Page 40 of The Holiday Hate-Off
What would Mom do about the Enzo situation?
She’d probably tell me to kill him with kindness. But it’s not like I can make Christmas cookies for him and call it a wash. He did a few completely unacceptable things, and I will not accept the unacceptable. I shouldn’t have to.
The thought reignites my inner fire as I pass the other apartments on my floor. I’m steamed up by the time I arrive at my apartment door, where I find a sealed note waiting for me, propped against it.
I’d completely forgotten about my friendly stalker. I bring the note inside, smiling, because this is what Christmas should be all about—making connections with strangers. Being kind.
I sit in my cozy chair by the tree and open it, feeling a surge of anticipation.
To Dancing Queen?—
Whoa! Stalker?
I prefer the term neighbor. Yes, I live in this building, although I suppose you’ll have to take my word for it. I was a Lobster Scout, if that adds to my credibility.
If you’re not from around here originally, you may be wondering what a Lobster Scout is.It’s like regular Scouts, only you have to go for a swim in the harbor. In January. I’m not ashamed to admit I screamed like a baby the moment I jumped in, but it also felt good.
Are you going to do the polar bear plunge this year?
Needless to say, as a scout, I’m a perfect gentleman. It would be very ungentlemanly to stalk someone.
What do you think about the big to-do about Christmas around here? I’m guessing from your tree and lights that you have thoughts. I’m not a Christmas guy anymore, but I remember loving it when I was a little kid. It felt like anything could happen. My favorite was the lighting of the lobster trap tree near the docks. It’s not much to look at until they turn on the lights, and suddenly it becomes something else entirely.
Speaking of which: what are your thoughts on Larry the Lobstah as the town mascot? I, personally, think the Christmas version of him with the Santa hat is a nice touch, even though most people would call me a grinch.
Also, should we keep this anonymous for now? There’s something freeing about writing to someone anonymously, but I guess I’d feel like a real idiot if it turns out you’re Lady Lovewatch.
With regards,
Your Stalker
I’m smiling as I read it.
I have no idea who this man is, and part of me doesn’t want to know. This isn’t a romantic connection, but it’s a little capital-R Romantic. Two lost souls reaching out in the most old-fashioned way possible. Maybe he’ll become my friend in real life. Or maybe we’ll keep writing to each other, our lives touching but not overlapping.
Either way, he makes me feel less alone, as if the quietest, saddest thoughts I don’t dare whisper out loud are heard and known.
CHAPTER 10
ENZO
“I’ll bet Lucy’s gonna choose the full-body photo for dart practice,” Giovanni says as he rocks back in his desk chair. “Get you right in the dick. She looks like a broad who could make a bull’s-eye.”
While Nonna runs the register and Nico handles the food orders, Giovanni and I are sitting in the cramped back office in Hidden Italy, brainstorming about what else we can do to dig us out of the hole.
Naturally my brother is more interested in giving me shit than in getting down to business. It’s one of his favorite pastimes. All of my siblings enjoy thedrive Enzo crazygame. It comes from being the oldest, I guess, the one who used to chew them out for bad behavior after my dad checked out and stopped caring. But Giovanni tends to work the hardest at annoying me.
Part of me is grateful for it. His dedication to screwing around is a sign he’s mostly unaffected by what happened to our family after our mother left. I’m even a little jealous, because I don’t have the ability to relax.
Unfortunately, Giovanni is sometimestoorelaxed. Which isa contributing factor in the current state of Hidden Italy, no doubt. My brother’s a good face for the business, certainly better for that role than Nonna Francesca, but he’s not serious enough about success.
Then again, right now I don’t have much room to talk.
Stories about what happened at Santa Speed Dating have spread through town like wildfire, and despite what I said to Lucy, I’m guessing something about it will end up in the Lady Lovewatch column. That’s what happens when a dating event implodes.
The first thing Giovanni asked me this morning was if I’d had anything to do with what went down at the Sip. My response was to hand him a few photos to give to Lucy so she could make my BANNED flyer. A man is only as good as his word, after all.
Giovanni took that as a,Hell yes, I did.
