Page 28 of Clause & Effect
“Fair,” he says with a nod.
“Grace,” Devon shakes his head in admonishment then smiles apologetically at Stetson. “They’ve been best friends since infancy.”
“I know,” he replies.
He does? Did I tell him that? Funny, I don’t remember saying anything.
“A protective friend is a gift,” Stetson says.
Jayson says something under his breath that I can’t quite decipher but that I know Stetson finds amusing because he smiles in his direction.
Before anymore can be said, the server brings back the drinks.
I’m ready for mine.
Stetson holds out his drink and we all lift ours as well.
“Cheers,” he says as his hot gaze crashes into mine.
“Cheers,” I manage before taking a healthy sip.
My throat burns and I fight with everything I have not to grimace into the drink. It might be too early for gin, but hell, I’m here for it.
“So the dwarves…” Devon can’t help himself. I’m surprised he lasted this long honestly.
“They work for me,” Stetson says as if that’s an actual explanation. What is with this guy and no details?
“Is the pre-requisite to work for you to be little and buff?” Grace asks curiously. Good. Someone needs to dig. I’m grateful I have friends as nosy as me.
“Something like that,” Jayson says. “They’ve worked for the family for years.”
“Years?” I ask curiously.
“Yes,” Stetson says, pulling my gaze back to his. “Since the moment the shop opened.”
“And you sell toys for a living?” I lift a brow in amusement. How does that make them so rich? “Feels very Santa Claus adjacent.”
“It’s a little more than just adjacent,” Jayson says.
Grace, Devon and I laugh in disbelief, but Stetson and Jayson just watch us. I guess they don’t think the comment was as funny as we do. Maybe they get that a lot in the toy industry.
“I’m going to assume the reindeer I saw walking around is named, Rudolph?” Grace jokes as she takes another sip of her drink.
“Quite right,” Jayson replies with an assertive nod like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Again, we’re the only ones laughing.
“Wait!” I look at Stetson and the room grows deathly quiet. “He’s not serious, is he? You didn’t really name the reindeer, Rudolph?”
Stetson takes a second before responding.
“Yes, I did,” he says proudly and with zero embarrassment. “He happens to be my favorite reindeer. And what else would we call him? Doug?”
Crickets.
Like a shit ton of them.
Okay that’s fair, I guess. Doug for a reindeer would be weird.
