Chapter Thirty-One

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*This chapter contains multimedia relevant to the plot*

**There is also MILD sexual content ahead**

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving day, Carter found himself alone in the house for the first time ever.

School was out until next Monday, but his mom was at work. Tony had taken Charlie to the Ristorante with him and the rest of the Santoros had driven with Mike to pick Richie up from Miami International Airport.

Tony had established an exception on Frankie's punishment so he could go with his siblings. Though that topic appeared to be unanimously ignored since the day of the parent-teacher conference. The Santoros kept interacting with each other in the same way they did before, but Carter had the impression there was still some tension between Tony and Frankie. A strange kind of tension. Like one didn't know how to be mad at one of his kids and the other didn't know how to deal with feeling he'd been a disappointment.

Carter simply told himself it wasn't his business. It wasn't his business to notice it and it certainly wasn't his business to interfere.

Jack got home later in the evening. He drove down from Gainesville with a few friends and joined his siblings in their loud reunion in the living room. Richie and Jack hadn't even bothered bringing their stuff upstairs to Mike's room, where it turned out they were staying. Carter could hear them talk and laugh downstairs, in the kind of disorganized loud harmony he'd come to associate with this family.

The dinner table was a little tight that night. Carter found Richie looked like a carbon copy of Tony, much like Jack. If he didn't know they had two years between them, he might've mistaken the two oldest Santoros for twins. Richie had perhaps a squarer jaw, with visible dark stubble.

Carter listened as everyone asked Richie about USC—that's where he went—, his job as a nightclub promoter—which Tony was having trouble understanding—, and life in the west coast in general.

Carter's mom asked Jack about college again. Richie asked Mike about college applications and Bella about her photography project for an elective Carter didn't even know she was taking. Jack asked Luca about basketball and Frankie about school—then changed the topic back to Mike as he noticed the environment.

Richie seemed glad to hear Mike was still considering Stanford, in California, within driving distance of Los Angeles. Carter was somewhat surprised to see that Richie and Mike had the same kind of easy intimacy Jack and Bella seemed to share, despite appearing to be polar opposites. 

Tony didn't talk much. He sat in his chair, eating the dinner his oldest sons had helped him prepare and watching his children catch up with each others' lives, despite the fact they seemed to maintain constant contact through a rather active group chat Carter had never heard of until that night.

Charlie told them about his school at some point, deciding it was his turn to give an update, and everyone listened in delight. After dinner, while Carter went upstairs to his room, the Santoros decided sleep did not take priority over spending time together. 

When Carter came down the next morning, Richie and Jack's bags were still in the living room. Richie slept in the armchair, with little Charlie curled on his lap like a cat. Bella was sprawled over Jack's chest, who was stretched out on the couch. Frankie and Luca were cuddled on the floor. 

Mike smiled at Carter from the stove, when he walked into the kitchen.

"Morning."

"Good morning," Mike replied. "My dad and your mom are still downstairs. The rest only fell asleep a couple of hours ago. Well, except Charlie. He dosed off around midnight."

"Did you go to bed?"

Mike shook his head. "I just went to take a shower when they fell asleep and came down to make breakfast," he said. "Already have your cereal there." Mike smiled, nodding towards the box of Cheerios on the table.

Carter smiled sheepishly. The Santoros loved breakfast as much as they seemed to love every other meal. But Carter was a milk and cereal kind of guy. Always had been.

"What time does your uncle get here from Fort Lauderdale?" Mike asked as he poured the eggs he'd been stirring on a bowl onto the buttered skillet.

"My mom said around noon," Carter answered, getting himself a bowl and a spoon. "What time does your uncle get here?" He asked, reaching into the fridge for the milk. The whole gallon. Because that's how you purchase your milk in a house of eight.

"Uncle Robbie should be here a little before that. He and Dad like to cook together, while they video chat with Aunt Cece."

"Does your family celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy?"

Mike laughed. "No, and they didn't either when my dad was a kid," he said. "It was a tradition he and Uncle Robbie picked up after marrying their American wives. Now, it's another excuse to cook as a family. Aunt Cece just cooks a regular meal."

Carter nodded. Besides his mom, Uncle Gary and his family were his only relatives. When Carter and his mom went through a rough patch, right after Carter's father left them, Uncle Gary was an indispensable support—financially and emotionally. His daughter, Louisa, was Mike's age and she and Carter had always gotten along. He hadn't spoken to his cousin since the wedding, though.

The smell of scrambled eggs, fried bacon and toast seemed to lure Mike's siblings out of their coma. Carter was glad to finish his cereal before they could all thunder in, slipping away before being crushed by the tidal wave of Santoros.

Uncle Gary arrived a little before noon, and a while after Tony's brother. Louisa, who was almost as tall as Carter, hugged him tightly when she saw him. She had always been the physical type, so she should fit right in with the Santoros.

"Where's that hunky green-eyed friend of yours?" She asked with a lewd grin.

Carter frowned when he remembered Seth for the first time since the break had started. Seth often ate with Carter and his family on Thanksgiving. Family holidays were never his favorite. Carter had forgotten to ask that year, though.

"He's not coming," he said. And if his cousin noticed his discomfort she didn't mention it.

Tony's brother had two daughters. One around Carter and Bella's age, and the other a little younger than Luca; Tori and Bianca. They both went to a private school and Carter learned, because she told him, that Tori played the violin and, because Mike told him, that Bianca was in the dedicated business of trouble-making. It seemed to serve as fact check, when Carter saw her join Frankie and Luca outside.

Uncle Gary seemed to fit in with Tony and his brother, though mostly keeping away from their cooking, while Carter's mom talked to his aunt Mary and Tony's sister-in-law. Richie, Frankie, Luca and Bianca already had a basketball bouncing between them. Mike talkef to Tori as he gently pushed Charlie on the garden swing, while Bella and Jack sat on the opposite end of the back yard.

Carter talked to his cousin for a while, before Louisa insisted they joined his step-siblings. Carter followed her grudgingly, already anticipating a snide remark from Bella as they sat on the floor by their side. It never came though. 

Louisa had no qualms with easily inserting herself in their conversation. Judging by the lack of resistance she met, it appeared that—although Bella didn't seem to like her own cousin much, which Carter was surprised to hear—she did seem keen on his

Everybody seemed to be getting along. It was a family holiday, after all, and Carter's new extended family appeared to have found a new normality to enjoy. He sat back with his phone in hand, torn between texting Johnny because he really wanted to and not wishing to disturb his family time.

It was nearing two, when Uncle Gary came out to say the meal was almost ready. Richie, Jack and Mike moved to set three folding tables on the back yard, while the other Santoros started bringing in chairs from inside.

Carter sat squished up between Frankie and Louisa, when his phone buzzed. He grinned down at the name on the screen.

"Do you want the gravy?" Frankie asked from Carter's right, snapping his attention away from his phone.

"I'll take it," Louisa said, reaching over Carter to get the saucer in Frankie's hand. She dropped a large bowl of greens in Carter's hands in exchange. "You can have the veggies. Keep up the jock physique."

"Thought he maintained it solely on a consistent diet of milk and cereal," Bella commented, sitting next to Carter's cousin. Yup, they had definitely gotten along.

Louisa cackled loudly. "Milk and cereal and no gravy," she played along. "Those are the golden rules to get your quarterback dream body."

"Yeah, I think that was already a thing in my day," Richie chimed in a few seats over. "But I'll have to check with Kevin Mason this weekend."

"Please, don't," Carter mumbled, eliciting some laughs around him.

It took forever to put food on seventeen plates. But they did it, and then they ate.

Turned out Carter's aunt adored the cooking tips she got from Tony and his brother, while Richie talked football with Uncle Gary. Carter's mom talked about college with Mike and Tori, while Bella, Jack and Louisa seemed to build a bond forged on sarcasm and quick-witted humor. 

Food flew around a lot in Frankie, Luca and Bianca's side of the table, and it became problematic when Charlie decided to copy. Carter was caught in the crossfire a couple of times.

He didn't join any particular nucleus of conversation and crossed his utensils when he was done eating. Then regretted it, because it gave him nothing to do with his hands. He was considering helping himself to a little bit more of ham, just to busy himself, when his phone buzzed again.

Carter smiled.

Carter couldn't help the bubbling in his chest again. It was a strange feeling he found was getting quite familiar. 

He tried to get his mother's attention from across the table. It took a while of intent staring.

"Is it okay if I go to Johnny's after we eat?" He asked.

Abby frowned softly. "We're supposed to spend some time together after and help clean up."

"I know. I will," he assured her. "But later."

"If Tony's okay with it."

Tony heard his name and turned to his wife, placing his hand on hers. Carter' mom said something to him and he grinned. He turned to Carter. 

"Of course, don't worry about cleaning up." He waved him off.

Carter smiled. To play it safe though, he texted Johnny with a surer hour.

A third of them were already passed out in food comas by five, though. Another third was enjoying the gooey idleness that came with a full stomach on a sunny day. Jack, Bella, Louisa, Frankie and Bianca—the last standing five—had taken out a game of Uno and sat around in the backyard.

"If my mom asks, can you tell her I left?" Carter asked.

"Our company too shabby to please you, golden boy?" Bella taunted.

Jack flicked her cheek. "We'll tell her," he spoke up to Carter with a smile.

"Meeting your new girl?" Louisa called after him.

Carter turned around with an eye roll. "Something like that," he answered.

Louisa grinned. "Shame. I liked that Melanie girl."

Carter knew that. In fact, Louisa had always liked Mel maybe a little too much.

Instead of ringing at the Masons' door, Carter texted Johnny to let him know he was there. The door opened almost as soon as it sent and Johnny's bright smile greeted him, pulling a grin out of Carter as well.

"They're watching football," Johnny whispered. "Do not engage. They will try to recruit you."

Carter laughed. "I can't ignore your family. I have to say 'hi'," he said as Johnny closed the door behind him.

The other boy leaned against the door, closing his eyes with a defeated whine. "Why do you have to be so polite?"

Carter followed Johnny to the living room, where Coach sat with a tall blonde guy with a burly physique and the same pale blue eyes. While Johnny was all his mom, Kevin appeared to be all his dad.

Lydia sat on the love-seat, positioned perpendicularly to the TV.

"Hey," Carter greeted.

"Hey." Kevin Mason smiled up at Carter, standing up from the couch. "You must be Carter Parrish. Heard a lot about you."

"Oh."

Carter glanced at Johnny as he moved to shake Kevin's extended hand. Johnny shot him a noncommittal look.

"My dad loves his new star," Kevin explained.

Coach hummed from the couch. "I recognize talent when I see it and I like to talk about it," he murmured.

Carter bit back a smile.

"We're going up to my room," Johnny announced.

Coach Mason did peel his eyes off the TV then to look at his son. It was a pointed sort of look Carter couldn't read into, but Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Can I come with you?" Lydia pouted. "Football is boring."

"Then why do you always ask me to take you to our school's games?" Johnny shot back.

"School spirit," Lydia clipped back with a sweet smile. "Can I come?"

"No."

She crossed her arms sulkily.

"It's the last game, Lyd. I'll do something with you when it's over," Kevin promised.

"Looks like I have a new favorite big brother," she declared with an impish smile.

Johnny simply grabbed Carter's arm and pulled him out of the living room and up the stairs. They closed the door behind them and moved to sit on Johnny's bed, legs touching.

"Are you glad to have your bother home?"

Johnny let out a loud huff. "I guess it's cool to have him back," he conceded. "But it's been all Kevin-this and Kevin-that. Do we seriously need to ask him about every game he's played for Auburn for the past four years? It's not like we haven't seen it on TV already."

"You watch college football?" Carter asked with a smile.

Johnny rolled his eyes. "Fine. Maybe I only sit in the room reading, while they watch Kevin," he confessed. "But it's still just fucking football." He smiled somewhat bashfully, as he realized what he said. "No offense."

"None taken."

Carter relaxed back onto Johnny's bed, laying on his back with his hands on his stomach. "My cousin liked Bella," he mused aloud. "Now I can't like my cousin."

Johnny snorted. "That sounds drastic." He laid down on his stomach with his upper body propped up onto his elbows so he could look down at Carter's face.

Carter shook his head. "It was a mess. There were too many people. Frankie splashed gravy on my face, Luca hit me with a pea... They made fun of my 'jock physique', whatever that means."

Johnny smiled shrewdly. "It means you're really hot," he said bluntly.

Carter lifted his head in a reflex, smiling at the look in Johnny's eyes. "Thanks. You're really nice," he quipped back.

Johnny rolled his eyes as Carter laughed. He scooted a little closer, putting his hand down on Carter's chest. "We both know I'm not that nice."

Carter smiled as Johnny's fingers spread over the fabric of his t-shirt.

"What do you mean?" He asked softly.

"I mean..." Johnny murmured, sliding his hand down Carter's torso and back up beneath his t-shirt. "If I'm not that nice, you must like me for another reason."

Carter's eyes closed with a satisfied sigh as Johnny's index finger traced a pattern on his stomach. It felt really good.

"You may have one or two talents I appreciate," Carter admitted in a breath.

Johnny smiled, connecting their lips in a supple kiss. That felt even better.

Carter's hand reached up to place the back of his fingers on Johnny's cheek. The other boy scurried closer, until he was laying on his side, pressed up against Carter.

The hand beneath Carter's t-shirt slipped down from his chest to palm between his legs. Carter gasped.

Johnny had barely touched him so far. They shared one short chaste kiss and it had all been soft, and gentle, and slow. Yet he was getting noticeably excited already. It should have been embarrassing.

Johnny glued their lips together once more, slipping his tongue without requesting permission. Cater would've granted it anyway. Johnny's hand worked around the button of Carter's jeans and Carter moaned into the kiss.

"Your family is downstairs," he whispered.

Johnny smiled slyly. "Just be quiet," he muttered against Carter's cheek, before wrapping his lips around Carter's ear lobe. "Do you think you can finish before the Washington Whatever beat the New York Big Guys?" He taunted.

Carter all but giggled, turning his head to catch Johnny's lips in his. "The Redskins are not going to beat the Giants."

Johnny snorted, slipping his hand brneath Carter's underwear and relishing in the strangled little moan he got from him. "I really don't care," he whispered.

And apparently neither did Carter. At all. For the whole duration of the game, his mind couldn't be farther away from football.

In the end, the Redskins

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