Housekeeping

On Thanksgiving morning, Nicky woke up to the sound of rain hitting the windows.The sky outside the window was a dull leaden gray, promising a storm that would accompany them through the day.But Nicky didn't mind—it's actually nice to sit and listen to the wind and rain when you're huddled in the comfort of a house—and instead he was glad he had made the right decision not to drive back to Bakersfield for Thanksgiving.

Jamie and Spencer were clearly still up when Nicky came downstairs.He made a pot of coffee and drank it slowly while nibbling on an apple, trying not to think about tangled issues about love.Spencer brought home the Thanksgiving package yesterday; the fridge was filled with assorted cartons and plastic boxes, and Spencer promised to heat it up before mealtime.So Nicky now has nothing to do but clean up.But he thinks it's okay, after the soul torture the night before, he now needs to do something else to divert his attention.

Nicky had given the room a thorough cleaning before Jamie arrived, but last night the three of them had left a lot of crumbs, empty bottles, and greasy handprints.So Nicky started cleaning again from the kitchen.As he worked to polish the stainless steel surfaces, his mother called with holiday wishes.There was a bit of noise on the phone: the hum of the juicer, the cry of one of Nicky's nieces or nephews, and someone chanting at a football game on TV.He could picture his family arguing over whether marshmallows should be added to the candied yams, and the methodical orderly filling of each other's seats at the counter in his mother's crowded kitchen.He seemed to taste the pumpkin pie made by his sister, and the edges of the pie crust were always a little bit mushy.Nicky smiled, knowing that no matter what happened, his family loved him just as much, and there was at least one place that would always be his home.

Jamie came downstairs shortly after that.Nicky was sweeping the floor, and Jamie waved him off when he offered to help. "It's my job and you're on vacation. Besides, I like to clean."

"If you ever get tired of living in California and want to come to Chicago, please let me know. I'd be more than happy to hire myself a cute little manservant." She poured herself a cup of coffee and curled up on a chair to read a thick book. science fiction.

After a while, Spencer came down sleepily. "The weather is fine," he said, looking at the sky and pointing to the rain covering the backyard.Unfortunately, there are some jerks who look sexy even with stubble and pillow marks, and Spencer is one of them.Nicky, too, hated Spencer's soft flannel pajama bottoms—they almost tempted him to touch them—and the old gray T-shirt that clung to his pecs.He even hated Spencer's fluffy Chewbacca slippers -- Jamie had given him -- and they were so darn cute they couldn't stand it.

Note ①: The character in "Star Wars".

"I like rainy days," Nicky growled, throwing the floor cleaner bottle on the stove.

Spencer frowned in bewilderment, grabbed a cup of coffee and backed away quickly.He said good morning to his sister, and then hid in the study.

The hardwood floors were still wet when Nicky's phone rang. "Hey, Nikki baby," Ivan sang.

"Hey, Ivan. The snow must be beautiful over there."

"Definitely. But we're still stuck in Livermore. Someone stuck to work yesterday, so we didn't have time to start. The highways are closed to traffic now, unless the wheels are chained, of course, I'm not sure about that." It can't be done."

"So sorry for you. I know how much you want to get out."

"Oh, it's no big deal. We can kiss and cuddle all weekend long. I'm going to put a password on Ball's laptop and lock him until Monday morning. And what I'm calling, baby, is Just wanted to ask if you would like to come and have dinner with us. I'm going to give you an impromptu 'how can cook without rice'."

Nicky replied without hesitation, "Why don't you two come over?"

"Oh. I don't want to—"

"We've got plenty to eat--sufficient for eight or ten, according to the grocer--and Spencer is particularly fond of you." It was true.Although the two hadn't spoken much since Nicky's birthday, Spencer brought up Ivan and Powell a few times.After returning from IKEA, Spencer also talked about them, saying that he would find an opportunity to invite them over.Nicky thinks that Spencer may be a little envious of the relationship between Powell and Ivan, but also wants to make friends with them.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Ivan asked. "Aren't we going to bother you?"

"You are welcome to interrupt. Come around three o'clock, will you?"

"That's it. We'll bring wine over there."

Nicky wasn't sure whether to knock on Spencer's office door—he'd been careful not to interrupt Spencer's work.However, Spencer responded with a cheerful voice, "Come in!"

The rest of the house was already neat and orderly, so the level of clutter in Spencer's studio seemed striking.But maybe Spencer doesn't care.He looks perfectly at home in his big, squishy computer chair, surrounded by three monitors. "What's up?"

"I just invited Powell and Ivan to dinner. They can't go to Lake Tahoe because the highway is closed due to heavy snow. You don't mind?"

Spencer laughed, and Nicky was relieved. "Brilliant! Thanksgiving is all about having a few more people, right? I can finally use those extra chairs. I thought there would never be more than three people at dinner in this house. "

"I'm glad you don't mind."

"Nikki, this is your house too. You can invite anyone any time. Well, except Tom the bastard. I might be tempted to punch him in the face."

That unexplained warm feeling burned in Nicky's body.He also laughed. "I'm not likely to invite him. It's a pity, because you can beat him half to death, he's just a piece of shit."

"I'll come out to take a shower and set the table right away."

Nicky left Spencer's studio smiling.

When it was almost three o'clock, the whole house was filled with the smell of Thanksgiving.It's still pouring rain outside, but inside it's warm and cozy, with flickering flames flickering in fake wood trim in the gas fireplace and scary 80s oldies blaring from the stereo.Spencer even jumped a few times during that "Safety Dance," much to the delight of Nicky and Jamie.The dining table, which Spencer and Nicky never used, had a crisp white tablecloth and Spencer's elegant, bright china.Jamie and Spencer were busy in the kitchen, making last-minute preparations, while Nicky sat at the table and watched.The siblings agree that he should take a break after a long day of cleaning.

The doorbell rang, and Nicky hurried to answer it.Just a few steps to the door, Powell and Ivan were drowned by the heavy rain. Fortunately, Nicky was prepared, handed them towels, and helped them take off their raincoats.

"My hair is ruined," Ivan wailed as he rubbed his hair.

Powell reached out and brushed Ivan's hair. "I like it better now. I hate those sticky ghost hair gels."

Nicky introduced the two, then watched with relief as Spencer embraced his friends warmly. "It's a pity you didn't go to Lake Tahoe, but I'm so glad you did. I hope you didn't have high expectations for what you'll have for dinner."

"Food is not the point," Ivan said. "The important thing is companionship."

After Powell and Ivan took off their shoes, Nicky gave them a tour of Spencer's house.Overall, the house was nice for both of them, except that Ivan clicked his tongue a few times at the distance between Nicky and Spencer's bedrooms.Nicky pretended not to hear.

But Powell shook his head. "You have very little of your stuff in your house, Nicky. How could that be?"

"My clothes and miscellaneous things are all there."

"The ones all stacked in alphabetical order? I know they belong to you. But there's nothing personal about you. Some hotel rooms have more personality than your house."

Before Nicky could speak, Ivan echoed, "I know you didn't have any personal belongings when you lived with Tom, but I always thought that maybe Tom was too controlling. But I think I know Spencer well enough, he Wouldn't mind if you made the room more alive."

He was right, and Spencer wouldn't mind.Hell, even if Nikki had to redecorate the whole house, Spencer wouldn't say a word, except for the studio.But Nicky's room is basically the same as when he first moved in: plain white walls, beige curtains, bland furniture, spotless, and no ornaments.

Ivan squeezed Nikki's shoulder. "Honey. Don't you think this is your home?"

"I... I don't know. It's Spencer's house, not mine."

"Our apartment still belongs to the bank. But it's still our home." Ivan didn't say anything, just hugged him again.Although this guy is skinny, he is quite strong.

The three of them didn't continue the topic and went downstairs.Once they were in the kitchen, Spencer opened a bottle of wine that Powell and Ivan had brought and poured them each a glass. "If you are hungry, you can eat right away."

"I'm starving," Jamie said. "I haven't had breakfast or lunch. Serve the turkey!"

They sat around the table, watching Spencer clumsily carve up the turkey and pass side dishes to each other.The food wasn't bad, but Ivan was right - company was more important than food.Everyone was laughing and laughing, and Jamie and Ivan pretended to be arguing, one saying cranberry sauce made from whole berries was better, the other insisting that jelly-like cranberry sauce was the way to go.Ivan crazily praised his mother's exclusive and secret cake roll.Powell told a warm and funny story. When his parents first immigrated to the United States, because of a little misunderstanding, they made a joke at Thanksgiving dinner.And Spencer stared at Nicky for a long time, and finally agreed to break the wishbone with him later.

Note ②: This custom means that two people pull the V-shaped bone between the neck and chest apart when eating poultry, etc., and the person who gets a large bone can make a wish.

They keep yelling that they can't eat enough, that they need to be rolled somewhere to sleep, and then eat another big spoonful of mashed potatoes, or a few pieces of turkey.

There were crumbs all over the floor, and there was a pile of dirty dishes, but Nicky didn't care.

Spencer got up to get another bottle of red wine, and when he passed by Nicky on his way back, he subconsciously pressed Nicky on the shoulder.It's really not a big deal - just a pinch and a big smile.But Spencer's fingers and Nicky's skin seemed like a match.Every inch of Nicky's nerves became restless, and the warm current in his chest turned into molten magma.He looks at everything in front of him, and it seems like he is just watching: his friends are happy and enjoying each other's company.Powell and Ivan hold hands.Spencer's eyes wandered across the table, but they always ended up on Nicky's face.

Family.

When Nikki got up, his friends didn't realize anything was wrong.But when they found Nicky just standing there quietly, silent, trembling slightly, all chatter ceased.

"What's wrong?" Spencer frowned worriedly. "Are you unwell, Nicky?"

Nicky shook his head. "No. I'm fine. Everything's fine. I just found out..." He took a deep breath and let it out long. "It just dawned on me that a man's life is not about his career or his house. It's the people he loves, and the people who love him, that really matter. And I'm really, really grateful that I have you guys here. "

Sure enough, Ivan's tears welled up all at once. "Oh, Nicky baby. Why are you feeling all of a sudden! You're making my eyes red and swollen."

Powell passed his husband a napkin and stroked his hair reassuringly.Everyone smiled at Nicky—even Ivan.But it was the look on Spencer's face that galvanized Nicky, a look of joy and fragile anticipation that drove Nicky around the table, pulled him up, and gave him a hard Another passionate kiss.

The two kept entangled until the oxygen was exhausted before they finally separated.Nicky was vaguely aware that people—several people, in fact—were clapping wildly.But that doesn't matter anymore.Spencer was hugging him tightly, and that was the only thing that mattered right now.He hugged so hard that Nicky's lungs were crushed.God, Spencer's arms are so firm and warm that they never seem to let go.Even if he finally slowed down, Nicky had no doubt that this hug would always belong to him.

"Home," he whispered into Spencer's neck.He finally did get home.