Page 35 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: Matty

Gonzo poked his head up the stairs at that moment. “The hell you can’t. You’re one of the best dancers I know.”

“I mean ballet.”

“Oh. Right. I know you used to do that. Whatever happened with that anyway?”

I took my drink in both hands and sat on the couch, tree forgotten, and sighed. “I hurt myself years ago, and it put me out of that world forever.” It still hurt that losing that career also lost my parents. Looking back now, they were toxic. My mom was obsessed with ballet, and from the first moment I took an interest in it, she pushed me hard. And dad would do anything to make my mother happy. I think he felt guilty because getting pregnant with me was what ended her dance career. It was a fickle world. I did love dance, though. Not just ballet, and I thought I would be a great teacher because of how much I loved it. But I was balanced, lacking my mother’s obsession.

“Sorry to hear that, Matty. You’re too sweet to be sad about it, though.”

“You’re right, Gonzo. And that’s why I want to teach.”

“Great idea, bro.”

Drake slid his arm over my shoulder. “Yep. I agree. Great idea. I’ll help you all I can.” He kissed my cheek. Yep, Daddy was a big ol’ sap.

A few hours later, Finn came by, and like the year before, we all sat around the fire pit. We had brandy again, and the guys smoked their fancy cigars. Drake stretched his long legs out in front of him. “This has got to be our go-to every year. Next year,we’ll all be living in different places, so I offer up our place to meet.”

Finn nudged Tank. “That works for me, but where’re you going to be?”

“Next year? Hell, if I know. Probably someplace like you have.”

“Me too.” Gonzo took a sip of his drink. “Can’t see having a big property with a yard and maintenance.”

“Right. I like the pool and the gym and shit at the complex, and good security, and I don’t have to do shit. Like mow lawns.” Tank puffed on his stogie.

“But you can’t make it perfect. You know, for you.” I watched their reactions, expecting pushback. “We met with our designer today. Our place is going to be, well,perfect.”

“Yes. For you.” Finn tilted his head and pointed at me, a tendril of smoke snaking up from the end of the cigar in his hand. “That ain’t me, man.”

“Ah…” Everyone had different ideas of what perfect was, and maybe Finn didn’t need to change anything at his place. “Well, we shall put a fire pit in so you all can come over for this brotherly bonding thing.”

“Well, all right.” Finn lifted his glass.

“Cheers!” Tank held up his glass, and everyone else lifted theirs.

Drake chuckled, the sound low and deep. “Merry Christmas, brothers. And Matty.” He leaned over and kissed the top of my head.

Chapter sixteen

Drake

After searching online and figuring out a few places that would work, I did something crazy for Matty. And it wasn’t easy keeping it from him. But first, we opened presents and had breakfast with the guys, including Finn who stayed over instead of going back to his new place. The presents weren’t much, a lot like the previous year, but it wasn’t what was given but the thought behind it. Matty and I had agreed to not spend much on each other since we’d bought the new house, and that was a lot.

After cleaning up, I took Matty’s hand. “I do have something else for you, and we need to leave in about twenty minutes, if we’re going to make it.”

“What the hell? Drake—”

“Shush. Go get ready and meet me at the car.” I shoved him toward the back of the house, where our room was. We’d be moving out as soon as our place was finished, but for now, it was still our slice of home.

Twenty-three minutes later, he was buckled in, and we were heading to his surprise. “Daddy? Where exactly are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Matty grumbled under his breath as I headed out, listening to the GPS instructions. Eventually, we entered a quaint, artsy area of Miami. Matty’s face was practically pressed against the window. “Daddy, look. Look at that. The art. It’s everywhere. Look.”

I chuckled, loving his excitement. “Yep. I see, Matty.”

Finally, the GPS stopped us in front of the right building, but there wasn’t parking. I had to circle the block to get to the back. That’s where the agent was waiting to meet us. We got out of the car, and Matty was scowling already. I bumped into him. “Chill out and go with it.”