The Gift of Casey

Chapter 1 “Who breaks up with someone the day before Thanksgiving?” Casey Mackenzie asked his best friend, Andrew Hart, as he opened the oven door to place his pumpkin pie inside to bake. Andrew shrugged. He was leaning a hip against the tiled counter in Casey’s kitchen. “I guess someone who got together a week before Halloween.” “Well. But you guys seemed so good together.” Not that Casey particularly liked Andrew’s former boyfriend. The guy had a tendency to wear one of those man buns. In his mind, Casey had taken to calling him “bun boy.” “It’s okay, Casey. We were seeing each other only a month. It’s not like I was that invested in him or anything.” Andrew gave Casey a wry smile before lifting his coffee cup to his lips for a drink. “I know. I’m just affronted on your behalf.” After all, Casey thought, he’d certainly give his right arm to get Andrew to notice him as something other than just his friend. Being Drew’s friend was great. Casey was happy about that. But he’d had a crush on Drew for months. Casey told himself that’s all it was. Just a crush. Likely because Casey himself was experiencing a bit of a dry spell, dating-wise. It definitely wasn’t love. Romantic love, anyway. He’d known Drew just about all his life. Their families had been friends before Casey and Drew. There was lust, of course. And who could blame him? Drew was seriously hot. Six feet of blond, movie-star hotness. Drew had sparkling blue eyes, blond hair swept in waves like one of those expensive salon cuts, and an awesome six pack. And if Casey didn’t turn his attention to the rest of his menu for Thanksgiving right now he was going to regret it. “Don’t be. I’m a big boy.” Casey nodded and picked up his “to-do” list. “I guess I don’t have to make a card for him.” Drew frowned. “A card?” “Yeah. I’m making place cards for all the seats at the table for Thanksgiving.” His friend’s lips twitched. “Place cards?” “Don’t judge me,” Casey said with a huff. “And anyway, they’re already bought, I just have to add the name.” “Let me see them.” Flushing a little, Casey opened a kitchen drawer and took out the packet of Thanksgiving place cards. The little cards had a place to write the name and were decorated with leaves, pumpkins, and roasted turkeys. Drew smiled. “You are too cute, Casey.” “Oh shut up.” He snatched the cards out of Drew’s hand and put them back in the drawer. “The point is, that’s one less guest for Thanksgiving.” “That’s a big point,” Drew conceded. “Who all is coming to Thanksgiving?” Casey switched from his “to-do” list to his guest list. He picked up his pen and crossed off the name “Owen.” Drew smirked at him. It certainly was a good thing that Drew hadn’t been invested in “bun boy.” He flushed again thinking about it. It was probably mean to have names for everyone Drew ever dated. “Wait. What?” Casey stared wide-eyed at Drew. “Huh?” “You have nicknames for all the guys I’ve dated?” “Oh, s**t. I admitted that out loud?” Casey shook his head. That’s what happened when he got too distracted by all the thoughts in his brain. “Mom and Dad. That’s my mother and father.” He checked off their names as they had confirmed they were for sure coming. “My sister, Dahlia, and her husband, Nico. You, of course. Your dad.” Casey looked at Drew. “Is he still bringing his special corn stuffing?” “Yes, though he insists it’s called ‘dressing’ because it doesn’t go in the bird.” Drew peeked at Casey’s list. “Your sister, Lucy, and her son, Albert. So that’s what? Nine. Because it was ten before you broke up with bu-Owen.” “Bu-Owen?” “Fine. ‘Bun boy.’ Satisfied? You didn’t have to beat it out of me.” Casey put down his lists. Drew laughed. “What else?” “What else what?” “Are the names you had for my past boyfriends,” Drew reminded him with a definite mischievous smile. “You weren’t supposed to know about that. Me and my big trap.” “Come on. What about Dirk?” Casey knew he was blushing now. “Dirt.” Drew surprised him by laughing harder. “Tony?” “DB.” “DB?” “Dumb blond.” “I had no idea.” Drew shook his head and went to the coffeemaker to refill his mug. “I’m not particularly proud of it, but it keeps me amused,” Casey said. “Should I have gotten a second turkey?” “How big is the one you got?” “Sixteen pounds.” “That’s plenty. Lucy’s still doing vegetarian and Albert never eats a lot. He just plays with his food mostly.” Casey put his hand to his face. “Vegetarian? Do I have enough vegetable dishes then?” “I don’t know, Casey. You always make it a mystery what you’re serving until we all arrive,” Drew reminded him. “Except I know you’re having pumpkin pie, Dad’s dressing, and turkey.” Casey scrunched up his face and went to the fridge for creamer to add to his own coffee. Not that he needed any more caffeine. “Hey, Bran, aren’t you forgetting someone?” Casey turned from the fridge, holding the carton of half and half. Drew held the guest list. “Who?” “George.” “George?” “Your own boyfriend.” Drew snorted. “Jesus, you’ve been dating him since August and I still haven’t met him.” Casey tried desperately to tamp down his panic. f**k a duck. He’d forgotten all about his invented boyfriend, George. Drew hadn’t brought him up in weeks and neither had Casey. He’d hoped the whole “George thing” had blown away. In fact, he was kind of surprised Drew remembered because Casey had first mentioned George to his sister at a summer barbecue when she would not let it go about who he was interested in. Which was Drew, of course, but it wasn’t like he could tell Dahlia that. Or anyone. So he had invented George on the spot. Sort of. He had a neighbor, George, who was an actor, like just about everyone else in the area except Casey. And for some reason, George had popped into his head when his sister was pestering him. The thing was, George had subsequently gotten him out of a lot of crap he hadn’t wanted to do. Go to Dahlia’s baby shower? “Oh, sorry, George is taking me to the Pantages to see a play that day. Already bought the tickets.” Dog sit Killer for a week? “Oh, sorry, but George booked a cottage on the beach for a little getaway.” The lies had become easier and easier. And it didn’t occur to Casey that Drew had actually been paying attention. “Casey?” “Well, George is pretty shy. And, um, anyway, he’s going to his family’s Thanksgiving.” “I’m sure he could pop in for a bit to meet your family and friends. Has Dahlia or your parents met him?” “No.” Drew huffed out a breath. “I’m beginning to think he doesn’t exist.” “What?” “I’m kidding,” Drew said with an easy grin. “But invite him over. You’ve been seeing him for four months. It’s past time. I want to meet him. And tell him we won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” Casey put his hand on his suddenly queasy stomach. “I’ll try.”