A few weeks ago, Joel might have made a joke about a fruit basket not really being what Coop would like in return, but he clearly remembers the conversation they had in the hospital. He knows Coop has a lot going on right now, he knows that things are fairly complicated for his friend and so any joke he might have made before doesn't even occur to him now. Maybe not a fruit basket, but he knows he certainly owes him something for all the help he's provided over the past several weeks. Six months ago Joel never would have imagined himself having anything more than a superficial friendship with the other man, but he's come to a place where he thinks they both recognize the value in the other. A place where they can both acknowledge there's a deeper friendship there than had been before. Joel finds it's a place he quite likes being.
"Not as expensive as husbands," he teases with a soft laugh, nudging against Spencer briefly before he ducks down to open one of the boxes. If either of them is the expensive one, he knows it's him, what with the costs of the store. They're pulling in a significantly higher income lately, though, which is just one more thing on a very long list of things Joel has to thank people for. Between Spencer and Caden, the store is more than just getting by for the first time in at least ten years.
"So what you're telling me is that your poor mother baked for you, then did all the work on the tree as well," he says with a huff of laughter. "You'll be glad to know I can't bake one handed." Though it's not as if Raleigh doesn't leave them fully supplied with baked goods at all times. If they do give up on decorating the tree, he's fairly certain there are more than enough cookies in the kitchen right now for them both to stuff themselves to the point of being sick.
"Which means you have to help me with the tree until it's done," he continues, grinning at the ornament Spencer is holding. It's very cute and he reaches out for it, turning it over in his hand. "Whether or not you've learned how to do it, you're stuck with this job for the long haul. Tonight and next year and the year after that..." But by that time they'll have a baby. Not yet old enough to help, perhaps, but getting there.
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"Not as expensive as husbands," he teases with a soft laugh, nudging against Spencer briefly before he ducks down to open one of the boxes. If either of them is the expensive one, he knows it's him, what with the costs of the store. They're pulling in a significantly higher income lately, though, which is just one more thing on a very long list of things Joel has to thank people for. Between Spencer and Caden, the store is more than just getting by for the first time in at least ten years.
"So what you're telling me is that your poor mother baked for you, then did all the work on the tree as well," he says with a huff of laughter. "You'll be glad to know I can't bake one handed." Though it's not as if Raleigh doesn't leave them fully supplied with baked goods at all times. If they do give up on decorating the tree, he's fairly certain there are more than enough cookies in the kitchen right now for them both to stuff themselves to the point of being sick.
"Which means you have to help me with the tree until it's done," he continues, grinning at the ornament Spencer is holding. It's very cute and he reaches out for it, turning it over in his hand. "Whether or not you've learned how to do it, you're stuck with this job for the long haul. Tonight and next year and the year after that..." But by that time they'll have a baby. Not yet old enough to help, perhaps, but getting there.