Now You See Me by Lynn Van Dorn

Author:Lynn Van Dorn [Dorn, Lynn Van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-13T04:00:00+00:00

26

Aldrich Has Not Decked His Halls

Thursday, December 19

Aldrich’s house

Evanston, IL

Finals week was always hectic, every bit as much for professors as students. Aldrich taught four lectures and two labs every semester. He had dozens of labs and hundreds of exams to evaluate, then he had to record and tabulate the results, and finally turn in his grades to the university administration. Aldrich barely had time to eat and sleep; there was no time at all for anything extracurricular.

He did see Miguel every night, but it was from his window. The young man sat at his table, in front of his window, and studied. They also texted every night, although briefly, and Miguel always told him to sleep well, which surprisingly he did, curled up beside three pillows that divided his bed.

When Miguel texted to ask if he could come over on Thursday after his last exam, Aldrich jumped at the opportunity to see him, even though he had one last exam to give in the morning. He waited for the last straggler to turn in her test, collected all the papers for grading, then left the lecture hall, headed for home and a boy he shouldn't miss, but did. A bit. Perhaps more than a bit. Probably more than he was comfortable contemplating too closely.

When Miguel showed up at Aldrich's kitchen door, he was dressed like the male lead in a holiday Hallmark special. He even had a bottle tied with a red ribbon in his hands. The only thing he was missing was a golden retriever and/or a baby.

"Where's the plucky career girl who needs to learn the true meaning of Christmas, and also that her big-city boyfriend is a huge jerk?"

Miguel stared at him, looking picture perfect in his green knit hat, North Face jacket, jeans, and boots. He even had snow on his long lashes. "What? Are you high?"

Aldrich huffed. "No. You just look like you stepped out of a Christmas special, that's all. Sorry, I haven't made anything for dinner. I just got home."

"No biggie." Miguel took off his boots, then put his bottle in the fridge. "I grabbed a burger at the Student Center earlier."

"I can hang up your jacket and hat," Aldrich offered.

"Nah. I know the drill." Even though this was only the third time he'd been in Aldrich's home and only the second in which he'd been invited, Miguel walked unerringly out of the room and down the hall like he'd been a guest there for years.

Aldrich found himself standing in his own kitchen feeling like he was the guest. He wiped his hands on his pants and tried to figure out why he felt so unsettled.

"Dammit," he heard from the other room. Aldrich went to investigate.

In the formal living room at the front of the house, Miguel stood, his shoulders slumped.

"What is it?" Aldrich asked, still feeling out of his element even though he was in his own home.

"There's no tree," Miguel protested. "There's supposed to be a tree. I know how this shit goes.

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