who knows what might happen? That’ll allow me to do what I love most: work with mom-and-pop stores and participate in the growth of the community. It’ll be perfect.”
“And your dad was on board with that?”
“In a way.” Casey shrugged, getting up to grab two beers from the fridge. He popped the lids and handed one to Joel. “He even suggested I talk to Walker Ronson about my plans since we hit it off as friends.”
“I bet he did.”
Casey’s eyes grew tender and reassuring as he took his seat again. “I think he really understands that I’m not interested in anyone but you, Joel. He gets it now. And even if he didn’t, I’m absolutely not interested in Walker. Period.”
Joel darted his gaze away, staring at the snow melting on the floor from his boots. Heat rose through him, embarrassment at having revealed his jealousy and insecurity. He took a pull from his beer bottle. “What makes you think your dad gets it?”
Casey smirked. “Because I made a massive scene today, said everything I’ve needed to say for a long time, and I made sure he heard me. Loud and clear. He knows now that I love you and that you’re not going anywhere.” His chest puffed up. “I gavehimthe ultimatum this time: It’s meandJoel, or it’s not me at all. Mom was basically calling you her second son by the time the conversation was over in hopes of pleasing me.” Casey sounded a little power-drunk.
Joel chewed on his bottom lip, watching Casey dig into the burger hungrily. He thought of his own father and how he’d never come away from any of their conversations feeling powerful. Not even their last one. “Wow. I, uh, guess you’re a pretty persuasive person. Speaking from experience and all.”
“I suggested we all needed some space still, and Mom wasn’t wild about that, but she conceded to it.” Casey gestured at Joel’s plate. “Eat up.”
Joel took a bite of the burger. It was so good he closed his eyes. When he opened them, Casey was smiling at him.
“Then, after all the yelling and crying was over, we exchanged gifts and had a small family Christmas. I told them goodbye and that I’d call them when I got back to my apartment in New York. Between now and when I leave on January first, I want all my time to be devoted to you.”
Joel’s heart kicked, and he swallowed another swig of beer. “I want to spend that time with you too, but I have to work.”
“I know, and because of you, I have work to do as well. Today I got a lot accomplished before I headed over to my folks’ place.” He fed a potato piece to Bruno, who sat at his feet drooling. “Operation New-Covers-and-Blurbs is complete. I believe that alone will make a difference in your sales, but now we have to increase visibility on your back catalog. Tomorrow I’m going to start soliciting various book review sites. Then it’s time to work on Joel Grimsbane’s social media presence.”
Joel crinkled his nose.
