Page 24 of Jay

“What?”

“You need to pay the girl.” He nods his head in her direction and she smilesatme.

“Oh shit, yeah, sorry.” I hand over my credit card, not caring how much the total is. I look down at the random items around the counter and see a flyer for something that would score me super brownie points with my kitten. I smile to myself and I pick up one of theflyers.

“Can I take one of these, please?”Iask.

“Yeah, of course.” She takes it off me and slides it into the bag with the items I justbought.

“Great, thank you, and have a nice Christmas.” She returns the greeting and Luke and me walk out oftheshop.

“You’re grinning like you just ate the canary, mate,” Luke muses next to me. He’s right, but I did fucking good spotting thisflyer.

“That, my dear friend, is because it will not be the canary that I’ll be eating when Cassie sees this gift I’m going to get her.” I wink at him and he laughs a full bellylaugh.

“I’m rubbing off on you, myfriend.”

“Believe me, man. It is not you that will be rubbing off on me.” We laugh and joke and walk back to the car. I am done for Christmas this year, and I am damned fucking proud of what I havebought.

Score for JayCastle.

cassie

It’s justtwo days before Christmas Eve, and Chris and I are finishing up for the Christmas break. We close from now until January the second. I like to have a big Christmas break and enjoy the family time. Plus, Chris likes to drink and be merry over Christmas. He is huge on the holiday; he starts wearing Christmas jumpers and t-shirts from December the first. Today he’s wearing a white jumper that has a snowman on it, even the bloody nose flashes. Me, well, I’m wearing a black jumper with big silver writing that says, ‘Let It Snow’. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but I don’t feel the need towearit.

“Cassie Dawson, stop scowling, you’ll scare away the customers,” Chris says from the doorway. I look up from the reception desk and smile at him. He looks bloody handsome today, not that he doesn’t anyotherday.

“Chris, when are you going to find an amazing man and settle down?” He looks down at his feet, not making eye contact, which makes me suspicious. His cheeks flush a little and I… Oh, that sneaky, littlebugger.

“Oh, you little, sneaky elf you. You’ve met someone,haven’tyou?”

He nods his head. “Yes. His name is Rich and… oh fuck, Cass, he is amazing. Tall, dark and handsome. Hell, he is sexy as fuck.” I love watching Chris swoon like this. Chris doesn’t give off the gay man vibe. You would never know that he was gay just by looking at him and talking to him. His face is flushed, showing me just how much he likes this Richbloke.

“Awww, my little Chrisy-po is growing up,” I joke. My smile fills my face, as a blush covers his. Chris is a great catch, and believe me when I say that women are devastated when they work out that he’s gay. I love seeing their reactions. One woman even offered to pay him to sleep with her so she could try and turn him straight. Like, who does that? He is gay and he is happy, deal with it, ladies. I will sayIwas a devastated woman once. But he is perfect the way he is, and that is all I careabout.

“So, when do I get to meet Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome?” Chris looks a little shy, which is strange for him; he must really likethisman.

“I was hoping he could come to the Christmas Eve party as my plus one, but I’m a little scared at how Mama-April will react. I don’t want her to scare him away.” I burst out laughing because he’s right. My mum can be a little overbearing and in your face. She doesn’t know how to hold her tongue, and she is downright scary at times. But her heart is in the right place. She told Dale to his face that she thought he was a dickhead, and that he was going to hurt me. Little did we know that she was right all along. I walk around the desk and stand in front of my best friend. I take his hands in mine and give him the sweetest smile I canmusterup.

“Bring Rich, Mama-April will love to meet him, as will I. Pluuuss, it will take the attention off me and Jay.” I say the last few words really fast and leg it into the back room. I giggle when I hearhisgasp.

“Hold the fuck up, woman. What do you mean ‘take the attention off youandJay’?”

I shrug. “I asked Jay to be my date for the party. I haven’t told my parents yet. I have been too scared to.” His face softens and he pulls me intoahug.

“They will love him, Cass. He is nothing like that dickhead, Dale. Enjoy Jay, share who you are with him. He will love every part of you.” Tears prick my eyes and I try to stop them from falling. I pull back from the hug and smile up at the man who has been a big part of my life for the past fewyears.

“You’re right. I’m overreacting, as usual. So, what do you have planned for tonight?” I ask, as I walk over to the cleaning cupboard. I take out the sweeping brush and start to clean up around the table. Chris makes himself busy by putting things away and making sure that the salon is spotless for us when we come back in the new year, and tells me about his plans. It doesn’t take us long to clean and get everything put away. Chris grabs my coat and bag from the back office, and we lock up the salon for the last time this year. It has always freaked me out saying that, when it’s closed until the new year. I turn off the Christmas lights as we walk to the door, taking one more look around, making sure that every plug socket isturnedoff.

“Come on, let the Christmas party time begin. I’ll see you in a few days.” Chris leans in and kisses mycheek.

“Merry Christmas,Chris.”

“Merry Christmas, Cassie.” He blows me a kiss and climbs into his car. I climb into my own and start the engine, racking the heating up full blast. It’s bloody cold out today. Christmas songs play through the radio as I drive to Jay’s house. We’re babysitting little Phoebe while Dex and Addy have a datenight.

* * *

Icarrytwo cups of tea into Jay’s living room, but stop short at the sight before me. Jay is sitting on his couch, but slouching big time. Phoebe is resting on his chest, with her head facing me. She is awake, taking in the flickering lights around the door frame. I was surprised when I walked into Jay’s house. There is a huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room, lights everywhere, but it doesn’t seem tacky or overdone. It just looks...Christmassy. All the lights are white; none are coloured at all, and he has nicely placed Christmas ornaments around the room.Scroogedis playing on the TV and Jay laughs at whatever is happening, but I don’t see anything as all my focus isonhim.

---