Page 37 of Christmas Wishes

Keaton wrapped his small hands around his mug. “Can you hire someone?”

I’d avoided that decision since Nico had told me I needed to do exactly that when he’d gotten too sick to work. I wasn’t cut out to manage anyone. Hell, I was barely managing the business side of things. The growing pile of admin tasks and paperwork waiting on my desk were enough to make me want to hibernate for the rest of the winter.

“Not yet. Need to make sure the business can sustain it.”

Instead of pushing me on it, his expression softened. “You’ll get there. Nico wouldn’t have left the business to you if he wasn’t confident you could handle it.”

My eyes burned as a lump formed in my throat. I didn’t dare attempt to talk for a few moments. When the feeling passed, I cleared my throat. “What are you going to do on your last full day in town? Work on your content?”

Keaton frowned, and I regretted pushing. “Still haven’t figured out my username yet, so no. I feel blocked. I don’t know what to create until I have my brand figured out.”

I wasn’t sure it was that complicated, but he obviously knew more than me. “You’ll get there,” I echoed.

Keaton grinned. “I’ll probably hang out at Jitterbug for a while and check out what’s happening with the festival now that the vendor fair is over. No more peppermint popcorn for me.”

“If you go to the tree lighting tonight, you can get more. That’s always a booth there.”

“Tree lighting?” Keaton sat up. “That sounds fun.”

“I’ll, uh, be going later. On hand for electrical needs. You can catch a ride with me.” I felt silly even mentioning it. He had his own damn car.

Keaton brightened like the lights on the tree in the town squarehopefullywould tonight. “I’d love to go with you! Think it’s okay for me to do a makeup look?” His forehead furrowed in thought.

I understood what he was getting at. “Absolutely. You’re safe to be you here. There might not be a lot of people who look visibly queer, but they’re good people.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Okay. Good. Thanks. A tree lighting sounds quaint as fuck.”

I chuckled. “Great way to describe it. Need anything warm to wear under your clothes? I’ve got some thermals.” That made me wonder what Keaton looked like under his dorky candy cane pajamas.

Keaton gave me a steamy look. “Get your mind out of the gutter, mister.”

I smiled into my coffee cup. I’d been dreading the tree lighting, but Keaton might be just the thing to get me through it.

Chapter20

Keaton

“Told you there’d be popcorn.”Riggs handed me the bag of peppermint popcorn he’d bought for me.

It took everything in my power to not swoon or strut around and tell everyone that Riggs bought me popcorn. Show off like I was wearing his letterman jacket to the Homecoming game.

“Thank you.” I smiled sincerely at him as I held out the bag for him to take the first handful of the warm goodness.

His hand looked comically large against the bag. After chewing for a few moments, he nodded his approval.

We continued walking along the booths lining the sides of the town square. The scent of sweet peppermint tickled my nose as I shamelessly people-watched the sizable crowd. The square was full of people of all ages bundled for the cold weather. I was so caught up in the festive wonder that I didn’thatethe gently falling snow.

“I love your makeup!”

It took me a moment for my brain to catch on that the teenager was talking to me. I smiled at the androgynous-presenting person. “Thank you!”

“What did you use to make the tree shapes at the corners of your eyes?”

“Eyeliner. Felt tip eyeliner gives you tons of control.” They seemed to be early in their eyeliner experimentation. A shaky and thick kohl line, but not bad.

“Thanks! Merry Christmas.” They skittered off with their group of friends.

Riggs smiled smugly.

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