He and his siblings didn’t exchange gifts, focusing on the children instead, so he was surprised when he got another gift after opening the one from his parents.

“What’d you get me, Wesley?” he winked at the man, who couldn’t reply before Jessie did.

“I picked it out!”

“Oh, it’s from you? Thanks, Squirt.” He playfully tugged on one of her curls.

Braden ripped at the paper and smiled when he pulled out a large toy fire truck. He caught Wes’s eye and the man shrugged, obviously a little embarrassed about the gift.

“Do you like it?” Jessie asked.

“Are you kidding me? I love it. Come here.” She fell into his lap and he gave her a hug. He really did love the gift. It didn’t matter to him that it was a toy.

She scrambled away from him as fast as she’d come, looking at the toys with the other kids. He’d hidden Wes’s gift behind the tree, not sure how Wes would feel if he gave it to him in front of everyone or not. Since they gave him something, he was going for it, though.

Braden grabbed the gift. The kids were all laughing and playing still. He knew his parents were watching him, and probably his sisters, too. Shit like that didn’t bother him though. Braden kneeled next to Wes. “Thanks for the truck, Wesley.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Sorry. She wouldn’t go for anything else.”

“I don’t want anything else either.” He sat down and handed Wes the gift before leaning back, his hands flat on the floor behind him.

Wes paused, looking at the package and then Braden. He had to figure what was inside, and this could be one of those moments were Braden opened mouth and inserted foot, but he didn’t think so. At least he hoped not.

***

Wes’s fingers begged to rip into the package. A passion he’d long since thought he buried flared to life inside him again. The urge to paint, that he hadn’t felt in so long, made him buzz with energy. At the same time, this felt deeply personal. This was showing a part of who he really was, who he used to be to Braden and his family.

But then, Braden had known. Braden knew more about him than anyone had in a very long time.

“You opening them or what, Wesley?” Braden teased.

“Shut up,” he found himself saying as he tore the paper on the first package. Inside were a few blank canvases. He wasn’t sure why but he flipped through them, as though each blank canvas would be different. They weren’t, of course, until...He couldn’t stop the grin on his face.

“You know what they say about assuming, don’t you?” he directed at Braden.

“That you get your way?” Braden replied.

“Great. What’d he do this time?” Braden’s dad, Bill, joked.

Wes looked at the corner of the last canvas, where it said, “For Braden.”

“I’m forcing him to paint something for me,” Braden replied for him. “Open the rest.”

He opened the other package, a bag filled with oil paints and brushes. His chest swelled the whole time. He wanted this. How had he not realized he wanted to do this again?

“I hope that’s all the right stuff. I didn’t know what all you needed. I’m pretty sure the lady at the art store thought I was an idiot.”

“Yeah, it’s right.” Wes set everything back in the bag. He looked over, holding Braden’s eyes. This meant a lot to him. Christ, it meant more to him than he realized it would. No one else would have pushed it like this. He didn’t know he would want someone to, but Braden knew.

“Thank you.”

Braden shook his head. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes it is.” The room was loud with laughter and chatter, but he just kept staring at Braden, kept trying to show him what this meant to him.

“You’re welcome,” Braden finally said with a nod.

“Who’s ready for breakfast?” Emmy asked, to which everyone started talking at the same time and getting up to head for the kitchen. He stood first and held out his hand to help Braden up. As they headed toward the kitchen with everyone else, Wes kept their hands latched together.

Chapter Twenty-Five

When Jessie had asked to go outside and play with her sled a little while before, Braden told Wes he had to help his mom with a few things, which he usually did on the holidays. But he didn’t have to. Still, he’d thought it a good idea to give Jessie and Wes some time alone—Wes especially. Though Jessie seemed to be doing okay today, the day couldn’t be easy on either one of them. He wouldn’t let himself push.