Page 14 of OMG Christmas Tree
Fair point. “You’d think the number two destination for the winter holidays would keep stock aside for stragglers. If they’re still selling trees, why not tree stands?” I turned only to find my rant landed to empty space. Great—ditched.
A young guy wearing a store vest approached. “Miss, I believe I have a few tree stands left in the lot outside.”
Standing beside him, Nick. “I got help.”
“Oh. Thanks.” I turned to the salesperson. “Thank you. We’ll head out there.”
So, maybe Nick had a helpful side. Which included kindness to children and nosy grandparents. That didn’t mean he escaped the spoiled and privileged tags.
We reached the fenced-in area with potted holiday greens, wreaths and the remaining trees. Pickings were slim but at least there were pickings.
“How about this one?” Nick stood beside a rather nice, though short, tree. The bottom branches extended with a fluffier flair than the others. If you could call a tree fluffy.
“Sure. It’s cute.”
He squinted, sizing up the tree. “With a purse and a scarf, sure. It could be cute.”
I scoffed, hiding a grin. I pulled out my phone to check messages, expecting to hear from Cam or Zahira, laying on the guilt for convincing them to switch shifts. Huh. No messages. I tapped one out to Cam to check up anyway.
“Are you going to help me, or what?”
I looked up. Nick shook his head with forced annoyance, staring at me.
“You lifted the ten-footer into your truck and you need me for this twig?”
He grinned. “I told you I’d make you help.”
Make me. Hardly.Gah. Why did he get under my skin so easily? I marched over. “You have younger siblings, don’t you?”
“A brother. Were you reading up on me?”
“I could tell by your pestering ways. I bet you teased him a lot.”
“A fair amount.”
“Besides, when would I have time to look you up? We met today.”
“Just now. On your phone.”
“I checked in with work. Now, what do you need my help for again? This tree is like half the size of the other one.”
“I don’t. I wanted your attention.” He flashed a grin that maybe dazzled the ladies on the Illinois-to-Wisconsin border, but would not penetrate these hardened city boundaries.
“Nice. Try.” Okay. Maybe my boundaries weren’t so secure. I hid my face to cover my blush.
With that, I bent at the knees, grabbed hold of the tree from the middle, and lifted, tightening my abs and using my leg muscles. Groupon-acquired Cross-Fit for the win. Needles jabbed my face, but the walk to the truck would go quickly enough.
I glimpsed Nick, slack-jawed.
“You gonna pay for that?” he asked.
“That’s on you, Mr. Mayor’s Son,” I called over my shoulder.
#
“IHOPE YOU DON’T MIND, I have another stop,” Nick said once we were back in the truck, the new tree securely tied in the truck bed and the tree stand wrapped in a bag at my feet in the cab.
“Another stop? The mission was to get a tree stand. Tree stand andyourtree acquired.”
