Page 41 of Happy Krampus Xmas & the Meet Not Cute
So this is my WTF-is-wrong-with-people moment of the day. I thought I skipped it today.
“Fuck this!” All of a sudden TJ gives my chest one hard thrust, forcefully shoving me back against the wall, and leaves the showers. I’m so taken aback by his strength that I slip and fall on my already aching knee. I grit my teeth against the pain and hear him add in a flat tone, “He’s just the cleaner,” as the fucker walks away without a backward glance, followed by the others.
The shorter guy stays behind to give me a disgusted look, to which I respond with an eyebrow lift and a middle finger as I slowly stand again on both feet.
I can clearly see the hatred in his eyes, and I prepare myself for the imminent attack. My hands ball up in fists when someone calls, “Josh! Come on.”
He takes a step back before uttering, “This doesn’t end here.”
“Here’s to hope.” I smirk at him before he turns and leaves.
Assholes.
I turn the water off and grab my soaked shoes before finally leaving the showers. I take off my shirt and squeeze it before yanking it back on—arduously. Wet fabrics don’t slide easily. I have a change in the janitor’s storage closet, so this has to do for now. I take off the socks and put my wet shoes back on. My feet will freeze on the way back to the apartment.
The locker room is empty. The cart with all the cleaners, rags, and sponges is tipped over on the floor. Some bottles are open, and the liquid soaps and cleaners have spilled on the floor.
Fucking macho dicks!
I roll my sleeves and start taking care of the mess as I anticipate how good my knuckles against those fuckers’ faces would feel.
When I finally get back to my apartment an hour later, I get a phone call from Patrick, my boss.
During which I’m informed that I’m fired.
Where I come from, payback is not a bitch, but a promise.
two
Odium: general or widespread hatred or disgust incurred by someone
SPENCER
Three days later, it’s my second day of my new job at a café on the edge of campus. The owner is Fiona, a nice lady who believes in equality. Therefore, her employees have to take turns in covering every single task around the café. This morning, I’m the busboy.
The pay is slightly better than the cleaning job, plus I can ask for more shifts if I want, two reasons why I don’t mind the mundane tasks at all. It allows my brain to work on autopilot, so I can recite the points for my next exam on child development while gathering empty mugs and dirty plates.
It’s fucking cold when I check the few tables outside. The campus is slowly clearing. Students are leaving or preparing togo home for the holidays, there are only a few classes left. Soon it will become deserted.
I like Christmas if it means having some peace around here. Lori invited me to join him and Gabe’s brothers since I don’t have a family to be with this winter break, but I much prefer to spend these holidays as I always have. Alone. I feel a physical and mental lassitude lately, taking a break in solitude is going to replenish my energy.
Three more weeks. Hopefully this job will be less eventful than cleaning locker rooms.Famous last words.
When I walk back out from the kitchen, tray in hand, my eyes are quickly caught by a mountain of a man. His long blond hair is covered by a gray baseball cap, a red down jacket over his wide shoulders, and gunmetal sweats wrap his bubbly ass. He’s standing near the counter, trying to grab a straw with his pinky finger while holding a cup of coffee in each hand.
I grit my teeth, crushing the chewing gum inside my mouth. I’d smile at his cute artlessness if he wasn’t a colossal asshole.
“Spencer, can you give him a hand?” Clarissa, from the till where she’s taking care of other costumers, is pointing at TJ, who’s now staring at me. Fuuuck my luck!
Filling my eyes with contempt, I move the green tray under my arm and make my way to the counter, slow and unfazed—outwardly. Because inwardly, I want to slap his privileged, prejudiced, hypocritical dick of a face.
I push a bell decoration out of the way and grab a straw before sliding it oh so very slowly and suggestively into the small space between his palm and the cup he’s holding. He sucks in a breath and widens his sweet, deceiving eyes.
Two thoughts are whirling inside my head. Socking him on the jaw and discovering how big his dick is, equally tempting me at the moment. But I won’t do anything to jeopardize my scholarship—not with people present anyway.
Instead, I chew hard on the gum and amble away when I hear, “Thanks…Spencer.”
I turn my head and scoff at his fake demureness, before leaving him standing there. He thanks me for a straw but shoved me away for helping him out of the shower. I still feel the ache in my knee as testimony of what a total ass he is.
