Page 56 of Mr. Frosty Pants
“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself, Angel.” For so many reasons.
“Hmmph. I just know Ashton was disappointed you weren’t here to meet him. Listen, I know this sounds weird coming from me, but you have to understand. My stepbrother issmoking hot. Like whoa. A lot hotter than that guy you were macking on at lunch yesterday.”
“I’m not sure what to make of that given the last guyyouwent out with. You thought he was smoking hot too.” He made a face at her, ignoring the slight on Casey’s looks. Angel’s last boyfriend had been a string bean who’d always looked as though he hadn’t showered in a month. And smelled like it too.
“I’m gonna let that go and just say this: my stepbrother is extra as all hell. Black stubble and green eyes. Prettier than me by far. Much prettier than any guy should ever be.” She made a sour face, obviously irritated by that. “Disney pretty.”
Several cars pulled into the parking area, and Joel raised his brow at Angel to let her know the conversation was over. He didn’t care how handsome her stepbrother might be, or how extra. He didn’t plan to entertain the idea of any other man until Casey had broken his heart again. And not for a good long time after that, either. He wasn’t a fool.
He and Angel went their separate ways to help a solid stream of customers looking for trees, wreaths, and various outdoor holiday décor. The day passed steadily, but throughout Joel’s stomach fluttered and flipped. He almost forgot to eat lunch, but when Angel took her break, he went out to his Chevy and grabbed a couple of sticks of beef jerky. They went down quickly enough, though he barely tasted them.
He couldn’t stop himself from daydreaming when not actively helping a customer. In the few lulls, he wandered off to the back shelves, pretending to check the stock. Instead, he’d just stare off into space and remember the way Casey had held him tightly in bed, or the shine of holiday lights on his face as they’d walked in Krutch Park, or the passionate, blissed-out expression on Casey’s face as he’d sucked Joel to orgasm.
God, that had been…something. Equal parts amazing and embarrassing and heartbreaking.
He didn’t know why the memory made his throat ache and his chest hurt. He wanted so much for their night together to feel like something he could expect to have again and again, but he knew better than that. So, what was the point of being sad about it?
Knoxville wasn’t where Casey Stevens belonged. He’d go back to New York City, graduate, and have more options than Joel could ever dream of. Joel wouldn’t be allowed to go along on that ride even if he wanted to. He had Vreeland’s to take care of and his father. He had Bruno and his grandma’s land. He had a realistic grasp on what his future held, and this Christmastime with Casey was a beautiful blip.
Like the montage in a movie just before the lovers go their separate ways for good. Because life wasn’t a fairy tale and some movies didn’t lie.
He turned his back on the shelves of rosebush fertilizer, each can a silent witness to his musings, as his phone buzzed. Heart in his throat, he grabbed it from his pocket, sighing when it flashed with Becca’s name instead of Casey’s.
Becca’s text was unambiguous:Call me, asshole. We have things to discuss. Like immediately.
He informed Angel that he’d be at the patio table out back if she needed him and then put the call through. He was curious how Becca’d found out about Casey staying the night with him already, because clearly she had if she was texting him at this time of day and with that tone.
“What the hell, Joely? I had to find out that you probably lost it last night to our very own Casey Stevens through a text message from RJ?” she said in lieu of a greeting. “What kind of friend are you?”
He took a seat at the patio table with his back to the door. Cars zoomed by on the interstate, obscured by the screen, and he stared at its blankness, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Casey had apparently told RJ about what they’d done. “A freaked-out one.”
“Well, that’s no excu—” She gasped. “Oh no. Are you okay? Wasn’t he gentle? Did he hurt you? I will bust his head if he hurt you.”
Joel chuckled, his neck growing hot. “He was gentle.”
“Did you like it? I hate anal. It’s the worst.”
Joel scrubbed his face. “Jesus, I don’t even know where to start with unpacking that. Like, I just… Never mind.”
“Start with whether or not you liked it.” Becca sounded breathless but also worried. Her concern warmed him. Which was good since it was only in the upper thirties and a lot colder than it’d been the day before.
“I did like it,” he confided. “But we didn’t dothat. By the way, when and, more importantly, how didyoudo anal, oh sweet lezzie o’ mine?”
“Strap-ons, Joel. Please watch more porn. Jesus.” She sighed, and he could just imagine that curtain of black hair flipping over her shoulder. “Okay, so you didn’t get your ass cherry popped. Fair enough. Shows he really cares.”
“Does it?” Joel blinked rapidly. “I mean, he cares. I know he cares.” But Casey had told RJ about what they’d done apparently, and that made him nervous. Just because it’d been sacred to Joel didn’t mean it had to be sacred to Casey too, did it?
“He loooooooves you.”
“Shut up. Don’t make a joke of this.” Flurries started to drift down, and Joel stood up, pacing beside the windscreen, his heart racing like the cars on the other side of it.
“I’m not.” Becca sounded contrite and still worried.
Joel tugged his jean jacket tighter, flipping up his collar to shield his face from the cool wind. “Let’s back up. You said RJ told you? Why did he know?” He groaned. “I mean, obviously Casey told him, but why?”
“Duh. Because Casey’s head over heels in love with you, idiot. And he’s afraid he’ll scare you off if he tells you. So he told RJ instead. And RJ told me.”
“Why?”
