Page 31 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“After.” He lets me drag him in and gravitate to the records. Not what we’re here for, but I also need to get Gil something, so this might give me some ideas. While he skims the stacks, I check out the guys. I find several possibilities. The guy by the vinyl is definitely gay. Not just because of the tight jeans he’s wearing with the Def Leppard T-shirt, but he’s giving me the look. I almost roll my eyes. He’s cute, but he does nothing for me. I don’t know if he likes eighties music, but Gil is just going to have to deal.

“What about that guy?” I ask, giving one quick nod at the guy now watching us.

Gil glances up. “The one staring at you?”

“Yeah. But I’m not interested. You are.”

“Not really.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

He returns to studying the record in his hand. “He’s eye-forking you.”

“He’s interested in me, so you automatically don’t like him?”

“Pretty much.”

Humiliation scorches my cheeks. “Nice.” I try to walk away and retain some dignity, but Gil grabs my arm.

“What?”

“Nothing. I’m going to the bookstore.”

“Colin, stop.” He’s still holding my arm, so I’m not going anywhere, but I stop trying with a sigh. My eyes burn, but I ignore them. “Why are you upset?”

“Really?” I stare at his handsome face and wish I could sink into a black hole.

“It’s difficult to like a guy when you just want to punch him.”

“Punch him—” Oh. Then I’m embarrassed for another reason.

“Why? What did you think I meant?”

I shake my head, but a quick look at Gil’s face tells me he’s piecing it together. “Can we go?”

“You thought I couldn’t like a guy who liked you? That’s messed up, Colin. How could you think—”

“Hey there.”

We glance up at the new voice. The guy doesn’t get the not-interested signal from me or the hostile one from Gil.

“Seems like a whole lotta drama over here. And I’m here for it.”

Or maybe he does. “Not interested,” I say, waving my hand between Gil and me. “This is a drama-free zone.”

“I can do drama free.”

I snort, and he grins.

“You two together? Because I love a two-for-one sale.”

“We’re not objects for sale, buddy.” Gil puffs up.

“Touchy,” he says, biting his lip. “I can work with that.”

“Look…” But I’m not sure what to say exceptscram.Go away. And that seems rude since I gave him the initial signal.

“Oh, I am.” His gaze roams over me and then Gil. “Definitely looking.”

---