Christmas at the family with mismatched surnames began the same way it did in every other American household—by unwrapping presents.

Teo had stopped liking this part of Christmas years ago, but since he didn’t want to ruin the festive atmosphere, he’d learned how to pretend.

Christmas mornings were the moments when he missed his father the most and when he felt the most guilty for not visiting him. But his dad had forbidden him from coming, so he had to remind himself that even if he decided to go see him in prison, he wouldn’t be allowed inside and it would all be pointless.

That left him with no choice but to spend Christmas Day with his mom, his stepfather, and his perfect brother. A perfect American family.

Fortunately, this year he had a distraction.

“You really didn’t have to go through the trouble.” It was the first thing he heard when he came down the stairs and headed for the living room, where all the commotion was coming from.

“Nonsense. It’s Christmas. Besides, it’s just a little something.”

Teo knew what was going on before he even saw it. Still, the sight of the older man holding a gift, with his mom standing in front of him, felt oddly sweet. Rick genuinely looked touched by the gesture, and Teo was starting to regret not buying him anything. Christmas shopping wasn’t his thing—he always bought only the necessary, generic stuff, nothing anyone would truly be excited about.

“Merry Christmas, Teo.”

Surprisingly, it was Amelia who noticed his presence in the doorway first.

“Merry Christmas, Amelia.”

Around his family, he usually didn’t allow himself to show his sensitive side, but overwhelmed by the Christmas magic, he addressed her in a warm tone and even added a soft smile. After all, none of his strained relationships with his family were her fault. It also seemed like she was rooting for him to win Rick over, which automatically made him like her.

“Teo!”

His mother quickly lost interest in the guest and moved toward her son so she could grab him by the sleeve of his shirt and pull him toward the Christmas tree. “Come open your gifts.”

“You didn't have to buy me anything, Mom,” he assured her, his tone no longer as kind as when he had greeted the red-haired woman. His mother, however, was not to be discouraged.

“You say that every year.”

Despite his protests, she didn't hesitate to fill his arms with boxes wrapped in colorful paper and tied with ribbons. Mostly bright red ones, since according to his mother, that was the main color of Christmas.

Teo sat down on the couch because he had nowhere else to put them, and automatically started unwrapping them one by one. He knew that if he didn’t, they would pay even more attention to him than they already were. Luckily, they didn’t have the tradition of opening gifts one at a time and waiting for everyone’s reaction.

The first thing he unwrapped was a flannel shirt. It was black and white, but the back was covered in patches of various sizes. To Teo’s surprise, some of them had quotes with swear words on them. That was how he realized it probably wasn’t a gift his mom had chosen, but Atlas. He was the only one who didn’t tend to treat Teo like a small child.

When the dark-haired man lifted his head, he found out he was right. Feeling someone’s gaze on him, he turned his head to the side and met his stepfather’s eyes.

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He gave him a gentle smile.

Teo didn’t continue the interaction and instead went back to unwrapping. He found new headphones, a planner for the new school year, Christmas socks, and a voucher to an escape room. Typical gifts from his mother.

He almost would have assumed the last one was from Orion, if it weren't for the fact that the escape room was in Brassford and his brother could never manage to be in his presence for long, let alone in the same city.

“Thanks, Mom,” he offered a generic thank-you, trying to look more excited than he actually felt, so he wouldn’t ruin the holidays for anyone.

“You're welcome, honey.”

His mother looked up from unwrapping. She was just opening the gifts from Teo, so she could soon return his words.

Just like she usually didn’t know what to give him, he had the same problem when it came to her. So he bought her bath salts, scented candles, and a scarf and called it a day. When it came to scents or clothing patterns, he knew her taste, and that had to count for something.

“Thank you so much, Teo. I love it.”

Unlike him, she sounded genuinely happy.

Teo nodded and redirected his attention to where he most wanted to look. Now he had a real reason for it, so no one could suspect anything.

Rick looked even more awkward than Teo, which was saying something. It was obvious that he didn’t feel entirely at home, which was understandable, considering it was his first time there and on Christmas of all days. And although he and Amelia had brought some gifts in the form of wine and quality tea and coffee, Teo’s mom went above and beyond when it came to Christmas presents.

The largest package hid a knitted blanket, similar to the one Teo and Rick had been wrapped in just the night before while watching a movie. This one, however, was a bit bigger, softer, and green. In the second, smaller gift, there was a thermal mug.

“I know how much Orion works, and since you work together, I assumed your coffee or tea probably gets cold too before you remember it,” Alicia explained.

Rick looked at the mug in his hands as if it were much more than that. Just the fact that a woman who hadn’t known him before had put so much thought into it… He hadn’t expected something like that.

“Thank you, it’s great. I’ll definitely use it.” His words were sincere.

“There’s one more,” Alicia encouraged him with a nod.

Rick picked up the last gift. Unlike the others, it was round and heavy. The moment he unwrapped it, he understood why.

The older man lifted the snow globe to eye level and shook it until he watched artificial snow settle over a small plastic model of Hollybrook’s town hall.

“So you’ll always remember that you have an open door here.”

Rick’s vision suddenly blurred, and he didn’t need long to think about why.

His own family had told him never to come home again. His mother had told him he disappointed her and that he shouldn’t contact her anymore. His father hadn’t even said anything, he had just blocked his number, and that was enough.

And now…

“Thank you. I—”

His voice sounded strangled, and he couldn't get more out, but it seemed that was enough for Alicia. Both her smile and her nod testified to that. Moreover, it seemed she knew exactly what he needed and shifted her attention elsewhere to give Rick a moment to emotionally pull himself together.

When Rick had worried about spending the holidays here, it wasn't because he feared they would accept him too much or that he would again meet the first person who ever accepted him. He simply wasn't prepared for it, and now it had caught up with him.

Thankfully, Alicia wasn't the only one who noticed.

“I’m going to warm up some punch. Wanna join me, Rick?”

He nodded without hesitation and followed his best friend.

“Thanks,” he said to him only once they were in the kitchen.

“It’s no big deal.” Orion waved it off and actually moved to the stove, pulling out a pot that was far too large for something meant to be punch rather than food. “I told you my parents are glad you’re here.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Rick knew he meant it.

Orion had never worried about how his parents would receive him. The only one he wasn’t sure about was Teo, but it seemed the younger man was avoiding both Rick and Amelia, so nothing could happen. Not that he thought his little brother would do anything wrong, but he also knew Teo was irritable practically twenty four seven and could say something that might hurt Rick during such a sensitive time. It was better if Teo kept his distance.

“I thought my family's Christmas spirit would be exactly what you’d need,” Orion admitted out loud. “Hopefully Teo didn’t scare you off with his grumpiness.” He said it like a joke, but at the same time he hoped Rick would be honest if Teo had offended him somehow. After all, they had spent half the day together yesterday, and although his best friend had assured him everything was fine, Orion still had his doubts.

“He’s fine. Really.”

Rick would have liked to say much more, but Orion’s words made it clear that now wasn’t the time for that conversation, even if he wished it were. He would give anything for his friend’s blessing so he wouldn’t feel like he was doing something wrong behind his back, even though they had never kissed. At least not in the past few days.

“Just let me know if he’s rude to you.”

Rick nodded instead of answering.

Soon Orion handed him a glass of punch, and even though it was still practically morning, Rick lifted it to his lips and took a sip. Back home, alcohol during the holidays was completely out of the question, so this was a pleasant change, and in some way it felt like he was doing it to spite his family, which amused him. Call him childish, but he thought he was entitled to it after they had decided to play the silent treatment game.

When they returned to the living room, everyone already had their gifts unwrapped and together they were making a pile of wrapping paper so it wouldn't make a mess. Someone added the paper from Rick's and Orion's gifts to it as well, so they could sit straight down on the couch.

Atlas turned on the TV and put on some Christmas cartoon. Alicia had managed to disappear from the room while the two of them were in the kitchen, and when she returned, she was carrying boxes of board games in her hands.

As it turned out, Christmas Day in this family was all about comfort and family fun. They watched movies, played Christmas music, and played games. The only one who refused to join in was Teo, and once again the older man noticed the chasm between him and the rest of the family, a gap everyone seemed to be aware of but no one addressed out loud. Rick assumed there was a story behind it, but he had no right to ask.

Nevertheless, everyone was trying, which was more than could be said for Rick’s family, and so he envied them a little. They ate together, laughed together, and before he realized it, Christmas Day was over.

Before going to bed, however, he still managed to have one more conversation.

“Sorry, I didn’t know someone was in here,” he apologized and turned to leave, but Teo’s voice stopped him immediately.

“You don’t have to go. I’m almost done.”

Mateo had a towel over his head, rubbing his wet hair. Water dripped from it onto a T-shirt that was at least two sizes too big for him, exposing his collarbone.

Rick couldn’t take his eyes off him.

Teo noticed, of course.

Instead of amused comments or flirting, he stayed silent, and although a smile played on his lips, he never opened his mouth to say anything else.

Their gazes stayed locked, and that was the only conversation between them. Neither of them could look away, and although it could have been awkward, Rick felt content.

Teo kept rubbing his hair, trying to dry it. Rick stayed where he was, even though he had come in to brush his teeth.

“You got a voucher to Brassford.”

In the end, it was the older man who broke the silence.

“Uh-huh.” Teo let out a sound of agreement.

“That means you’ll have a reason to visit.”

“You or Orion?”

The answer was obvious. After all, Orion was his brother, and Rick was practically still a stranger to him, despite the night they had spent together. Even so, the older man caught himself feeling more pleased by the hint of the first option than he should have.

“Orion, of course.”