Page 13 of Meeting Mr. Christmas
Noel blinked himself out of his daydream.
Jesus…
“That is… indescribable.”
And it was, if indescribable described a cross-eyed turkey with a red and veiny neck that looked way more like a big, fat, and very erect, uncut dick.
“What can I get you boys—shit! What is…? No, don’t answer.” Cameron fell back a couple of steps, his eyes wide and his mouth slack as he stared in dumb wonder at Jed’s chest.
“A gobbler.”
“It… it sure is…” Cameron blinked as he grappled to find his voice.
The coffee shop door clattered open, bringing with it the chatter of a couple of women and some pre-schoolers squealing for hot chocolate and cookies. Cameron jerked out of his paralysis. “Do you think you could…” he waved his hand towards Jed.
“Go show those pretty young moms my impressive gobbler? Sure I can.” Jed laughed as the color drained from Cameron’s face. “Hey, don’t pass out on me. I’ll take it off. Don’t want to scare the good folks of the Creek.”
Jed peeled off the sweater, revealing a black polo shirt with the florist’s logo on the chest that wrapped itself around Jed’s taut, muscular torso. His hair, though short, stood up in little peaks. Without thinking, Noel flattened them down. He’d flattened them down hundreds, thousands, millions of times before, just like Jed had ruffled his hair, hundreds, thousands, millions of times throughout their lives. He looked up as Jed tucked the sweater down next to him, his mouth drying as he met Cameron’s eye. The man’s lips curved up in a warm smile. Cameron’s eyes narrowed, just the tiniest fraction.Just friends, eh?
They placed their orders, and Cameron left them, taking his knowing smile with him.
“Hey,” Jed said quietly, “I’m glad we got to wear our Christmas sweaters, even if it wasn’t at the tree lighting. Mine is gross and a moral danger to young moms, whereas yours is just kinky, which kinda means lunch is on you.”
Noel looked up, ready to tell Jed that yes, he had won hands down with his giant gobbler, but the joke died on his lips as his gaze met Jed’s.
Jed was staring at him, serious and with an intensity that sent his heart plummeting. It was like being on a rollercoaster ride at the moment the car halted, just for a second, at the very top, before tipping over the apex and hurtling down.
“I tried to convince myself double dating would be fun. Guess I didn’t succeed. I knew it was a bad idea as soon as you turned up with Ken. I’m sorry.”
“It’s Kent.”
“With a ‘t’.”
They both smiled.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Noel said, his voice as quiet as Jed’s.
“Isn’t there? Because I think there is.” The smile died from Jed’s lips. “The tree lighting was always our thing. Even my mom was surprised.” He shrugged before he looked away and began chewing at the side of his thumbnail. It was a nervous habit, and one Noel knew well. He eased Jed’s hand away.
“I’ve had better tree ceremonies, but…” Noel shrugged. “But like you said, we got to wear our sweaters even if it wasn’t at the tree lighting.”
“I think they would have frightened our dates. Not that Cora can be called that anymore.”
“Oh.” Noel’s rollercoaster heart did a loop the loop. He waited a second to get his nerves under control. “She was nice. And she seemed eager.”
“She is, and she was.”
Wasnice…waseager…
“You made any arrangements yet with?—”
“Kent. No. We, erm, agreed it wasn’t going to work out. We’ll stay friends, though.” Noel wasn’t so sure about that.
“I’m sorry.” Jed turned his head aside, but not enough for Noel to miss the grin he was attempting to tamp down.
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.” Jed paused, sucking in a breath before turning back. “Okay. You’re right. I’m not. He wasn’t as bad as Dougal MacDouglas, and some of those other losers you called your boyfriends, but he just wasn’t your type. He wasn’t the guy you’re looking for, believe me.”
