Page 1 of Colin

Chapter one

Colin

“What? Three weeks? Move out? I can’t believe this.” I had been living with my uncle for four years since I graduated from high school. Now, I had three weeks to find somewhere else to go. My heart felt like all the life and love had drained right out of it. I was numb.

“Colin, you have to understand. Bobby is sick. Really sick and getting worse, not better. He has to move back, and this house isn’t big enough—”

“I do understand. But I don’t know how I’m going to find someplace to live. Not that fast, anyway.”

“You have a good job. You can find a roommate or something.” A good job? No. I worked at Koffee Kraze and not even as a barista. I was a stocker. I didn’t even get full-time hours. If I had to move, I needed to find a better job and fat chance of that when I didn’t have a car. In this little suburb of Tampa, it was hardto get employment, and a vehicle was a requirement to search farther away since the bus system wasn’t all that reliable.

It was hopeless. I flopped down on the sofa, letting my hair fall over my face, and kicked off my shoes.

“Stop being overly dramatic. Surely, you have money saved up so you can put a deposit down on something. This isn’t that big of a deal. You had to know you couldn’t stay here forever.”

Oh, I knew, all right, but I had zero dollars saved up. How could I when most of my paycheck went toward paying rent to Uncle Edgar? Being late or short was never an option. My uncle needed the money, especially with Bobby being sick, and I respected the man too much for that nonsense. But I also never said how little it left me with.

Hopeless.

I was a loser. A giant-ass baby loser. Had been my whole life. Barely got out of high school, flunked out of college the first semester, working the only job I could get, which was shit. And I had gained a good thirty pounds over the past few years. It wasnotcute. My life was spiraling down the toilet. Fast. Well,faster.

Uncle Edgar was still talking while he sorted through the Christmas decorations, packing some things away, and putting stuff to the side to add to the tree, but I had mentally checked out. I couldn’t see a way out of this crappy situation.

“Colin? Colin, are you listening to me?”

“Sorry, Uncle Edgar.” I pushed my hair out of my face. The long strands always bugged me like that unless I pulled them back into a pony or bun. “I was thinking.”

“Well, come over here and help me sort out these lights.” They were the same decorations and artificial tree we had for the past three or four years. Everything was still in good shape, and the tree was a pretty green spruce. I had helped put it up right after Thanksgiving. It seemed like ages ago when it had been less than a week. I wrapped the extra lights around an empty paper towelholder while continuing to mope as Uncle Edgar sorted through more ornaments.

“How much more do you think we should add?” I asked, fiddling with a strand of garland.

“I want everything looking amazing before Bobby gets here. He… This could be his last Christmas.”

In three weeks. Right in time for Christmas. How the hell was I supposed to find a new job and a place to live before then? Who was hiring right before Christmas? I headed to my room, dragging my socked feet and hanging my head.

“Turtle! Yo, bring some medium cups up here,” Andy called out from the front of the shop. He always called me by my last name, Turtle. It didn’t amuse me, but I’d given up trying to change Andy. He was a brash, feisty, and assertive man, and also one of the best friends I had ever had. Though, admittedly, we weren’t all that close.

I grabbed a stack of paper cups. “Coming.” I made my way from the storage room and handed them over.

“Thanks.” Andy grabbed the cups and eyed me curiously. “What’s bugging you?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie. I can tell.” He pointed at my face. “See? Right there. In your crinkly eyebrows.” He moved that accusing finger around. “That says you’re thinking way too hard, and for you, that can’t be good.”

Of course, I gave in and told Andy about my issues with having to move and my complete lack of resources. I hadn’t been able to find anything I could possibly afford. “I need help.” I heldmy hands up, exasperated even more now that I’d shared the problem.

“Hmm...” Andy looked me over. Then someone entered the shop, and he had to take their order and fill it. Leaving him to do his work, I headed back to straighten the storage area.

A few minutes later, Andy poked his head around the corner. “You need help, all right. You need a sugar daddy, and I’m going to help you get one.” Andy had finally lost his marbles.

“What?” I couldn’t even comprehend that suggestion. “You’re nuts.”

“Nope. I’m serious. People do it all the time. It’ll help you, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” The bell on the front door chimed again. “I have to go.” He pointed at me again, this time with a serious look. “I’m taking you out Saturday. You better be ready.”

“Out? Out where?”

“You need fetish clothes. I’ll come by after my shift to get you situated.”

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