Greysonwrinkled his nose. “Yeah, whatever. Nobody eats that crap.”
Sebastiansquinted his eyes with a warning glare aimed at his son. “Come on, man. Benice.”
“It’sokay,” I insisted. “I’ve made this thing every year since I was … God, twentyor so. And I only did it because my mom loved it so much. She wastheonly person who ate it though, so I guess I didn’thaveto make it thisyear …”
“Well,I’mglad you did,” Sebastian said, keeping his stern glare on Greyson. “BecauseIthink it’s fucking good.”
Greysonsmirked. “You’re just trying to—”
Mycheeks ignited as Sebastian pointed a finger at the smug teen. “Hey. I’d keepmy mouth shut if I were you.”
“Ohyeah?” Greyson challenged, continuing to smirk as he cocked his head and dartedhis eyes toward me. “Why?”
“BecauseChristmas is coming, that’s why,” Sebastian shot back, before dropping his forkas he pushed his hands into his hair, eyes wide with horror. “Oh my fucking God.I’m turning into my mother.”
Ibubbled with giggles. I didn’t bother to say it, as the moment had passed andeating had recommenced, but I found it astonishing. The effortless way the twoof them had fallen into their roles as father and son. The expected awkwardphase had lasted a meager month, if that, and then it wasthis: arelaxed balance between parenting and friendship. Sebastian was a natural, morethan I ever expected, and dammit if it didn’t make him that much moreattractive.
“So,uh, speaking of Christmas,” Sebastian said, reigniting the conversation as hedarted his eyes toward me. “I was wondering if—”
“Youdon’t need to ask if Greyson can be with you for Christmas,” I interjected withmy assumption. “I’m sure Grey would want to be at your place anyway. Right?” Iturned to my nephew, who responded with an eager nod, and my heart flinched.
“Yeah,but that’s not all I was going to say,” Sebastian replied with a chuckle. “Iwas asking if you’dbothlike to come to my place.”
“Yes!”Greyson shouted before I could answer for myself. “Aunt Tabs, you have to.”
Ishook my head, immediately awkward and reluctant to accept. “Sebastian, youdon’t need to invite me.”
“Butyou invited me here today,” he said pointedly, darting his eyes between Greysonand me.
“It’snot the same thing. You’ll have all your family there, and—”
“AndI thought we established thatwe,” he circled his finger, pointing atGreyson, himself and me, “area family.”
Swallowing,I nodded, grounding myself by flattening my hands against the table. “Weare,but I—”
“Comeon, Aunt Tabs,” Greyson blurted, slumping into his chair. He pleadedwith his eyes. “You’ll be all alone if you don’t come, and I want you there.”
That’sall it took for me to give in. “Okay, okay. I’ll go.”
“Excellent,”Sebastian replied with a grin. “And you better be bringing one of those greenbean casseroles with you. The Morrisons are gonna go apeshit over that stuff.”
41
sebastian
It was torture, but I was proud of myself,as I spent the evening with Tabby, cleaning up after dinner. Greyson wasupstairs, practicing his paradiddles, and there was no sign of him coming downany time soon. There was no reason for me not to make a move—God knows I wantedto. Hell, I probably could’ve and gotten away with it, especially with all ofthe flirting she kept tossing my way.
ButI was laying low. Waiting. I still wasn’t entirely sure she was convinced thatI could be the man she deserved. And maybe I wasn’t entirely convinced that Iwas worthy of her. Still, I was going to try. It just wasn’t the right time.Not yet.
Fornow, I was enjoying this. Even while my dick screamed obscenities as I watchedher bend into the refrigerator with another armful of leftovers.
“Ireallyhope you’ll be taking some of this home,” she laughed, steppingaside to showcase the packed shelves. “The two of us aren’t going to eat all ofthis.”
“MaybeJess and Alex would want some,” I suggested.
“Why?You don’t want any? Not even this delicious green bean casserole I apparentlymade just for you?” Tabby held out the foil-covered dish and shot me a lookwith a pair of big, hopeful eyes.
Shewas trying to take care of me, I noted. Either that or pawning off some foodnobody else would touch.
