Egg the Halls

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Dom pulled away first, but Kiko resumed hanging ornaments before he did. Kiko observed Dom as best he could as he worked, watching Dom slide the phone back into his pocket. The message had been short, but obviously still distressing.

Kiko figured it was best to wait for Dom to speak first. He recalled what he’d learned a few months ago about Dom’s coming out experience, and the Grady family had not been supportive in the least. It hadn’t been a stretch to conclude they were still not supportive, even more than a decade later, and Kiko wished there was something he could do. His family had been accepting; it made him sad that even so many years later Dom didn’t talk to his own.

Still, he hoped Dom would do more than ignore this. The holidays didn’t seem the time for so much bitterness, and it did look like his brother was reaching out. Plus, Kiko was now beginning to feel slightly awkward that his sister and her kids were visiting for Christmas. Dom hadn’t acted like it was a big deal when he’d heard, but Kiko hoped it wouldn’t just make everything worse.

“Let’s swap a couple boxes,” he said into the awkward silence. “My side is getting breakfast-heavy.”

Dom shrugged and passed over some festive birds, body stiff.

“What, not going to ask?” he said, and Kiko held back a sigh at the hostility he heard in Dom’s voice. They were just flirting. Kiko had only minutes ago figured they’d be getting s*x tonight. And now that seemed to have all gone to hell.

“I don’t want to pressure you,” he said, but that didn’t seem to help.

“But you still want to know,” said Dom. He was scowling.

Kiko shrugged, hung a bird wearing a scarf on the tree next to a shimmery fried egg. He didn’t want to get in an argument, and he didn’t like seeing Dom like this, but he didn’t know what to do about it. Clearly although Dom wanted to drop it he didn’t feel like he could.

“I don’t know your family,” said Kiko, trying to tread carefully. “So it sounds to me like your brother’s extending an olive branch of sorts.” He paused and Dom snorted. “A bit of a loaded one, assuming you’re lonely at Christmas.”

“They figure if I’m not with them I have no one,” said Dom.

“Well, they’re wrong,” said Kiko. As though the simple act of starting to talk about it helped, Dom returned to hanging ornaments. Kiko felt relieved; the sooner they could get through this, the sooner they could get home. Maybe with a little food and a beer Dom could relax again and the mood would return.

“Except they’re not. Not really. Most years I am.”

“There’s going to be a day when that won’t be true anymore,” said Kiko. Dom shook his head.

“My longest relationship was eight months,” he said.

Kiko shook the glitter from his hands, figuring he could sweep it up tomorrow morning when he came in, put away the boxes, too. He understood what Dom was saying and he didn’t care to accept it.

“How many of those did you solve a mystery with your partner? We’ve done three. Near-death experiences?” He paused. “Ever even tell anyone else you loved him?”

“This isn’t making me feel better,” said Dom. He glared at the glitter on his own hands and Kiko motioned him to the bathroom with him to wash up.

“Okay,” said Kiko as he waited his turn at the sink. “But if the holidays have you concerned, I have no intentions of leaving you. I’m happy. I like our life together.”

Dom smiled slightly and shook his hands off over the sink before reaching for a paper towel. Kiko tried not to cringe at the motions. Dom’s mood seemed to be improving a little; maybe the situation was salvageable after all.

“I considered dumping you for a moment when I realized I’d have to get you something for Christmas,” he said, and Kiko grinned at him from the mirror. Joking was good.

“I’m not that hard to shop for,” he said. Dom followed him out to Mother’s cage, keeping a safe distance from the goose. Mother was a kid favorite at Kiko’s store, but Dom despised the pet bird, even after he’d saved their lives once. Still, he seemed to be warming up to the goose. Sometimes he’d even feed Mother, although Kiko hadn’t yet convinced him that changing the bird’s diaper wasn’t difficult. He figured Dom would come around sometime.

“See you at home, then?” asked Dom as Kiko hefted the goose. Mother seemed plump as ever; he hoped it was just the time of year. At any rate, he was taking the goose into the veterinarian soon for a checkup.

“Drive safely.”

As Dom drove off Kiko locked up Yolks on You, turning the message over in his head. It was likely Dom’s brother was trying to manipulate him, get him to spend Christmas with the Grady family rather than anywhere else. Kiko didn’t like that. He’d been looking forward to waking up Christmas morning with Dom by his side, having a lazy day of food and gifts and merriment. Dom clearly didn’t want to spend the holidays with his family, but Kiko could see already that there would probably be problems if he didn’t at least acknowledge that he’d received his brother’s call and wasn’t interested. Kiko sighed as he pulled out of the store parking lot. He’d probably have to convince Dom to deal with his brother. So much for his odds for getting s*x tonight.