His answer was delayed, and it was impossible to miss. Still, Teo didn’t point it out. It was unexpected after all the teasing he had done before, constantly making Rick’s pulse race.

Instead, he said, “I don't think my brother would be happy to see me outside of the necessary time.”

The older man frowned.

“I don’t understand.” He knew it wasn’t his place to comment on it, but since both brothers had made remarks in front of him and since he already shared one secret with Teo, he was the one Rick chose to voice his confusion and curiosity to. “Why don’t you and Orion get along? Especially when you’re more alike than you think.”

That was clearly the wrong thing to say.

The towel Mateo had been using to dry his hair landed in the sink with a slap, and the younger man finally stepped closer. This time, however, the fire in his eyes didn’t radiate desire, but anger.

“You don’t know anything about me and Orion.”

His tone was sharp and allowed no counterarguments.

Rick knew he should stay quiet. He didn’t like conflicts, and for selfish reasons he didn’t want to continue this topic even though he had started it. He simply couldn’t stand Teo looking at him with that kind of negativity in his eyes. He wasn’t ready for that.

While the older man was searching for words, Teo took his silence as the end of the conversation. He tried to walk past him,and although he succeeded, Rick’s hand on the door stopped him from leaving completely.

“I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

Mateo turned around, the handle now behind his back. Rick’s hand rested on the door somewhere between his head and shoulder, more to the side, keeping a safe distance between them. Still, they were close enough, and for the first time it was the older one who had put them in this position.

“So what do you want?”

The anger had disappeared from Teo’s voice.

The correct answer was simple: You. But Rick didn't dare say it. Instead, he said: “Orion is important to me. He's my best friend.”

“And me? How does that relate to me?”

Rick hesitated, because this time he didn’t know the right answer. Teo was his unreachable dream. He was the person who made honesty feel like an easy choice and who showed him that losing his family had been worth it, because it meant he could be himself. Because who he was had once been enough to have him.

“You're his brother—”

“No,” the dark-haired man stopped him before he could say more. “Who am I to you?”

“My best friend's brother.”

Blue eyes suddenly filled with determination, and he not only straightened up but also took a step closer.

“That’s all I am to you?”

“Yes.”

It didn’t sound convincing to either of them.

“Sure.”

Teo’s tone was bitter, yet he took another step forward, now so close that Rick could feel his breath on his face. And when the younger man leaned in even closer, the older one subconsciously closed his eyes. 

But the kiss never came.

“Next time, if you want to kiss me—”

Rick opened his eyes in surprise.

“—you’ll have to do it yourself.”

Before the older man could respond, Teo quickly reached for the handle behind Rick’s back and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

…

The next day, when Rick woke up and stepped out of his room, his gaze automatically fell on the door next to it. It was closed, and no sounds reached the hallway that would suggest the person behind it was there or awake.

The brown haired man shook his head and, instead of standing in the hallway and hypnotizing the door any longer, decided to go downstairs and join Orion’s family.

Just like the previous days, the sound of a radio playing Christmas carols came from the kitchen. Rick had never realized he knew so many of them until he spent time in Hollybrook.

“Oh, Rick!”

Alicia was the first to notice him when he entered the kitchen, and he, in turn, noticed that everyone was gathered around the counter except for the dark-haired man.

“Where is Teo?” he asked before he could realize the meaning of his own words, but by then it was already too late. Fortunately, no one seemed suspicious of his question.

Orion looked confused by his interest, while Amelia hid an amused smile behind her cup of tea. Still, that was fine. It had to be.

“He’s at Macy’s. They have that concert today, so they’re rehearsing,” Alicia explained with a smile, and a moment later she was standing in front of him with a mug of tea. “Atlas made waffles for breakfast, would you like some?”

And just like that, the topic was changed.

“Sure. Thanks.”

The family had breakfast together while they loudly planned the days ahead at the table. Between today and New Year’s Eve there were a few days that Alicia and Atlas had to work, even though they promised they would all celebrate the New Year together. They apologized for not being able to spend more time with their guests, but Rick and Amelia assured them they did not hold it against them.

Besides…

Rick could not help the thought that this way, with fewer people around, there was a greater chance he might run into the younger man somewhere alone in the house. His words had not let him sleep all night, and now it was even worse whenever his gaze caught on the plant hanging above the kitchen door.

“Are you planning to go see Teo’s concert?” Rick finally risked it and asked Orion.

“I thought about it, but I do not know whether my presence there would make him happy,” his best friend replied exactly as he had expected.

“I think it could be fun,” Amelia chimed in, and Rick had no doubt she was not saying it just for the sake of it.

“Alright, why not.”

Orion truly had no other reason to protest. He did not want to explain that his brother had not invited him, even though it was a public event and, technically, everyone was welcome. He and Teo had a complicated relationship, and although it might have seemed obvious at first glance and could be blamed on their age difference, the real reason was far more tangled and unpleasant. It was nothing Orion wanted to burden his friends with during Christmas, especially when the holidays were already difficult enough for them.

And so, a few hours later, even though snow was falling outside and it was colder than his guests had expected, the blond man led them to a small square where the townspeople gathered so they could spend the last days of the year together.

Orion had not even realized how much he had missed the small town atmosphere until he had been home for several days and saw how close everyone was and how everyone knew each other. In Brassford, he did not even know the names of all his neighbors in the apartment building.

“There are so many people here.”

Amelia seemed just as excited and pleasantly surprised as Orion. She came from a big city, larger than the one where their corporation was based, so this was likely her first time experiencing a small town Christmas celebration with everything that came with it.

And it seemed she liked it.

“Did all these people come for Teo’s band?” Rick sounded more confused than excited.

“It is not just his band performing,” Orion explained. “First, the children from the local kindergarten perform. Then the church children’s choir, and finally anyone who signed up. Most of the time it is a small band of friends around my parents’ age, and since last year, Teo’s band as well.”

“Are they a new band?” Fortunately, Amelia took over the conversation before Rick could ask too many questions about Orion’s younger brother for one day. “Have you heard them perform before? Are they good?”

“I do not know how long they have been together, but not very long.” Orion would have had to communicate with him to know a more precise answer. “I haven't heard them yet.”

Despite his vague reply, Rick had his own idea. Teo was attractive, confident, smart, and funny, so he had no doubt he would be talented as well. Just how talented became clear the moment he appeared on the small makeshift stage with two other men and a short-haired woman, and the first notes of a song Rick surprisingly recognized immediately rang out.

Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight

Talented was an understatement.

Despite the snow drifting through the air and the square being full of people, Teo did not seem nervous. Quite the opposite. The stage belonged to him, and not only did he hold the microphone firmly in his hands, but with every new verse it seemed his confidence only grew, his voice becoming steadier and more captivating.

Tell me why is it always this way?

The older man stood farther back, surrounded by the crowd, yet their eyes met.

After a moment, he began to feel as though the dark-haired man was singing directly to him.

I loved you from the start

’Cause Christmas ain’t the time for breaking each other’s hearts

And that was not good.

Not for his sanity.

“He’s really good.” Thankfully, Amelia’s words pulled him back into reality.

“He is.”

After the Christmas song, Teo’s band—Hollygans, as Rick would later learn—moved on to more classic pop-rock tracks that got the frozen town square dancing almost as much as the punch and mulled wine.

The older man recognized songs by The Killers, Green Day, and Collective Soul. He hadn't expected it, but it seemed that Teo and he had the same taste in music, though it didn't necessarily have to be him who chose the repertoire.

They played about eight songs before the Hollygans—undoubtedly named after this small town—bade the crowd farewell and stepped down from the stage.

“We should go say hi to him.”

Rick, looking for an excuse to talk to Teo, immediately welcomed Amelia’s words and hoped Orion wouldn’t object.

“Sure.”

Although his best friend didn’t seem thrilled about the idea, he was the first to push through the crowd, exchanging greetings left and right, enhancing the small-town vibe where everyone knew everyone.

They reached Teo just as he stood to the side, helping his bandmates pack up their instruments to protect them from the snow.

“Teo!”

Amelia had clearly sensed Orion's feelings about this ambush on his brother, so she took the lead. Teo had reacted positively to her so far, but now it seemed he didn’t plan to uphold that tradition.

“Hey.” His tone wasn't exactly welcoming, and he didn't even turn fully toward them.

Teo wasn’t in the mood for arguments or explanations. The former applied to his brother, the latter to his friends. While he had invited Rick to come see him, he doubted he would accept, and certainly didn’t expect him to arrive with Orion.

He was caught off guard, frozen, and had no desire to watch his words just to avoid triggering any suspicion in Orion regarding him and Rick.

“You guys were great.” Amelia gave him a soft smile.

“Thanks.”

“That Christmas song was my favorite,” the redhead continued with the praise

Rick wanted to ask why they hadn’t played Teo’s own song, but he didn’t dare in front of Orion.

“Are you going home now?” Orion asked his brother.

“Probably not.”

Teo shrugged, and while he acted as if it wasn’t a big deal, Rick watched as his best friend started to frown.

“Got plans?” Rick spoke up, trying to salvage the conversation before it could turn into an argument.

“I'm going to hang out with my friends.” The dark-haired man jerked his thumb behind him, where his bandmates continued packing their things. They didn't even come over to say hello, and Rick judged that it had something to do with Orion's presence.

“When will you be home?” Orion asked his brother another question.

“I don’t know.” Teo shrugged again. “Don’t wait up for me.”

“Sure.”

It was clear from the blond man’s tone that he wasn’t thrilled about his brother’s plans, but he didn’t say anything aloud. Instead, he came up with an excuse to move elsewhere, and since Teo didn’t protest, Rick didn’t dare either.

That evening, Teo didn’t return home.