Page 11 of Sexted By Santa
Aunt Henry chuckled. “I’m sure there’s a Santasomewherethat’s more awkward than you.”
I scowled. “So, I’m not even the best awkward Santa? Is that what you’re saying?”
She smiled indulgently. “Fine, you’re the most awkward. You’re so ridiculous when you’ve had wine.”
I pointed a finger in her direction. “Something you took full advantage of when you got me to agree to this nonsense. Surely, there’s someone more suited to being Santa.”
She pursed her lips. “There’s no one else available at such late notice. Believe me, I tried. You’re not exactly the ideal candidate.”
I huffed, even though that had been my point. “I’m notterrible…am I?”
My conversation with Jaxson played back through my mind.You really aren’t too committed to this Santa thing, are you?
Icouldbe committed to it—if I wanted. But why should I embrace the season everyone loved when it had never embraced me?
“You’re not terrible,” Henry confirmed. “You’re wonderful. Now, why don’t I order in some dinner. You need food in your belly.”
“Because you don’t have cheesecake,” I said mournfully.
“I’ve got to watch my figure. I can’t have it in the house.”
I pulled a face. As excuses went, that was weak. Aunt Henry had a sweet tooth andalwayskept dessert in the house.
“Fine, I ate it all,” she said. “Is that what you want to hear?”
“No.” I sulked a little. “I want to hear that you saved cheesecake for your favorite nephew.”
She laughed, pausing to ruffle my hair as she walked by. “I’ll do better next time.”
“Good. Save the date. I have to go ho-ho-ho at a homeless shelter in one week.”
“Shall I come and support you?” she asked.
“God no,” I said quickly. “I don’t want anyone I know to see me like this.”
She snorted. “You act as if it’s something to be ashamed of. You’re doing a good deed.”
Did it count as a good deed if you did it against your will? I wasn’t so sure. I wouldn’t mind some good Karma points, but I was going to have to work on my delivery to earn those. Like Jaxson Hicks had suggested.
Fuck, why did he have to be so handsome and charismatic? I wanted to continue disliking him, as I had comfortably disliked him for years. But his performance at the nursing home—even if intended to one-up me—had rescued the whole event and emphasized just how damn charming he could be.
If only I could drag him along to all my Santa appearances. If only I could shove him into the suit. I might have the age and the beard, but he had the deep voice and laugh, the persona, to pull it off.
I fretted until I dozed off on Henry’s too-short antique sofa, still mumbling to myself about cheesecake and Jaxson Hicks.
4
JAXSON
“I just got the best idea!”
Tori dove into my California king-size bed, landing a knee right in my gut. I jackknifed up, groaning, while my thighs clamped shut in a desperate attempt to protect the boys. Tori clambered half on top of me.
“I saw it on YouTube,” she continued. “There’s these chocolate ball things but with marshmallows inside, and you use hot chocolate mix, and then it turns into a cake thing!”
“Cake?” I struggled to keep up, my mind still groggy.
After work the night before, I’d taken the time to haul in the Christmas tree and several boxes of decorations once Tori was resettled in her bed. It wasn’t often I worked the late shift, but I couldn’t refuse the overtime pay. Of course, that meant I was behind on everything else that needed to be done. I’d stayed up late to go through the bills so that I had time for grocery shopping, house-cleaning, and quality dad-and-daughter time the next day.
