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“Brendan, it’s good to see you,” I hear the clerk say.
I know without even looking that he’s talking to my enemy neighbor. I can feel his presence. I close my eyes and pray that I’m wrong.
“Hey, Carl. It’s always good to see you.” I glance over to see them shake hands. He is wearing a strange smirk on his face.
“You here to pick up your order? I have it right here. It’s a lot of lights. We’re excited to see your display this year.” The now-smiling clerk places a significant amount of boxes on the counter. “Need help getting all this to your car?”
I gasp when I see the picture and description on the side of the box.
I’m not a violent person, but I’m going to murder Satan Claus and wrap him in the icicle lights that hestolefrom under my nose.
5
BRENDAN
She sputters for a bit, her big green eyes focused on the boxes Carl continues to pull from behind the counter.
“This going to be it for you, Brendan?” He pats the large stack.
“That’s all I need.” I don’t take my eyes off Ariadne. “Is there something wrong, miss?”
She finally looks at me. “Something is definitely wrong!”
I do my best to keep my face neutral, but it’s difficult when she is doing her best to make me smile. Does she know how cute she looks when she’s all worked up? Pink cheeks, angry eyes, and a racing heart I can see in the pulse at her throat. She wants to rip me apart. I want to spread her.
“Can I help?” I maintain my innocent tone.
“Help?” She rolls her eyes. “Canyouhelpme? Are you kidding? Is this your stand-up routine? Are we being filmed for some new season of ‘Punk’d’? Where’s that jerk Ashton Kutcher? Hiding in the paint aisle with his camera crew?”
“Do I need to call someone?” Carl looks at her apprehensively.
She erupts. “Call the police, and tell them Satan Claus has stolen Christmas!”
I finally break, a laugh rolling out of me at ‘Satan Claus.’ Is that what she calls me? I love it, actually. I already knew I’d gotten under her skin, but a special nickname is the cherry on top.
“I’m done here.” She turns to storm off.
I step toward her. “Hang on, miss.”
Whirling, she points a finger at me. “Don’t you ‘miss’ me. You know who I am!”
“I do? Have we met?” I adopt a curious expression.
She chews her lip. “Well, no.”
“I’m Brendan.” I hold out my hand.
She frowns at it.
“I can call someone.” Carl’s hand hovers over the receiver to the store telephone.
“It’s all right, Carl.” I wave him away. “Just ring me up.”
“Sure thing.” He shoots Ariadne one more glance and starts scanning the lights.
“My hand’s getting kind of lonely.” I waggle my fingers.
She stares for a while longer, thebeepof the scanner going off at regular intervals. I think she’s going to leave me hanging, but she finally puts her hand in mine.
