Brothers in Blue A Bryson Family Christmas - Jeanne St. James Page 0,63
a quickie, because if days went by without sex, Teddy got it in his head that Adam was losing interest or looking for sex elsewhere. Just like yesterday morning’s meltdown.
Teddy’s parents’ rejection, as well as his first lover’s, had given the man some deep-seated doubt of believing that real love existed. Now a part of the Bryson family, Teddy shouldn’t be so skeptical since they were surrounded daily by couples who were undoubtedly perfect examples of true and lasting love. Even the older generation, like Ron and Mary Ann and Adam’s parents, not only loved each other but were still in love. And yes, there was a difference.
Both his and his uncle’s families were built solidly on love, trust and honesty. Adam wanted his relationship and possible future family to be built on the same.
He hated keeping secrets from Teddy, but the time was quickly approaching when it would be over and he could reveal everything Adam had worked so hard—with the help of his cousins and their wives—to plan.
Now, it just needed to go off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, with the Brysons, there always seemed to be a hitch.
A knock on the door had the dogs scrambling in that direction.
“Somebody’s here!” Greg yelled, just in case everybody hadn’t heard the loud knocks or the cacophony of excited barking.
“Who’s that?” Teddy asked. “It can’t be a solicitor on Christmas day, can it?”
“Probably my brother,” Ron said, getting up from his recliner, aka throne, by the fire.
Teddy squealed and twisted within Adam’s arms. “You didn’t tell me your parents were coming.”
Adam shot him a hopefully cool and collected smile, even though inside he was shitting bricks. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Oh!” Teddy clapped his hands and bounced on his toes. “My other mom and dad are here!”
He broke free from Adam and rushed after Ron. Adam sucked in a deep breath, trying to settle his nerves.
Max whacked him on the back and laughed. “Just keep your shit together. Otherwise, you’ll blow it.”
Adam could only nod.
“And Jet!” Teddy screamed from the front entryway at the same volume as a tea kettle-whistle.
Teddy followed Adam’s parents, Cathy and Randall, into the living room, with his sister, Jet, on their heels.
“They’re not carrying food, either,” Teddy announced, “so now I’m wondering if we’re all getting Chinese food later.”
“We had Chinese last night,” Hannah announced. “I don’t want it again.”
“I love Chinese!” Oliver exclaimed. “I can eat it every night.”
“Oh, maybe we can get pizza,” Hannah suggested.
“I’m sure the pizza places are all closed today,” Adam mumbled, thinking he just might pass out.
Maybe he needed to sit down.
“Did you know that it started to snow?” Adam’s mother announced, shooting Adam a worried look, as she walked deeper into the living room.
Was his face as green as it felt?
“Wow, look at that haul under the tree.” She went around giving hugs and kisses to everyone, while Adam’s father gave out hugs and handshakes.
“I gots a puppy!” Greg announced.
“I see that, Greg! How lucky you are! Are you going to share that puppy with Oliver and Hannah?”
Greg nodded and gave Adam’s mother a toothy grin. “Yup.”
Havoc was now wrestling with Chaos’s thick, bushy tail.
“So, when are we eating, Momma Bryson?” Teddy asked Mary Ann.
Randall spoke up first. “I suggest we go for a walk before the snow gets any deeper. Your trees look great with that light dusting of snow, Ron. I see you’ve been working hard on keeping them trimmed perfectly. I bet you sold a bunch this year.”
“I did. The boys help their old grandfather out.”
Randall sighed. “Maybe one day soon I’ll have some grandchildren of my own. Right, kids?” He eyed Adam and Jet.
“Right, Dad. But Adam’s older. He should go first,” Jet quickly said. “I’m just starting out in my career, no time for being a single mother.”
“You can find a man, have babies and still work, Jet,” Cathy suggested. “It’s called multitasking. You don’t need to be so single-minded.”
“Or another woman, Jet?” Teddy asked, his eyebrows lifted all the way to his hairline. “No one here will judge if you like tacos instead of hot dogs.”
Jet laughed and shook her head. “Career first, love later.”
“Like Mom said, you can have both,” Adam reminded his sister, doing his best not to puke.
“Meh,” she muttered. “I can also have my career and lots of sex without any strings.”
“Oh, now that’s a good plan,” Teddy said.
“Jet!” Cathy yelled. “There are children present.”
“Hard to miss them, Mom. And if it wasn’t for sex, they wouldn’t be here.”