Page 66 of Winter Break

Turner at Twenty-Nine Again

Ishouldn’t have told him. The building and its businesses were my burden. I’d kept his father at bay since Anita had left, and she’d done so before me. But Dalton knowing how unstable things were was not fair to him.

“We’ve got this, baby,” he said before he went out to help our first customers, like he hadn’t missed a day of work in years.

We had a trickling of customers that morning, and in between, Dalton kept spitting out ideas or posting on the store’s social media accounts. He even dug out the old Grinch costume, which I ended up in since it didn’t fit him, and he had me prancing around the store, the both of us laughing.

The Grinch doesn’t laugh, Turner. Get your shit together!”

We did have a few more families show up for story time that afternoon, and Dalton used the opportunity to talk to the moms about a possible new book club for them and craft club for the kids. After Milo had been there for a while, Dalton dragged me into the back and kissed the shit out of me. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to it, and I never wanted him to stop. We hadn’t really talked about what a future might look like for us, but I was a merchant mere days before Christmas; the future would exist again on December twenty-sixth.

“I’m gonna run home and pack a bag.” He looked at me in question, and only then did I realize what he was asking. I nodded and smiled. “I’ll tell Mom that I’m helping out because you’re short-staffed, which is true, and that it will just be easier for me to crash on your couch. Okay?”

“You shouldn’t have to lie.”

“It’s okay. It won’t be forever. And it’s not exactly a lie. I won’t mind it if we end up on the couch again tonight.” Dalton’s forehead scrunched up adorably as he raised his eyebrows, his whole face smiling like, well, like a kid on Christmas.

We kissed again, and Dalton bounded toward the back door. “Dinner at the Three B’s tonight?”

“Sure,” I shouted to his back as he exited the building, tacking on a softly mumbled, “Baby,” to the closed door, trying it on for size.

The shop was actually a bit busier that afternoon, so I didn’t realize how late it was until Milo asked if it was okay for him to head home. He rode a bike and generally didn’t stay past sundown in the winter.

“Wow, look at the time. We were busy! Yeah, get on out of here.”

“I think your phone’s ringing, boss,” I heard Milo say as he bolted out the back door. I’d left it on my desk and returned after closing up the shop to find a bunch of messages and missed calls.

I went to Dalton’s first.

Slight change of plans tonight. Meet at my house when you close.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO BRETT?!

The front door opened just as I was looking to see who else had tried to get in touch with me, and a flushed Brett walked into the store.

I was sure he’d found out even though I couldn't imagine Dalton telling him without talking to me about it first. It didn’t stop my heart from pounding in my chest, feeling like I was in fight-or-flight mode. I didn’t want to lie to my best friend, but how could I tell him what I was feeling for his brother? I really needed to talk to Dalton.

“You by yourself in here?”

“Yeah, most of the staff is next door because that’s where the coffee is! I had one of the kids here with me today. He just left.” I failed to mention that Dalton had been there most of the day as well, and the day before.

Brett yanked his cap off his head and shoved it and his hands in the pockets of his fluffy jacket.

“Oh, yeah. It looked really busy over there. Congratulations, man. People seem to love it.”

“Thanks.” Brett began to wander and look at items, something I don’t think I’d ever seen him do before.

“You shopping for kids all of a sudden?” I joked, or at least I thought it was a joke, but Brett turned on me like I’d declared an act of war.

“Who told you? Did mom call already? I know it wasn’t Dalton, because I wouldn’t let him come back here. I told him I wanted to tell you myself!”

“Who told me what, Brett? What are you talking about?”

I know about you and Dalton, and I’m here to tell you to stay away from my baby brother. That being with him is the ultimate betrayal, and that I never want to see you again. Oh, and neither do my parents. It’s Christmas on your own this year, Turner Misher.

“Turner? Turner? Did you hear a word I said?”

I shook my head to clear it. I had heard something. “Baby brother?”