Page 69 of Love It or List It
“That’s the plan,” Austin said cheerfully.He waited just a few beats and then added, slyly, “I refuse to be the wicked stepmother.”
Color rose into Joe’s cheeks.It was so charming Austin wanted to kiss them, but he held back.That wasn’t slow, and Austin was committed to slow.Joe was more skittish than a mouse in a cat café.He turned toward the next stall.He still had to find something for Will and Alex, and maybe Starling.
This one held more knitwear, and Austin picked a matching hat and scarf with colorful stripes.It wasn’t exactly rainbow, but it was close enough, and Joe agreed that it shouldn’t get Will in trouble with his parents but would be a fun fuck-you to them.Especially since Will was in need of new gear, which apparently his parents hadn’t noticed, even if Joe and Austin had.
The reward of finding gifts would have warmed him on its own—never mind the mere fact of having so many people to appreciate at Christmas—but the happiness on Joe’s face, the way he smiled softly at the bag dangling from Austin’s arm, was a delightful bonus.
Austin was starting to despair that he wouldn’t find anything for Alex here.The problem was Austin had an idea but didn’t know how to implement it.Over the past couple of visits, Alex had taken an interest in Austin’s work on the table legs.They had asked about the welding and even offered to help, to act as an extra set of hands.Austin suspected it might be more than a passing interest for them and wanted to encourage Alex’s exploration of different crafts.He suspected they might find a passion in the trades, but it wasn’t Austin’s place to give unsolicited advice.Still, he could help them by giving more opportunities.He just didn’t know how.He couldn’t exactly gift Alex a welder.
Then, at one of the final shops, he found it.The artist did metalwork jewelry, repurposing old cutlery into artistic pieces as well as stamping and shaping metal into cuffs and bracelets.But most importantly, they had build-your-own DIY kits.Each one had a strip of leather, a strip of metal, thread, and three stamps to make your own bracelet.Joe and Austin pored over the options for the stamps and eventually settled on bronze and brown for the color and a set of geometric shapes that would give them opportunities to make their own pattern.If they liked it, Austin would happily buy more stamps—maybe a full alphabet.
At that point, Pepa announced it was time for a bathroom break and dragged them outside to find a series of bushes to pee on.
“Wow.”Joe looked around the exterior of the community center for the first time, and Austin took a moment to be glad of the brisk wind whipping off the Detroit River, which gave him an excuse for the pinkness in his own cheeks.“I didn’t know this was here.”
“It’s new this year, apparently.”Around the building and parking lot, down by the riverfront, the town had built a walking trail.It had booths set up selling hot cider and chocolate, and one that rented skates.Refrigeration coils under the path kept the trail frozen, and dozens of people were skating on it, kids with parents, couples holding hands.
He’d needed to do some shopping, sure, and Joe’s input helped, but this was what he really wanted to bring them here for.He’d had a whole plan and everything.Act surprised to see the rink, casually mention he’d never skated before, wait for Joe to suggest they try it—let him think it was his idea—get Joe to hold his hand.Cliché?Yeah, but he was pretty sure it would work.Joe might be skittish, but he let Austin get away with a lot and never called him on any of it.Austin thought he was enjoying himself.
Pepa put a crimp in that plan, though.They couldn’t skate with the dog.Austin didn’t want to risk any of her remaining paws getting injured by a stray blade.
Too bad.But Pepa needed a walk anyway.They could take her through the park instead, look at the light displays at least, even if it wasn’t dark yet.
Just as they were heading that way, Fate intervened with a Linda ex machina.
“Boys!And Pepa,” she said brightly, squatting to give her star patient her due attention.“Doing some Christmas shopping?”
“Just finished.Bags are in the car.”
She straightened up and offered a smile.“Off to have a skate, then?”
Oh, bless Linda.Austin needed to get her something really good for Christmas.“Well, we can’t, with the dog,” Joe started, and Austin saw his window and added, “I can’t skate, actually.”
Joe gaped at him.“What?”
Austin shrugged, feigning nonchalance.He let Joe draw his own conclusions.Skates were expensive; it wasn’t like anyone was going to pay for Austin to play travel hockey growing up.
“That’s just….”Joe looked at the skating trail.He looked at the skate rental booth.He looked at Pepa.
He looked at Linda.
“Hey,” Joe said, “would you mind sticking around for a little while?Maybe taking Miss Pepa for a quick constitutional?They let pets in the building too, so if you haven’t gone shopping yet—”
Austin was glad Joe wasn’t looking at him, because he definitely would’ve clocked the smug expression right away.Linda did—she glanced at Austin and then visibly clamped down on a smile.“I’d be happy for the company,” she agreed.“What do you think, little lady?”
They handed off the leash, and Pepa trotted gamely after Linda while Austin let Joe steer him toward the skate-rental booth.
“What if I don’t want to skate?”Austin asked innocently.
Joe gave him a flat look.“It’s new this year, apparently,” he echoed, an obvious mimic of Austin’s earlier words.“Which means you knew it was here.And then you just casually mention you’ve never been skating?”
So Joedidsee through him.Austin smiled, faux innocent.“Does this mean you’re paying for the rental?”
Joe elbowed him and told the booth attendant their shoe sizes.
The skating track was decently busy, which meant they didn’t have to deal with too many teens and preteens showing off, trying to run each other over.Austin hid his smile in his scarf when Joe insisted on checking his laces before they got on the ice, then let Joe pull him to his feet and lead him onto the path.
He didn’t wobble.
