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MARK
“Allow me.” I hold the door to Tranquili-Tea open and eye the ass of the woman walking through it. As she turns and walks backwards out the door, I quickly adjust my eyes, sweeping them up her body and giving her a wink when they land on her face. “Have an amazing day, beautiful.”
She gives me the smile I’ve been waiting for, shakes her head, and parades down the sidewalk with an extra swing in her step. I grin to myself, knowing she’s laughing at me, but I made her feel good for the moment. Maybe she’ll even think of me later.
I walk up to the counter, seeing my usual girl. “Good morning, sweets. How are you doing today?”
She pops her gum, pops her hip, and leans forward against the counter. “Hey, Mark, I was waiting for you to come in.”
“Well, here I am.” I give her the perfect McCall smile and lean on the counter, bringing my face closer to her. “I’ll have my usual, but make sure you dip your finger in and make it extra sweet for me, okay?”
She giggles. “Anything you want, Mark.” She turns to make my cinnamon tea and I hear a groan come from behind me.
I spin around to see who had made the noise and I’m rendered speechless. This woman is gorgeous. She has a natural glow to her. It’s like the sun is radiating from her. I track her body. She’s petite but toned. Long dark hair. A perfect body to match the perfect smile. But her eyes. The fire that burns in them negates the Caribbean blue color. And when we connect?
She rolls them at me.
Okay, that is not the usual reaction I get. I’m a good-looking guy. I know it. And I’ve learned to use it to my best advantage. I can sweet talk and flirt my way into and out of just about anything.
Getting shot down straight out the gate only makes me want to work harder.
“Tell me that line actually works.”
“Hasn’t failed me yet.”
“Clearly, playboy.”
What in the world? Have I met this woman before? Is she a one-night stand gone wrong?
“Do I know you?”
She scoffs. “Nope. Not at all.” She steps up beside me, places her order with the barrista quickly, then turns her back on me, looking at her phone while she waits for her tea.
I step closer to her. I want to get her talking. “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
“Yeah, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.”
I’m awestruck. Did she just counteract one of my lines? I didn’t even have time to finish the pickup line, and she blocked it. I want to ask a thousand questions, but I can’t get my words to form. Just when I’m about to ask her name, “MAC!” is called out. She hurriedly grabs her tea, and without a second look at me, is out the door.
MARK
“Hey Gumdrop, how are we doing today?” Entering our office in the AD’s lounge, I laugh as my best friend flips me off. “Listen, don’t blame me that your nickname stuck.”
“It would unstick if you’d stop using it.” His mismatched eyes roll and I can't help but smile. Dashiell Winters moved to Candy Cane Key six months ago. We met a few years ago, having worked for the same tech company. We bonded over football and pool and his hate for small towns. Our town, Candy Cane Key, is bigger than where he came from, but it still holds the same Christmas magic year-round.
His love for my friend Summer has turned his grouchy ways around. But I still love to fuck with him every chance I get.
“Game starts at six o’clock tonight. We're going together right?”
“Yeah, I planned on just working through and heading to the field to watch Jameson warm up. Summer is helping the Polarettes tonight, so she’ll meet us after halftime.”
Jameson, the son of Dash, is the starting quarterback for the North Pole University Polar Bears. The kid is straight fire and I know I’m not the only one who’s happy he stuck around at the University for another year to play. He had a showing for the NFL team, the North Carolina Warriors, a few months back, but decided he wasn’t ready to go pro.
I know Dash is especially happy he stayed put. He won’t leave his kids’ side. And if it wasn’t for Summer, I bet he’d be living in the dorm with him.
“Ah, very nice. Summer breaking out the cheer uniform again, huh?” I waggle my eyebrows at him. I know I’m getting him riled up. It’s the whole point of everything I do. To get a reaction.
“Bro, you better back the fuck up talking about my girl and a short skirt. That’s for my eyes only.”
