Page 71 of Mr. Frosty Pants
“He runs his own store. He’s not a child. And I’m not either.”
“No, no, of course not. I’m just… I remember when you were born, and, to me, you’ll always be that baby. But you’re right. You’re a grown-up now, and you know what you want and who you love. I’m here for you. If things go pear-shaped tonight, or, well, ever? Your Aunt Courtney has your back.”
His heart swelled with love for her. “Let’s get those shoes.”
“Hey boss,” Angelsang, following Joel as he entered the store. “I cleaned the drawings off the Blow Mold Nativity scene, like you asked.”
“Good.” He headed toward the back, hoping she’d already started a pot of coffee because he was feeling bleary-eyed and shaky. Maybe it wasn’t good for the system to get so much touch all at once, especially after years without it.
“You have a visitor,” Angel said, still following him through the rows of merchandise.
His heart leapt. Casey? Had he been unable to stay away?
“My stepbrother.”
“What?”
“Ashton.”
Joel frowned, his lip coming up in a sneer. But just then he rounded the corner and clapped eyes on the most insanely good-looking man he’d ever seen outside of his television screen. The guy picked up a container of rosebush fertilizer and cocked his head, reading the directions on the back carefully.
“Do the right thing here,” Angel whispered.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Just then Ashton turned around. Joel didn’t see any resemblance to Angel, but then he wouldn’t since he was a stepbrother and not related by blood.
“Hi, I’m Ashton,” the faultless face said from a pair of lush lips surrounded by perfectly sculpted stubble. “Angel said you might be able to help me out.”
Joel patted his hair, hoping he didn’t look as discombobulated as he felt in the face of gorgeous bright eyes of some indiscernible color between green and gray. “Uh, hi. I’m Joel. Yeah, so how can I help you?”
Angel giggled behind him, but she scampered off when he pointed toward the register and the customers that had lined up there with purchases in arms.
“I know this sounds insane, since I literally just met you and all,” Ashton said, blinking long lashes that couldn’t possibly be real, “but I have a problem.” He laughed nervously. “I have to go to this family Christmas party tonight, and I’m in desperate need of a date. That would be you. Hopefully.”
“Me?” Joel grimaced.
“Yes, you.” He smiled even brighter. “Angel said you were gay and liberal-minded. Hopefully she’s right.”
“Angel said…Angelsaid…” Joel sucked on his teeth and turned to glare toward his employee as she rang up five poinsettias for a small, brunette woman with two strangely well-behaved children.
Now that Angel knew he was gay, he should have known better than to think she’d keep it a secret. Now it would get out. News of his homosexuality would spread like wildfire in a town the size of Knoxville. Soon all of his customers would be eyeing him strangely—if they even still came in to make their purchases once they knew. They’d all speculate about what he did with other men. He closed his eyes and waited for the panic to hit.
Instead, a wave of relief seized him, and he felt like his knees might go out.
Fine. They’d all know. It’d be done and over with. He’d be honest about himself for the first time in his life. He’d be a big giant queer and own it. He wouldnot, however, wear eyeliner, like he was pretty sure Ashton was wearing.
And was that lip gloss? Christ. Angel was right when she’d called this guy extra.
Ashton chewed on his shiny, plump lower lip. “God, this was already awkward, but now it’s downright humiliating. You’re not gonna hit me, are you?”
“Look, I’m…flattered?” Joel cleared his throat and tried again. “Yeah, I’m flattered that you’d ask me as a date to a party—can’t say I really get why, or why you’d even need to ask someone like me when you look like that, but anyway. It doesn’t matter. I’m not—”
“Has Angel set me up with some kind of humiliating prank?” Ashton’s eyebrow went up.
“No, I don’t think so.” Joel rubbed a hand over his upper lip. “I’m just not available. I’ve got a—” He swallowed. “I’m involv—” What was he to Casey? Had they declared a relationship yet? He chewed on his lip and laughed under his breath. “Christ, I’m in love with a guy. All right?”
“Oh, is that all?”
