Page 55 of Mr. Frosty Pants

“Yes! I set you up with a handsome, wealthy, intelligent man. You can thank me later. And was Walker in on it? Absolutely. He was skeptical at first, but when he saw us walking up, I could tell by the look on his face.” She nodded firmly. “He’s interested after all.”

Casey leaned back against the headrest as they whipped past leafless trees and evergreens along the Astor Country Club driveway. He kept his mouth shut, waiting for the right words to pop into his mind. Something less angry than the “mind your own fucking business” that filled it now. He pulled out his phone to text Ann. Maybe she would have time for a phone session later today before he had to leave for Joel’s.

“So? Aren’t you going to say anything about Walker?” His mother glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before they pulled onto the road that would take them home. “Casey?”

“I have dinner plans tonight. With Joel.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So I won’t be around. Tell Heather I’m sorry to miss her delicious cooking two nights in a row, but it can’t be helped. I might stay the night with him again. In fact, I probably will.”

“But, Casey…”

“I’m a grown man, Mom. I can handle my own love life, all right? Stay out of it.”

He closed his eyes and took slow breaths, willing his heart rate to slow down. A flash of Joel’s crooked grin filled his mind, and he sighed softly. It was going to be okay. He would hold Joel again tonight, and no matter what nonsense his parents got up to trying to set him up with the boss’s son, it wouldn’t change a thing. He knew what he wanted. He just had to be patient and steady to get it.

“Fine. Be that way. We’re just trying to help you. If you want to spend your break here flirting with someone you’ll never have and who doesn’t deserve you anyway, be my guest. But, young man, youwillbe at our Christmas party tomorrow night. Do you understand me? No excuses.”

Casey kept his eyes closed and his mouth shut. He’d go to the party. Sure, why not? Maybe he’d ask Joel to come as his date. Get it all out in the open. And what better place than at a party where his parents wouldn’t have the nerve to show their true feelings? They wouldn’t want to make a scene in front of their friends.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes, Mom. I’ll be at the party. I promise.”

Chapter Sixteen

As it turnedout, Angel had done a wonderful job with the store. She was dressed in the holiday spirit in felt light-up reindeer antlers and dancing elf earrings. Otherwise, she’d maintained her head-to-toe black, but her lipstick was bright red, and she smiled at Joel when he came in like she was truly happy to see him.

“Guess what?” she squealed, racing around the sales counter to grab his arm.

“What?”

“My stepbrother came in last night to help out.”

“Oh? Hope you’re paying him out of your own pocket, because I don’t have room on the payroll.”

“He worked for free,” she said gleefully. “Have you seen him?”

“No.”

She waggled her eyebrows. “He’s gay.”

“Great.”

“And cute.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And I think you’d like him.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because everyone says he’s dreamy.” She rolled her eyes.

Joel pulled free of her grip. “And I’m not interested.”

She cocked her head knowingly. “Life’s always feast-or-famine, isn’t it? And you could be in a feast period, my friend. Enjoy it. Live a little.”

“What are you talking about?”

She motioned at the beard burn on his chin, and he touched it gently. It stung. “That dude from yesterday and now, potentially, my stepbrother.”