Page 62 of Mail Order Christmas (Hawthorne Billionaire 5)

“Ah, we never said. See, we’re good at that too.” Gunner gave me a slight smile. “Let’s just say that us being hired was more about the boss’s mindset than you being here.”

“I guess I’m gonna be fired now,” I sniffed. “I was trying to find a shelter to go to, but they’re all full.”

“Is that where you want to go?” Charlie asked. “Because I think we can do better.”

“I don’t have any family, but I suppose you know that already.” There was a long pause. “I’m out of ideas. Did you have one?”

“What do you want out of your life?” Gunner asked pointedly. “Do you want more, or do you just want to move around like you’ve been doing for two years?”

“What do I want?” I smiled. “I want a family. I want a home. I want a real full-time job so I can eat every day. I want to just be a normal person.”

“What if I could help you have all of those things?” Gunner stared at me. “Would you be interested in getting out of this rut?”

“Yes, but how? I can’t even get a real job because I don’t have an address, I don’t have much money, I don’t have…” I rambled, then paused. “I’ll take any help you can give me. I’m exhausted living like this.”

“Alright. It’s the middle of the night. You have a swollen eye and we’re all tired.” Gunner opened a door to another room. “I put blankets and a pillow in there on the couch. You get some rest and we’ll talk more in the morning.”

“That’s it? I’m not arrested or in trouble?” I started crying again.

“You’re not in trouble and there is no getting arrested. We know a lot about you and your history of being moved around several times a year your whole life.” Charlie handed me a file. “This is all about your foster homes. You’re a tough girl to be here, working hard, and not on the streets after this kind of life.”

“Really?” I was balling again. “I don’t feel like it right now. Why? Why are you being so nice?”

“We think you’re worth it.” Charlie handed me a bottle of water. “Get some sleep. No one can get in this room but us. You can get out, but I don’t advise it, until we talk again in the morning.”

“I have to be at work in the morning.” I walked to the doorway of the other room and looked inside. “What are we doing about that?”

“You can go to work but, when Sherry gets in, you’ll be taking a few hours off so we can talk about our ideas for you.” Gunner walked to the first door and opened it. “There’s a bathroom in there, too, so you won’t need to come out. We don’t want Toby finding you.”

They all walked to the door to leave. “Hey, are you replacing Toby as mall security?”

“No, we’re here to find you. Before you get worrying yourself further about why or how, our boss had reports of an elf being spotted in the mall after hours.” Charlie laughed. “At first, we thought the reports were wacky, but then we saw it for ourselves. You should have stuck with the sweatsuit and hoodie, it’s less recognizable.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for the next time I’m sleeping in a mall trying not to freeze to death.” I smiled. “I’d hug you, but I get the sense that you aren’t those kinda guys.”

Charlie pushed past Gunner with his arms open wide. “I’m always open for hugs.”

I walked into his open arms for a hug. I hadn’t had a hug like this, maybe, in my whole life. It felt like what a grandpa hug would feel like and I didn’t want to let go.

“You’re gonna be okay, Red.” Charlie squeezed one last time, then let go. “Any time you need a hug, just let me know.”

Chapter 39

Asher

“Gunner?” I yelled into my cell. “What’s happening?”

The mall lights had gone completely out, right when they were surrounding Santa’s workshop. Gunner wasn’t responding and I had at least five scenarios running rampant in my head.

“Gunner?” I called again and left a voicemail. “Gunner, message me or something so I know if I need to call the police or Santa to take his stray elf home.”

“Hey what’s the yelling about?” Lex stretched and sat up in her recliner. “What are you watching?”

“I have the elf watch up but just at the good part the lights in the mall went off,” I groaned. “Now I have no idea what’s happening and no one is answering.”

“Maybe you should go there,” Spencer said from his reclined position. “We can take you. I wanna see this elf anyways. Alexandra keeps talking about it.”

“I appreciate it, guys, but neither of you are in any shape to drive or go anywhere.” I shook my head. “I know this because that would normally be me.”

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