My Henry

Untitled Part 7

The wonder throuple, as Alex laughingly calls them, June, Pez and Nora are hosting Christmas Eve dinner this year. Alex tried to beg out of it, but is informed by June that Bea is flying in to join them, staying through to New Years and is desperate to see him.

He loves Bea, so grateful that she was not lost to him in the break up.

Henry won't be attending.

Alex is not certain if that makes him feel better or worse.

He puts on his Christmas sweater, the one covered in light up trees, and his public smile and hopes that his family will be fooled.

Their apartment, spans the entire 10th floor, a space of glass and wood on the Upper East side, beautifully elegant, garishly bright and alive, quintessentially them.

As he exits the elevator, into a small alcove partitioned from the main space by an ornately carved divider, a scent wraps around Alex's nostrils and fills every atom of his being, clean linens and fresh grass in expensive cologne... Henry, he wants to turn and run, but its too late.

Alex steps out and stops short as he almost collides with Henry "Oh shit, sorry" he mutters. Their eyes meet, Henry's are clear blue and breathtaking and Alex is unsure if he can remember how to breath.

"Hey" Henry starts, but is cut short by a deafening squeal as Bea launches herself into Alex's arms, planting wet kisses all over his face. He groans and smiles under the onslaught as his breath slowly returns and carries her twirling into the open living space. The apartment is festooned in Christmas decorations, a large fresh pine sits in one corner 'snow' on its branches, Dean Martin crooning carols from the speakers hidden in the walls.

Alex glares at June, as he standing in front of the well stocked bar as he fixing himself a drink, Glenlivet single malt intense and smooth, and downs it in one mouthful, welcoming the burn at the back of his throat. " You said he wouldn't be here" he hisses, as he fixes another and downs that too.

"I lied, she smirks, "sometimes little brother you need help to get out of your own way"

All three of Alex's parents are there, with Princess Catherine, Zahra and Shaan, even Raphael Luna and ridiculously attractive partner, who, Alex later discovers, was a ballerino with the Bolshoi ballet. That makes sense he muses, Nikolai has long sinewy limbs and thighs that could crush walnuts, this would also account for the look of contentment on Raph's face.

Alex is able to avoid Henry, mostly, stealing glimpses of him from under his eyelashes when he thinks he can't be seen, intensely aware of Henry's eyes on him, equally aware of his struggle not to meet them.

Dinner is amazing, 6 courses with paired wines.

They know how to entertain, Alex muses.

Pez hired a personal chef for the evening "Darlings life is too short, and no one want a repeat of Henry's yule log"

"Oi!" Henry squeaks indignantly, Alex feels a smile dance fleetingly across his lips, then forces it, and the memories it brings down and locks them away.

He seats himself as far away from Henry as physically possible, avoiding eye contact when he can and using his public smile when he can't.

He know Henry can tell the difference, but this is the best he can do.

It would be easier if Henry didn't look so fucking beautiful. Barely there stubble, chocolate coloured knit, patterned with, what on closer inspection, are tiny reindeer clinging to his broad chest and arms, and a ridiculous pair of elf ears set at an old angle on top of his head; so full of joy, so beautiful, perfect and someone else's, and the pain of that ricocheting off Alex's ribs.