“Are you sure this is going to be okay? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Mom and I have an understanding. And it’s not like you’re a slob like Rueben.”
Adjusting his pack on his shoulder, Tonio followed Shawn inside. “Nobody’s like Rueben. Thank God.” The distant sound of Christmas music filtered from the rear of the house. There might even have been singing, and he tilted his head to peer around Shawn down the hallway. “Does she even know I’m staying here while my family’s gone?”
“No, not yet. She’s been going nuts the past couple days getting ready for tonight’s party.” He stopped on one of the risers when he realized Tonio wasn’t coming upstairs with him. “What’s wrong now?”
Though he hadn’t been thrilled about his parents abandoning him at Christmas, Tonio had jumped at Shawn’s invitatio
