Page 17 of Home For Christmas

“If we don’t go now, Vortex is going to be full,” Harrison mentioned, making no move to get up.

Derek’s eyes twinkled. I knew immediately that he’d done something, I just had no idea what. “Maddie got us VIP access.”

I blinked at my husband. Madeline had connections everywhere, but sometimes I forgot just how many connections she actually had. With the band cutting so far back on commitments, touring, and recording, she had focused much of her time on other bands, but she and Derek still had a special bond.

Harrison shook his head but a smile was evident in his cheeks. “You two have ins everywhere.”

Derek nodded, the antlers on his head flopping back and forth. “Yup! But we really should go.”

Our bellies were already full of a hearty pasta meal—a must for going to the bar with Derek and his brothers—so there was nothing holding us back. Well, nothing but Ty still lacing his last boot up.

“Doc, come here. You’re gonna kill yourself.” Declan laughed as Ty wobbled unsteadily on his stiletto. Declan looked at his husband and amusement played across his features. “We better take your extra shoes.”

Ty hobbled his way over to Declan on one laced boot and hiked his unlaced one onto his husband’s leg. On just one properly laced heel, Ty was impressively stable, and Declan managed to have the second boot laced up and tied faster than I’d ever have been able to. The way Declan eyed his husband, I knew there was no way they’d make it the entire evening without finding a bathroom stall.

I could only hope the seven of us didn’t end up getting kicked out of Vortex. That would certainly make the news.

On two feet, even I had to admit that Ty had the sex factor turned up to eleven.

Derek must have sensed the change in the room because he clapped his hands. “Let’s get going.” Before he headed for the door, he went to the Christmas tree and turned on the lights. As we turned the living room and kitchen lights off, the tree twinkled brightly. Derek’s new train ornament lit up in the center of the tree and made me smile. I’d been quite proud of finding a light-up ornament this year, and Derek had loved it when I gave it to him as we decorated the tree.

The lights outside the house turned on with a flip of the switch by the front door. I used to wrap some lights around the banister of the porch, but since Derek came into my life the decorations had become more and more elaborate, to the point that I now hired a company to decorate the house. Derek’s sheer delight in the decorations made the expense and the extravagance worth it, even with the house not being visible from the street.

Ty and Jasper got into the very back seat, Derek, Harrison, and Declan took the middle, and Greg called passenger’s seat, claiming he was too old to fold himself into the back seat. As everyone got in, I leaned over and buckled Derek. The motion was so automatic I didn’t even think about it anymore. The only reason I even noticed was because of the smile Harrison gave us as I pecked Derek’s cheek before closing the door.

The ride to Vortex was nearly deafening. Putting all seven of us in our SUV had probably been a mistake, and that was confirmed when I heard Jasper from the back seat. “Oh, no. Not happening. Ty, you got me to wear this ridiculous shirt. I’m not wearing a headband with dicks on it.”

Greg looked back and coughed uncomfortably. “Is that a pair of underwear with a reindeer head for the pouch?”

“Yup!” Ty’s voice was just a little too happy about this.

Harrison laughed, but there was a finality to his words when he spoke. “Put those away. No one in this car is going to wear those anywhere, especially not at a club, Christmas party or not.”

Ty complained that we were getting too old, Greg reminded him that some of us were old, and I found myself nodding. Greg and I were nearing fifty; Ty was barely thirty with endless energy. Thankfully, Harrison and Declan were older souls, which helped with my husband, who fell somewhere between them and Ty.

“Side entrance,” Derek instructed as we arrived at Vortex. Thankfully the drive hadn’t taken long because I wasn’t sure if Ty would have survived if he kept pulling things out of his Mary Poppins bag in the back seat. I made a mental note to clean the car before the kids were in it again.

I pulled toward the private entrance and was quickly met by a valet. We really needed to send Madeline something extra for Christmas. She always thought of everything, including parking at the most popular gay bar in Nashville. I hated to admit it, but I probably wouldn’t have survived all this time without her. She was there to think of the things I forgot or simply couldn’t.

Greg and I found ourselves laughing as we both took a deep breath to prepare ourselves for the noise inside. “We really are old,” I muttered.

Greg chuckled. “You’re telling me. I don’t know how you do it.”

I honestly didn’t know what would be harder, my life or trying to keep up with two husbands. Derek was a handful all on his own, sometimes more than the kids.

Derek and I had been to the club a number of times before, but watching Harrison’s eyes as he took in the large warehouse space was something to be cherished. He looked more shocked by the large dance floor and expansive bars—two, one on the ground level, one on the second floor—than Jasper did. His mouth made the most adorable O shape and his eyes were as wide as saucers as he took in the sight. “I had no idea Tennessee had something like this,” he marveled as he spun in a circle.

Jasper was all smiles as he walked over to Harrison and linked his fingers with him. I couldn’t hear what he said over the DJ’s yelling, but Harrison nodded and his eyes looked a bit misty. I hadn’t liked Neil much from the start, but I hated him after what he’d done to Harrison. And now, to see how blown away Harrison was by something that had been in his backyard for a few years before he moved to Oklahoma, I wanted to find Neil and kick his ass.

Derek’s head landed on my shoulder. “This is supposed to be a happy night, and I think we’re all thinking really dark thoughts right now.”

“About strangling Neil?”

Derek’s giggle was refreshing. “Among other things.” He left my side to pull Harrison into a hug. He said something that made Harrison laugh and then linked a hand with him to tug him toward the bar. They’d already ordered the first round of drinks when I realized I hadn’t given Derek a drink limit. My boy was normally good about checking in with me before we ever got to the bar, but it seemed he was going to push boundaries that night.

Greg and I both turned our noses up at the tray of shots Harrison brought over. This wasn’t our first rodeo with these guys. “Really?” I complained.

Harrison spoke up. “Tradition. It would be terrible luck to break it now.”

---