Page 2 of Santa of the Creek
I have a good reason, believe me.
“You really need to move on,” Gloria says. “It was one ticket.”
“And the first two hours of my life in Collier’s Creek.”
On my first day in the town, he hands me a ticket, then locks me up in a cell for two hours when I argue about it. All for parking in the wrong place by the town square. How was I to know that space was reserved for the sheriff and his cannoli. At least that’s how Gloria described it. No man gets between the sheriff and his pastries. The sheriff lets me out with a, “Don’t do it again and welcome to Collier’s Creek,” and sends me on my way. Later on, I heard he told Ben to calm down a little with the tickets. Ben was a new deputy and trying to prove himself a little too hard. I was one of his victims.
I don’t care. I’m done with the cute deputy. What do you mean, it’s kinda petty? I’m a Masters. We can hold grudges until the day we breathe our last. Just ask my Aunt Sylvia. Well, you can’t because she’s dead, but that woman had her grudges lined up like other people line up their spices.
“And you made a crack to Ben about how hot the sheriff was and did he like younger men. That’s why he locked you up. Notfor the ticket. You know that. He thought you were making a move on his man.”
I groan. Because I did do that. I can never keep my mouth shut.
“And he still let you rent his house. Why are you complaining?”
This is true. My aunt organized the rental before I arrived in Collier’s Creek. It was kinda awkward when he realized he’d locked up his new tenant. And why am I even arguing with Gloria when Deputy Ben is her best friend? She thinks the sun shines out of his ass. Maybe she’s right.
Couldn’t there have been anyone else to play Santa. One of Jake’s descendants or something? “What about the mayor’s brother? What’s his name?”
Gloria grimaces. “Dean. Yeah, no one would ask him. You love Santa and Christmas. You’ve told me enough times.”
“Yes, yes I do.” Christmas is my favorite time of year. And Collier’s Creek has snow!
“Well, he doesn’t.”
“Doesn’t what?”
“Like Christmas. Catch up.”
“Dean hates Christmas?”
World, break my heart, why don’t you? How can the man of my dreams hate the best time of the year? I plan to ask him out on a date to the tree lighting ceremony. Maybe the day after, knowing Randy will have me working on the night itself. The joy of being a bartender means I work all the special occasions.
But I’m going to take him to the tree lighting and whisper sweet nothings in his ear all night and after that…well, the rest of the night is behind closed doors. I’m not the type of guy who treats my loving as a spectator sport. Some guys are. I’m not one of them.
I see Gloria watching me closely. “What?”
“It’s never gonna happen,” she says.
“What isn’t?”
“You and Dean Hobart. Whatever white picket fence dream you’ve got going on in there…” She taps my head. “Dean is never gonna step out of his closet long enough to find the man of his dreams.
I huff, but I don’t argue because I know she’s right. The mayor’s brother has his closet door bolted tighter than a chastity belt. One shift at Randy’s Rodeo Grill and Bar convinced me of that. The ironic thing is, in a town full of gay men, Dean is the one man unable to step out into the sunshine, and that’s so damn sad. I’d love to show that man what it’s like to bask inmysunshine, if you know what I mean.
Gloria sighs. “You know, honey. Just ignore me. You chase after Dean, and Aunty Gloria will be here to mend your broken heart when he stomps on it.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” I mutter.
“He wouldn’t mean to,” she agrees. “You’re not the first guy to drool after him, but he’s wound tighter than an 8-day clock.”
I have no idea what an 8-day clock is, but I just nod, because Gloria is full of these sayings. I like the girl, and I’m never going to upset her. Which is why I’m dressed up as Santa Claus for a bunch of old folks.
“If you want a special guy, you need to try the lonely-hearts app,” she suggests.
“The last time I tried Love Heartz, they matched me with Barky.”
“That monster? You’ve got to be joking. He’ll eat you alive.”
