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“Ethan, man,” said Zig. “You should get him to make you some stuff. It would look great in your New York apartment.”
Ethan nodded. “I’m ahead of you there. I’ve actually been thinking about it already.”
“Really?” said Kate looking up at him, her eyes shining. She was so pleased for Tom.
“I’m not cheap,” said Tom, deadpan. “I don’t know if you can afford me.”
Ethan laughed. “I’ll send in a negotiator.”
“Give him the family discount, Tom,” said Kate.
“Can I be part of that family?” asked Zig. “I wouldn’t mind having a special cabinet for all my LPs.”
“Zig, you’d have to take out a mortgage for all the cabinets you’d need to house your LPs decently.”
“You should see how many crates he has stacked up his place, Tom,” said Tracy, moving toward him. “All filled with LPs.”
Tom looked at her and then at Zig. “Yeah? Maybe I can do a special deal for you. You give me half of your LPs of my choosing, and I’ll give you a great price for the cabinets. That way you’ll need fewer of them, and it will cost you less. Win-win.”
“Win nothing,” said Zig, laughing. “Nice try, though. But you’re welcome to come and look at them anytime. Emphasis on look. And maybe play. If I okay it. But they don’t leave the apartment.”
Tracy smiled at Tom, her eyes wide, assessing. “It is a good collection. I promise. You should come over and see it. I should know. I do some deejaying on weekends.”
Zig came up behind her and put a hand on Tracy’s shoulder. “She’s good too. You should hear her play sometime.” He looked over at Ethan and Kate. “All of you. Maybe we could make an evening of it.”
Ethan squeezed Kate’s waist, as if sensing the dread that rose up in her. “Sure. Maybe sometime. Christmas is coming, though, not sure if I can manage before then.”
“I know I can’t,” said Tom, crossing his arms, his hands tucked under. “I have too much to do here with the holiday orders. Especially now that I’m changing directions with the store.”
“You’re going for it?” asked Ethan. At Tom’s nod, Ethan grinned and leaned over to punch his arm. “That’s awesome. I’m happy for you.”
Tom responded to his enthusiasm with his own grin, his eyes lighting up. Kate was so glad to see Tom feel this moment of joy.
“It’ll be great, Tom,” said Kate. “This time next year, you’ll have orders coming at you from everywhere.”
“Here, here,” said Zig.
“I have no doubts,” said Ethan.
“I hope you’re right,” said Tom. “But in the meantime, I have to put in the work. Not long now until Christmas.”
“You staying here for Christmas, Ethan?” asked Zig. “You know you can always come to me for Hanukkah.”
Ethan arched a brow. “Hanukkah? Really? You mean you actually celebrate it?”
Zig shrugged. “Minor detail. I think there’s a menorah somewhere.”
Ethan laughed. “Well, thanks, anyway, but I’m going to spend it here. Kate’s invited me.”
“She has?” asked Tom. “Good. Because I was going to if she didn’t. Wait. Where are we having it?”
Ethan and Kate exchanged looks and shrugged.
“You could all come and have the Hanukkah experience at my apartment.”
“Dude you’d have to google Hanukkah to know what to do. You’re the most un-Jewish Jew I’ve ever met.”
“Just come over, Zig,” said Kate. “Wherever we end up having it.” She turned to Tracy, who’d been studying Ethan. “You’re welcome to come too.”
