Page 79 of Missile Tow
We turned in unison when the bedroom door opened. Van, looking adorable with his mussed hair and one of my old sweatshirts on, smiled sweetly. “Morning,” he said. “Sorry I overslept.”
I held my hand toward him, and he came to my side, leaning in to kiss me. “It’s all good, baby. Sit. I’ll get you some coffee.”
John observed us, smiling and studying our movements. “You’re both ridiculous,” he concluded, chuckling and sticking a finger in his mouth to fake puking.
Van wasn’t privy to our talk, so he reacted with alarm at hearing John’s ribbing, glancing toward me for guidance. “He’s teasing us for being so sweet to one another,” I told him.
“And Chip no longer wants to kill me,” John added, motioning in my direction. “Of course, it’s still early, so we’ll see.”
“You two are okay?” Van asked, shifting his eyes between us.
“Like he said,” I began. “It’s too early to tell.”
Van’s expression gave the impression that he was proud of me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him John was primarily responsible for the truce.
“Okay, lovebirds,” John said. “I’ve got something to talk to you about.” Van gave me a worried look. He was probably confused by the improved mood in the room and then John’sI’ve got something to talk to you aboutstatement. “Do me a favor and don’t go to Mrs. Hatfield’s dinner tonight.”
Van and I exchanged glances, but he beat me to the obvious question. “Why?” he asked, probably concerned he might disappoint someone.
“As usual, she’s trying to stir shit up,” John explained.
Van started to speak, but I suddenly remembered something stuck in my head. “Hang on a sec,” I said to John, making sure Van was paying attention. “You mentioned you haven’t spoken with your folks yet. Or even told them you were coming home, right?” He nodded. “Then why’d she tell us you and your parents were coming to Christmas Eve dinner?”
John didn’t hesitate for a millisecond. “Simple. She’s been texting me ever since Van arrived here,” John revealed. “Advising me to get back quickly so I could win you back and rescue you from the jaws of a city boy.”
“That woman knows how to text?” I asked.
“She does,” John began. “And I made the mistake of telling her I was coming home for Christmas.Alone.”
Now things started making sense. I was convinced that after Mrs. Hatfield heard Van and I were dating, she gave up on the idea of me and her grandson getting together. Instead, she decided to focus on me and John gettingbacktogether.
“Well, fuck her,” I spat. “We’re not going to her place for dinner now.”
“Hang on,” Van spoke up. “I say we go.”
John and I turned to Van, speaking in unison. “Why?”
“I think we go and show her a united front,” Van suggested. “Because I’m hoping the three of us will be friends.”
“I don’t care what she thinks,” I retorted. “The woman tried starting shit when she reached out to John.”
Van gave me one of his patented ‘be nice’ looks. “What better time to show her she’s barking up the wrong tree?” he said. “Truthfully, I think she’s bummed Chip isn’t available for her grandson, James.”
John busted out laughing, pointing at me in hysterics. “She wanted to setyouup with James?” he asked, stifling his giggles. “She told me James wanted to get to knowmebetter.”
“Are we even sure James is gay?” Van interjected.
John and I exchanged glances and began laughing. “Absolutely,” John stated.
“Without a frickin’ doubt,” I agreed, high-fiving John.
Van studied the two of us. “Did I miss something overnight?” he asked. “Because I’m liking this,” he added, motioning his finger between the two of us.
John and I shared a smile. “He’s coming around,” John quipped.
“After he begged for my forgiveness,” I corrected.
Van seemed pleased with the end result. He grabbed my mug, refilled it with coffee, and plopped down beside John. “I think you and I are going to be great friends,” he said, leaning into John.
