Page 2 of Hensley Manor
Would it be bad to barricade myself in my apartment until the New Year?
“We haven’t looked at everything yet.” Catching my eye, Lance jutted out his bottom lip. “Come on, Cole. Humor me. I wanted to check out the antique store across the street.”
“Why?”
“I heard they just got a new shipment of stuff, and I’ve been on the hunt for one of those high-back Victorian chairs.”
“You’re such a grandpa.”
“Not for me, you asshole. For my dad. He’s been wanting one for his study. Thought it’d be the perfect Christmas present.”
“Fine. We can check it out.” I downed the rest of my drink, wishing it had something stronger in it than chocolate and marshmallows. Like whiskey.
We paid for the drinks before going back outside. The rush of cold air stung my face and slithered along my body, as if trying to find an opening to my skin. I didn’t see how people were out in this shit. You couldn’t possibly have a good time with your face freezing off. Or your balls.
“Can you at leasttryto look like you’re having fun?” Lance asked as we passed a group of carolers.
“Bah humbug.”
Lance laughed. “How can you be in a bad mood hearing that?” He tilted his head, ear to the carolers. I wasn’t a Christmas song expert, far from it, but I recognized the song.The First Noel. “Puts me in the holiday spirit.”
“Good for you. Now can we go into the store?”
“Unbelievable.” He shook his head and cut across the street to Treasures of Old Antiques.
The mechanical Santa waved and turned his head as the body jolted unnaturally, looking creepy as fuck. The animatronics had always freaked me out. How some people put them in their homes, I had no idea. They were the things of nightmares. The bell above the door dinged as we entered the store. Instantly, I was hit with the scent of old books and a slight mustiness.
“Yikes,” I said, scrunching up my face.
“Be nice,” Lance said, before heading for the right side of the room where a few pieces of furniture were displayed.
I went in the other direction, seeing old toys, coffee mugs, and glass figurines. The place was crammed. Junk was everywhere; on tables, shelves, and some even hung from the ceiling. It was a maze of worthless crap. Expensive crap, too, if the two-hundred dollar price tag on a simple brown dresser was legit. I didn’t give a damn if it was from the early 1900s or not, something I put my underwear in shouldn’t cost more than a month’s worth of groceries.
“Can I help you find anything?” an older woman asked. She had a friendly face and rosy cheeks.
“No, thank you. My friend could use the help, though. He’s looking for something specific.”
“And what areyoulooking for?” She adjusted the round glasses on her nose and eyed me through them.
“Nothing.”
“We’re all looking for something,” she said. “Once you figure it out, let me know.”
That was…strange.
“Sure.” I nodded to her and walked off to find Lance. He sat in a fancy looking chair, closing his eyes. I nudged him with my foot, and his lids fluttered open. “Just checking to make sure you’re still alive. The lady working here gave me the creeps. I thought she murdered you and left your body here for me to find.”
“She was probably just being friendly,” he said, not making any move to get up. “And you’re so uptight that you took it as her being creepy. I think I’m gonna buy this. If I can get up, anyway.”
I pulled him to his feet. “Might want to check the price first. Crap in here is too rich for my blood.”
Not that Lance had to worry about it. His family was loaded. His life was set before he even came out of the womb. After graduating high school, he started working for his dad’s company; a company he would inherit someday. My point was proven when Lance glanced at the tag and shrugged.
“Holy shit. Does that say two grand?” I asked, grabbing the tag. Sure enough, it was two thousand dollars. For a chair. My jaw hit the floor.
“Not a big deal.”
He walked toward the counter at the back, and I followed him in a shocked daze. He told the lady he wanted to buy the chair, and she rang it up for him.
