Page 6 of Daycare Santa

“You, of course.”

Her breath caught on a tiny sigh and would have weakened him a year ago, but had no effect on him now. At least, none he wanted to acknowledge. He glanced across the way at Regina, who was packing up her station. “So, tell me what you want.”

“I ... I wanted to touch base because we need to talk.”

“It’s been almost a year since we’ve been in touch.”

“I know, but I’ve been thinking ...”

She didn’t continue, and Zack didn’t urge her to speak. Alana could be persuasive, and he refused to be caught in her web. She’d had him tangled so badly, he couldn’t see through her shenanigans, which she eventually tried to blame on him.

“Um ... I want you to think about our relationship. To give me another chance.”

Zack sat up and propped his elbow on his thigh. “Hell no. What makes you think I’d be stupid enough to put you in a position to hurt me again?”

She sighed, and he pictured her tugging the thick braid she sometimes wore in a bun. “People make mistakes, Zack.”

“I agree, but a do-over is not on the cards for us.” Smirking, he asked, “Did yourfriend, client, or whatever he was to you,not turn out to be all you bargained for?”

“You don’t have to be nasty about it.”

“Don’t tell me how I should feel or how to react.” He scanned the surrounding area to be certain no one could overhear him. “We shouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

“We could have had it ages ago if you’d answered my calls.”

He huffed and adjusted his position so he wasn’t looking at Gina, but at the vendor selling chocolate reindeer, butter cookies, and gingerbread men. TheSleigh Rideinstrumental blasting through the nearby speakers only worsened his mood, and he snapped, “I’m under no obligation to listen to anything you have to say. You cheated. I walked away. It’s over.”

“You never allowed me to explain properly.”

“This is a bad time.” Zack let out another huff, conscious that he sounded bad-tempered, but he was past caring. “I can’t do this here.”

“When can we talk, Z?”

“I’m in Jamaica.”

“It’s not as if you’re on the moon.”

“You’re not listening to me.” He took a few seconds to clarify what he wanted to say. “If we talk, we’ll simply be moving in circles. There’s no going back for me. What you did falls into non-negotiable territory.”

“What about forgiveness? Doesn’t that count for something?”

“I’d forgive if there was any evidence you cared about my feelings. If I hadn’t caught you, you’d still have been playing me for a fool.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Do I?”

When she didn’t answer, Zack said, “Thanks for the call. I really have to go.”

He pressed the end icon and took several deep breaths to calm himself. The heat scorching his neck and face was almost unbearable, so he made a bee-line to the snow cone vendor, who served him a paper cup with shaved ice and a mixture of strawberry and mango syrup.

Several bites later, the roof of his mouth was stiff and frozen, but the numbness didn’t matter. Far worse was the memory of how devastated he’d been when he found out Alana was stepping out on him.

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