Page 19 of Holiday Wishes and Tentacle Dreams

Jakedidlove that Gram hadn’t said Phil’s name since they broke up. But just because she was excited was no reason to do something stupid.

“No one should have to put up with my illness, Gram. It’s bad enoughyouhave to.”

Jake knew his words would piss off his grandmother, but he couldn’t help it. That’s how he felt.

“Don’t you fucking do that, Jakey! You deserve love. You deserve to be happy. And if you forget that, I’ll drive up there right now and yell at you until you remember.”

The ferocity in her words warmed Jake’s heart.

“I…maybe. But not right now. Besides, I met Doren for all of three minutes yesterday morning. I may never see themagain. And no one’s going to want to be saddled with a chubby, mentally ill failure.”

“Jakey—”

“I’ve already had one breakup this year, Gram. I think that’s enough. Let me get through the holidays. Maybe the new year will be better.”

Chapter Six

DOREN

Doren was experiencing an uncomfortable emotion they’d never felt before, and they didn’t like it.

They’d made their way to the coffee shop before heading out to surf, as they always did when they visited Linwood Falls, geared up for their peppermint latte. There was a bounce in their step as they anticipated the sweet combination of milk and chocolate and mint.

When they reached the storefront, however, a discomfiting sight greeted them there. The sweet man in red flannel—now wearing a green-and-yellow cable-knit sweater—stood at the counter, and Rex was speaking to him.

Rex was more than speaking to him. Rex was touching his hand.

Betrayed by the barista!

Doren couldn’t fault Rex. Jake was just as delectable as he had been three days earlier when they’d met. Seeing him again without a kitten to worry about, Doren took Jake in more fully. He had curves, yes, but they were covering a layer of muscle. Maybe he’d played a sport in college? Football? His shoulders and biceps were quite developed.

His short hair was the perfect deep chestnut. It stuck out every which way, the result of putting a winter hat over wet hair. Doren was glad that Jake couldn’t shapeshift. Doren always had perfectly coiffed hair when they transformed, but they lapped up Jake’s sexy imperfections.

After a minute, Rex made eye contact with Doren through the window. Shit. The barista had a possessive glint in his eye that sparked a fire of competitiveness in Doren’s gut.

If he were cruel, Rex could point out that Doren was spying on Jake. Before he’d have the chance, Doren darted around the corner to the other side of the building and monitored the front door of the coffee shop through the tall shrubbery.

Bushes. Doren was hiding in the bushes. How had they let themself get to this point?

Despite feeling somewhat ashamed, they didn’t leave their hiding place until they spotted Jake heading back to his house.

Doren needed a peppermint latte. And to talk to Rex. Slipping out from behind the bank of shrubs, they stepped into the coffee shop and made a beeline for the cashier to order their drink.

The coffee shop suddenly didn’t seem as cute as it usually did. The decorations had lost their holiday sparkle. Doren stared at Rex as the barista made their drink.

The manwashandsome. His curly hair was perfect for Jake to run his fingers through. More of a twink than Doren ever had any chance of being in their human form, the slight barista was probably Jake’s preferred type. Didn’t every hot bear want a pocket gay?

Not only that, but Rex also wasn’t a shapeshifting alien with a true form straight out of a sailor’s nightmare. Rex probably had a normal family and a normal life.

When they’d flirted with Jake a few days ago, Doren hadn’t had time to assess the situation. They’d just seen an adorableman running after an adorable kitten and went for it. Now, though, Doren was distinctly aware of all their shortcomings. All the things they couldn’t offer Jake because of belonging to an alien species.

Even if Doren had the luck of Jake being interested, he’d run away screaming when he found out the truth.

“Peppermint latte for Doren?” Rex placed the large sugar bomb on the shelf, and Doren grabbed it. Before taking a sip, though, they couldn’t resist asking about Jake.

“Thank you, Rex. Who was the gentleman you were just speaking to?”

“Gentleman?” A light pink blush washed over Rex’s face as he pumped flavor shots into the next drink. “Oh. That’s Jake. He’s new in town. He’s nice.”