It's our last excerpt of the month, so I had to make sure I picked a good one for this month's Feature from Monday: Button by Cole Matthews! I know this is a longer story than the last few months, but it's worth it, right? Plus with the chapters being vignettes, you can take breaks if you need to. I hope you enjoy Button.

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“Good heavens no,” Graham said. “There is no way we’re having five tweens playing Dungeons and Dragons all weekend in our family room.”

“Pop, pleeeeeaaaassssse,” Button whined. “Come on. We’ll be quiet and everything.”

“Your hockey friends and Andy? Quiet? I don’t think so,” Graham said shaking his head. “Your Dad’s gotta work and I’m not picking up after you guys.”

“But Papa, I promised them,” Button pouted. “The game’s no fun if you don’t have anyone to play it with.”

“Why can’t they just play Saturday afternoon? There’s no reason you need to play the entire weekend.”

“I don’t think it’s fair,” Button snorted. “Everyone else gets to do it. Is it cuz I’m dumb?”

“Button, I’m warning you. Don’t you say that about yourself,” Graham said. “You’re trying to play me. I’m not that dense.”

“You never let me do anything fun!” Button shouted his face screwed up with fury. “You always say no.”

“That’s not true. I just don’t want to…” Graham said raising his own voice.

“Graham, I could trade with Sam,” Craig interrupted. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“I told him no. Craig?” Graham fumed at the big blonde man with a warning look. “He doesn’t always get his way.”

“I hate you!” Button screamed. His hands were making fists, opening and closing. The boy was shaking and it appeared a fit was about to happen.

“I said no,” Graham said and turned away. He had tears in his eyes from his son’s words. ‘How did this become such a battle?’ he thought.

“Button, apologize to Pop!” Craig ordered him.

“No!” Button screamed. “He won’t let me do anything fun.” The boy ran to his room and slammed the door.

Craig stood there in the kitchen watching Graham washing a pot in the sink. He could see the tremble in his husband’s shoulders. It wasn’t right for Graham to be the bad guy all the time. Craig thought this was a bit over the top though. Button just wanted to have a sleepover which they’d done before.

Craig put his arms around Graham and held him tight. The smaller man tried to wriggle out of his embrace. Craig wouldn’t let go.

“What’s going on with you?” Craig asked softly. “This isn’t about a sleepover.”

“No,” Graham said after a minute with a sob in his voice. “Craig. I’m losing him.”

“What?” Craig said turning him around. Graham wouldn’t look at him and dried his hands on a towel. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just he has you for hockey and Sarah for his music. I’m just not that important to him. He doesn’t need me anymore like he used to,” Graham sniffled. “I know. I sound crazy but I’m hurt.”

“Gray. That little boy loves you so much but he’s a twelve year old now. Don’t you remember how you felt about your parents when you were that age?”

“Yeah, I guess. It’s so hard,” Graham cleared his throat. “I let my own feelings bother me. How do I fix this?”

“Well, first of all, Button’s going to apologize to you. Then, we will give him some ground rules so the boys can have a sleepover. Is that okay with you?” Craig asked. “But, if you don’t want to back down, I’ll be behind you a hundred percent.”

“I guess that will work,” Graham said softly. “Sorry.”

After an hour to let his husband and his son settle down, Craig knocked on Button’s bedroom door.

“S’open,” he heard his son answer sadly.

“Are you okay?” Craig asked sitting next to him on the floor. “You really hurt your Pop’s feelings.”

“I didn’t mean it,” Button said immediately. “I was just so mad and I promised the guys and…”

“Slow down,” Craig said. “I know you didn’t really mean you hate your Pop. Are you ready to say you’re sorry?”

 

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