Six

Garrett

Steve was so cute in his elf costume, but I liked seeing him like he was right now. A little embarrassed and trying to hide a smile so bright I wanted to make it my mission to make sure he smiled like that every time I saw him. “So, how late do you work?” I asked. “I mean not that I was going to ask if you were busy, but I was curious how long your shift is.”

“Well yesterday I only worked four hours, but they said today it’s a full eight. I’m really hoping it’s not that busy,” he grumbled.

“It’s going to only get busier from now until Christmas. Are you sure you don’t want to look for another job?” I tried to be sympathetic and not laugh, but I’d never met anyone who seemed to want less to do with the holidays.

“I’ll stick it out, like I said, it’s not all bad. Just mostly bad. How long have you been a driver?” he asked.

“Three years. I tried college and after two years and multiple classes, I never could decide exactly what I wanted to do. I applied for the job when they were desperate for holiday help and got it. Pay’s decent and even when the traffic’s bad I’m not stuck inside.”

“I used to come to this mall when it was packed full for the holidays,” he said, staring off in the distance while he spoke, changing the subject. “It’s strange to be able to find a parking place and go into a store that’s not crammed with people.”

“Me too. When I was in high school it started to slowly die, now it’s like a ghost town. I honestly was shocked they were having Santa here this year, I didn’t think it would be busy enough for that,” I said. It was true, part of the reason I’d come here was to see how bad it would be, but was both shocked and pleasantly surprised to see it was very close to how I remembered it.

“Did you go to the mall every year for Santa pictures?” he asked, but there was an edge of sarcasm to his voice that pissed me off.

“Yeah, we did. It was a family tradition that my parents, and sometimes my grandparents too, would take my sister and I to see Santa. Jess and I would both write our lists and put them in the mailbox that was right next to where Santa was seated. It was magical, and it made the season even more special. Look, I totally understand that not everyone likes the holidays, but have you heard the expression don’t piss in my cheerios?” I met his eyes then and didn’t look away. What he obviously thought was stupid was something that I loved, and I didn’t want him to dim the warmth of it.

His smile slowly dimmed as he realized I was serious, and he shuffled around in his chair. “Look, I didn’t mean—”

“What? To make me feel bad for loving something?” I asked. What he saw as useless and something he obviously didn’t need was something that I wasn’t going to give up until I left this earth. I was Father fucking Christmas, and he was about to know that for certain.

“I really didn’t—”

“It’s been nice meeting you. Have a good day at work,” I said before grabbing my coffee and scone and hurrying out the door, because even if I was annoyed with him I wasn’t leaving my caffeine behind, and the scone was a nice bonus.

“Garrett, wait up,” I heard Steve say from behind me, but I ignored him, until a hand on my shoulder made that impossible.

“Look—” was all I got out before his lips were on mine. His arms wrapped around me, while I struggled not to spill my drink all over him. He kissed me right there in Sunrise Mall as I was about to go out the side exit. We were both breathless when he rested his forehead against mine.

“I’m really sorry. I know I can be a sarcastic asshole, but I never in a million years wanted to make you feel the way I obviously did. I love the way your eyes sparkle every time you look at anything to do with Christmas, and I hate that I hurt you in any way,” he whispered. “Please give me another chance to prove I’m not a complete ass.”

“No more sarcasm, not even a sarcastic look. I really hate it,” I said, and he nodded his head against mine. I didn’t mean to be so bossy, but I also hated games, and for me sarcasm was a stupid game that I refused to engage in. “If I love something you’ll know it, and I won’t hide it. It’s that simple.” I shrugged my shoulder, and his lips pulled up in a small smile.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Garrett,” he whispered so close I could feel his breath on my lips.

“Someone who hates sarcasm?”

“You take no shit from me, and you called me out on what has become my regular behavior, and I really do love how happy the holidays make you. Maybe I need more happy people in my life,” he said, and I wrapped my arm around him and held him close.

“How about we finish eating so you can get to work?” I wasn’t sure why I was willing to give him a second chance, but I saw something in his eyes when he thought no one was watching that made me think there was more Christmas spirit hidden beneath that hard exterior. I wasn’t sure I needed to know what had hardened him to the holidays, but I did want to see if he really disliked it as much as he kept telling me.

“Oh, I left mine in the café,” he said and grabbed the hand I still held my scone in and pulled me back to it. His drink and food were still there so he scooped them up, and after brushing the crumbs off the table and balancing his food and drink in one hand, he took my hand again and led me into the mall. “I’ve never been so glad that a place was slow in my life. Let’s go this way.” I laughed as he led me to a part of the mall where most of the stores were now closed. There was a seating area that I remembered sitting at one year when we were here to see Santa.

I took a seat, and he sat right next to me. We set our things down on the seat next to us before turning to face each other. I took both his hands in mine and looked him right in the eye before I asked, “Tell me your favorite Christmas memory.”