Page 203 of Untouchable

"I was supposed to be doing things with my two roommates but they paired off last weekend and it's pretty awkward, so I thought, hey, I should come visit you during the holidays, give them some room and—"

"Gil, you know I'd love to see you, but I'm already hosting on Christmas."

There's a long pause. "Not... our family?" Gil asks, perplexed.

"No, Christ," Harp says, laughing. "Actually, there's a lot I need to catch you up on."

"Oh my God, Harp, what are you talking about? Who are you hosting on Christmas?"

"My boyfriend. His name is Parker. I think I mentioned him the last time we talked—"

"Uh, you most certainly did not. You told me about massage therapy for like, half a second, and some new friend you’d made.”

They’d had a tangled conversation the other day while Harp was distracted and working on his truck. He’d only half-listened to what Gil was telling him and though he’d meant to go in depth about his relationship with Parker, Gil had left in the middle of Harp telling him about who Parker James was and how they had met in the first place.

"Yeah, no. That's Parker. That's how we met—he was my massage therapist. Well, he is. I was trying to tell you that last week before you had to go."

Another long pause.

Christ, Harp had spent so much time making Parker face the facts about his family not liking Harp that Harp had never stopped to think about Gil and what he would think. He's been living alone by his own rules for so long that he's forgotten he has at least one family member to answer to.

"You're dating your massage therapist," Gil says. It's not a question. "You said he's, like, myage."

"He is," Harp says. He lets Gil sit with whatever it is he's mulling over, and when the silence stretches out, he gets tired of waiting. "So, as much as I'd love to see you, I've already invited my boyfriend Parker to stay for Christmas with me. How about after the holiday?"

"Yeah, um. I guess we'll catch up then, Harp."

"Sorry," Harp says, hearing the disappointment in his voice. He'd rather spend the holiday with Parker, if he's being honest with himself, but it feels bad to let his little brother down. "I would've enjoyed hosting you. I'd love to have you down any time you'd like, really. Guess I just need some more notice these days since I'm not flying solo."

"Sounds great," Gil says, and Harp can tell he's not really listening.

"I need to get on the road before it gets too dark to get home, so—"

"Wait, where the hell are you?"

Harp snorts. "There's this animal sanctuary in town—Parker's roommate volunteers here, and they always need some extra help on the weekdays."

"You're in town? In Mink Creek?"

"Yeah."

"And this is just a thing you do regularly now?" Gil demands.

"It's only the third time I've been," Harp admits.

"The third time since—Jesus, Harp, we really do need to catch up. Will you call me again before Christmas at least?"

"Of course," Harp says, quickly making a mental sticky note to make a real sticky note when he gets home. "Definitely. We'll talk then."

"Alright. Love you, Harp."

"Love you."

* * *

Parker is sohappy he’s practically tap-dancing at work that morning between appointments. He’s grateful that his car being out of commission won’t prevent him from seeing Harp before Christmas—Harp has agreed to come down the mountain for an in-house appointment. Parker is proud of Harp, too, because he knows Harp hates coming into town, but Harp has been working hard not to let his anxiety completely rule his life.

Harp is coming a little early, and they’ve planned to grab lunch somewhere before the appointment. Parker’s smile is huge, especially when he remembers the first time they’d had lunch together, how it had been wonderful and awkward and hesitant and sweet all at once.

---