Page 22 of Santa Is A Sl*t

His offer to join them, and possibly Nico, was enticing.

My first instinct was to chase Kane out of that coffee shop and tell him yes. But he was right. I needed to think it through.

I had to make sure that I wasn’t making a rash decision just because I’ve started feeling so lost and lonely. I care about each of them but I won’t deny that the idea of closing our dynamic off felt like things got very serious, very fast.

It’s not that I’m against relationships. I’ve just never been in one. Or wanted to be.

My feelings for Eve and Kane have always been there, even if I refused to admit it. And when I let go of my anger for Nico’s decisions and took time to consider that he could be coming from a good place, I know that I could easily develop those same feelings for him.

I can’t deny that starting a relationship with not one person, but three, feels like I’m jumping into the deep end of the pool without any arm floats. Ultimately though, my feelings for them have easily outweighed my nerves, and I’m ready to be honest with them about that.

And I know just where I need to start.

The boss.

I have no idea how his conversation may have gone with Eve but we can’t let those two, even with their good intentions, run this entire thing for us. He and I are going to have to work on our own relationship.

In order to prove that I’m ready for this, I think it’s best if I talk with Nico first. I want to know where he stands and if all of this is just fun and games.

Because if he’s not in this, can we really move on as just a throuple? I know Eve and Kane believe that they want me no matter what, but what if we try it and they feel like he’s really their missing piece.

My steps are confident as I make my way down the hall, approaching Nico’s office.

Eve isn’t at her desk, which doesn’t strike me as odd. Although she takes her work seriously and is good at her job, I know first hand that she’s a coffee fiend with a habit of office hookups.

She could be in Nico’s office with him but I’m certain that pending a work emergency, she’d let me have a private conversation with him.

Or at least pretend to while she listened at the door.

I’m about to know when I notice a slight crack. Peeking through, I realize that Nico is definitely in his office alone, pacing the room.

“I understand that but if we could just have a little more time…” He sounds frustrated.

I’m about to give him a signal that I’m here but the conversation seems to escalate quickly.

“That’s just it, Jack. I’m doing everything I can to make sure this place survives while you’re out on a private island relaxing.”

Survives? Maybe Kane was onto something. Nico might be making all of these changes and canceling our big celebration to save the company money.

It sounds like that’s true but that it might be a much bigger deal than a few budget cuts.

“No, Jack. I’m saying you won’t even have a job when you get back to the states. SantaScape is going to have to close its doors after this season.”

The finality of his words cause me to let out a gasp loud enough that Nico stops and turns. I’m in shock. Suspecting something and having it confirmed are very different things.

Opening the door fully, I narrow my eyes at him. “What is going on, Nico?”

He sighs, “Jack, I’ll call you back.” Without waiting for a response, he puts the phone away. “How much did you hear, Noel?”

It’s interesting to me that he doesn’t try to make an immediate excuse or brush me off. Even though he’s been caught, he could easily tell me to leave and mind my own business.

Nico doesn’t though. Instead, I watch his shoulders fall in shame.

“I’m going to be real with you, Noel. My uncle left this place dangling above the red. I’ve made all the cuts I can to the budget but I don’t think we’re going to make it.”

I nod. That, I can understand. We’re a seasonal business focused on one holiday celebration. It wouldn’t take a business expert to know it’s a risk.

“And the other thing? About Jack?” I ask as I take a few steps towards him.

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