Page 79 of It's Going to Be a Chrome Christmas
Trixie ran a finger over the sales counter, feeling the coat of dust that had never been there before. Her employees were no longer putting in their full effort because she wasn’t. Could she really blame them? How could she ask from them more than she’d been doing herself?
She would do more. She would do better.
Starting now.
First, Trixie ordered a pizza for delivery. She hadn’t eaten since… Well, she couldn’t remember since when, so it wasprobably a good idea to get some food in her. Next, she went to the janitor’s closet. Her cleaning staff had always been immaculate in their work…until recently.
For the next several hours, Trixie scrubbed, swept, shined, scraped, and buffed the showroom area. She set up the rest of the Christmas decorations, including their pre-decorated tree, mistletoe, garland, and window clings to make it look like they were frosted and it was snowing outside. It was after midnight by the time she finished, and Trixie was exhausted to the point of her eyes blurring. She stumbled her way up to her apartment, and was almost there when she realized she’d forgotten her pizza box on the sales counter. Oops, but she was too tired to go back downstairs.
God, why hadn’t she invested in an elevator by now? There were too many fucking stairs between the first and the second floor. She may have gone overboard with Christmas decor. Guilt certainly was an interesting motivator.
She’d already texted Joey to order coffee and donuts for breakfast delivery for the employees in the morning and to order an apology cake for them for afternoon delivery. If Joey hadn’t told her it was too much, she would have also placed a lobster dinner order. According to him, there was apologizing and then there was butt kissing.
Trixie punched in her code for her apartment and opened the door. She turned on the lights. Stripping off her coveralls, she stumbled her way to the bathroom. A shower would be heavenly right then, but she wanted sleep and a shower would surely wake her up. She’d just shower in the morning and change her sheets. After using the toilet, she exited wearing just her panties and tank. Her jeans were left unceremoniously on the bathroom floor.
Trixie’s head was down as she massaged a tight muscle on the back of her neck, which was the only reason she told herselflater she hadn’t seen him standing by her window. Her feet froze and he took a step towards her.
Shadows were cast across his face, blocking his eyes from her, but she had no hesitation. Cayden was dressed mostly in black from his leather cut and ripped jeans to his boots. His t-shirt was red with a cartoon version of Ryan Reynold’sDeadpoollooking at comic books while admitting that he had issues. Black eyeliner outlined under the bottom of his mismatched eyes. His brunette hair was spiked with green tips, and his trimmed nails were painted black with the exception of his middle fingernails which were green.
She didn’t pause to count how many earrings he was wearing as she ran to him, but he currently had more adorning his face than she’d ever owned in her life.
Cayden caught her up in his arms when she launched herself at him. Trixie clung to him, filled with joy and fear. He felt real, but God, what if she was dreaming?Please, don’t let me be dreaming…
Either she’d spoken out loud or he truly did know her too well. Cayden picked her face off of his shoulder and held it before him. “It’s me, baby. I’m really here.”
Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She put her hands over his on her face. “I need you to be. It’s going to kill me if I find out you aren’t actually here.”
He graced her with that wicked smile she’d missed every day he’d been gone. “Come on, Trix. You and I both know your dreams aren’t that creative.” He gestured up and down to his new appearance. “You really think you would ever picture me like this?”
Her laugh was also part sob as she looked him up and down. “What is all this?”
He made a face. “Ignore all of this shit. It’s not who I am, not anymore. This was who I was before you.”
She gave him a knowing look. “You got rid of all this before you met me, and you know it. I take no credit in you having never dyed your hair green.” She raised her hand to the tips. “Damn, those are sharp. How much product are you using?”
He didn’t answer that question, nor did he laugh. Instead, he clarified his own statement. “You’re the reason I never wanted to go back to this.”
Trixie squeezed his hands. “I don’t understand. Why are you back? Where’s Lee? Is he okay? Are you okay? And how many earrings do youhave?”
She tipped her head to the side to view his right ear. There were three small hoops, a stud, and four spikes in his right ear. On his left were also three hoops. He had a stud through his nose and two hoops in the corner of his bottom lip.
Cayden’s face fell, making her heart skip before he said, “Lee’s fine. That man’s…terrifying.” Trixie swallowed nervously, wondering what memory Cayden was remembering to use that word to describe her brother. She knew he was a former soldier, but she’d never seen her brother in action as a Marine or a cop. He’d always been hergran hermano.
Cayden ran a gentle hand down her cheek. “We’re not done yet. I can’t tell you what we’re doing or what’s going on. I don’t even know how much longer it’ll take.” Trixie’s heart sank. Still, she cradled her face into his touch. “I need you to be a bit more patient with me, baby. We are making progress, I swear to you. I just…” He lifted her fingertips to his lips. “I needed to see you. I was losing myself. I needed a reminder what I’m fighting for.”
Sadness struck her as she realized what Cayden was saying. He had to go back. He wasn’t staying with her. They weren’t going home tonight.
She turned her face away, her tears falling heavier now. She didn’t want him to see her pain. She needed to be strong for Cayden. He was doing this for her, for her family, to get justicefor Marco… If what he was doing was so righteous, then why did it have to hurt so much?
Cayden put his hand under her chin, dragging her back towards him. She went, closing her eyes to hide from him. “Are we back to this?” He dipped his head down to her ear. “Open your eyes, baby girl, or I won’t kiss you.”
His words from that night so long ago on the Wynns’ front porch echoed in her ears, and just as they had done then, her eyes flew open.
He smiled. “There’s those chocolate browns I love so much.”
Her chin quavered in his hand. “How much time do we have?”
“About four hours.” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Your cameras are on a loop. No one can know I was here.” He wrapped his other hand around the small of her back. “I waited until after your decorating and cleaning spree to start it, so everything looks quiet.”
