Page 61 of Snow Globe Secrets

“Hey, Turner,” he said as he guided me into the store. “Dalton and I are doing some Christmas shopping, but Dad is showing his friend Randall the Three B’s and the boardwalk. Randall just moved back to the US from London.”

Austin still had his hand at my back as the door shut, and we continued to converse in front of it. Austin seemed as intent on introducing me to this single man as his father had been, and that fire in my gut hardened and sunk. I plastered on a polite smile anyway.

“Oh, I love London! Welcome home, and welcome to Breakwater Beach.”

Martin was bending down and playing with a wooden train set, but he looked up as he said, “Randy and I went to college together. I was just asking the kids where all the hip gay guys go for New Year’s Eve. Aus, Dalt, where do you guys usually go?”

Turner’s eyes went wide, and he glanced at Dalton, who was busy looking at a rack of greeting cards. I could sense Austin standing right behind me.

“We usually just roam, Dad. And we don’t always go to queer spaces since we’re usually with our high school friends.”

“And you give me too much credit, Marty,” Turner contributed. “I am in no way a hip dance-club kind of guy.” He looked at Dalton again. “I’m much more of a homebody these days.”

“Seriously, Dad. I think you and Mom might have the most exciting plans of any of us for next week.” I turned to watch as Austin tried to catch Dalton’s eye even as he spoke to Turner.

“No plans, then, for New Year’s Eve, Turner?”

Turner looked at Dalton as he answered. “Nah. I’ll keep the shop open for a few hours that day, but other than that …”

“Cool,” Dalton said even though Turner’s sentence had faded off without concluding. Austin appeared somewhat distracted as he’d taken his phone out and was typing something. My phone pinged shortly thereafter.

“Whelp.” Marty straightened up from playing with the train set. “I do have actual last-minute shopping to do. Then I need to help open the restaurant. Randall, are you coming or …”

I was busy looking at my phone. Austin had sent an image with the word “awkward” on it. And then he’d texted me:

The Excuse: OMG. My dad is too much! I wish we could get out of here and leave Dalton and Turner alone. I’ll fill you in later.

My heart fluttered at his message. Austin wanted to spend time with me and not with his old high school boyfriend.

I looked up from my phone, avoiding making eye contact with Austin. “Marty, I really have to get some work done.”

Austin chimed in, waving the bag he held. “Yeah, and I have some gifts to wrap. You drove, right, Randall? Dad’s Jeep was still in the driveway when Dalton picked me up. Mind if I ride back with you? We’ll be back at the restaurant later for dinner, Dad. I can bring your car for you then if you plan to stay and help Preston close.”

Martin looked at his watch. “I guess I should get back to the Three B’s, but your mom has a conference call at two, so no blasting heavy metal music while you're wrapping gifts.”

I laughed. “I think you mean no blasting holiday tunes, Mart,” I said, and Martin tilted his head at me. From where he stood next to Dalton, Austin’s eyes went wide before he stepped forward and chimed in.

“You make me sound like a moody teenager, Dad. You’re a bigger heavy metal fan than I am.”

“That’s right. You were quite the headbanger when we were in college,” I contributed.

Austin rubbed his hands together. “Ooh. Is it time for another embarrassing story?” He held the door open, waving at his friend. “Later, Dalt. Thanks for helping me with this.” He waved the shopping bag in his hand. He looked pointedly at his friend.

“Turner, Dad. See you later. So, Randall, heavy metal?”

I described his dad’s haircut, or lack thereof, when we were sophomores, and how quickly he got it cut after I’d introduced him to Stephanie. Austin laughed along with me as we walked up the boardwalk. We were quiet after that until we reached my car.

At the driver’s door he reached out his hand to stop me opening it. “Can I drive?”

“For someone who doesn’t like to drive …”

“I want to show you something.”

I looked down at our joined hands and back up at him before nodding and walking around to take the passenger’s seat. Austin tossed his package in the seat behind him and started the car, fiddling with the buttons until holiday music floated from the speakers.

Austin didn’t drive far, taking us just a few blocks north, where we could park the car and watch the ocean ebb and flow in front of us.

Chapter Twenty-One