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Spencer
“We’re gonna be late for our shift Spencer, if we don’t get going. The mall is closing soon, and here comes that goddamn security guard again,” Brent fussed.
Spencer ignored his best friend, continuing to lead them in the opposite direction of the exit. He craned his head toward Burbank Jewelers to see if they were still open.
Yes.
“I just wanna see if the bracelet is still there.”
Brent rolled his green eyes. “Of course it’s still there. No one has that kind of money for a freakin’ bracelet.”
Spencer passed an extravagant Christmas setup in the center of the mall, complete with a gaudy fifteen-foot tree and a goddamn Polar Express train. There were miles of red velvet ropes where parents had stood in line for hours with their snot-nosed kids for a thirty-second photo op with a fake Santa.
He almost wanted to kick the massive ornaments decorating the floor, but he refrained.
It wasn’t quite six yet, and since they’d finally shut off that annoying version of ‘Sleigh Ride’ blasting from the PA system, he could hear himself think.
Spencer tried to get into a better mood while his friend dragged him around the mall to shop for the perfect gift for his partner. He didn’t want to piss on anyone else’s happiness, but the term “misery loves company” was resonating deep within him.
He hated this time of year. All he wanted to do was stay home and fuck around on his Holiday Grinches group he’d started on Facebook three years ago. He had no parents, no siblings, no family, no boyfriend—at least not for some time—and no prospects. But he did have almost ten thousand members, so that was something.
“Spencer, come on, man. You know how grumpy Mr. Belvedere gets when we’re not on time.”
Spencer rolled his eyes. Mr. Belvedere was the nickname they’d given their pompous boss, who believed being prepared and prompt was a trait of a disciplined man.
“We’ll be on time,” Spencer murmured.
The gate to the jewelry store was still up, which meant he had at least a couple of minutes to stare at his baby. His eyes adjusted to the warm, ambient lighting of the jewelry store while he stood in front of the main display case.
“Great. Why don’t you just go to the bank on Monday and take out a loan the size of Egypt and buy the darn thing? Then you can stop gawking at it every time we come in here.”
Brent stood beside him, tapping his foot, with his Macy’s bag slung over his shoulder.
Spencer ran his finger over the pristine glass.If only they had a layaway plan or something.
“We’re just about to close, sir,” a tall man said, coming around the corner.
He was older but handsome, with a stern jaw and a corporate haircut, with graying temples.
“Are you picking up an order or needing assistance with a new purchase?”
“No, he was just leaving.”
Before Spencer could respond, Brent gripped his elbow and tugged him backward.
Spencer dug his heels in and glared at his friend over his shoulder.
“Um, no, but I would like to see the marble stone bracelet with the literary owl.”
The salesman smiled and brushed his manicured fingers over the stark midnight beads with pearl velvet stones. The man removed it from the display and laid the bracelet on a piece of white leather padding on top of the counter.
Spencer got chills every time he looked at it.
“That’s an amazing piece. Maybe you can come back after the holidays, and we can get you fitted for one.”
Spencer wished he had time to try it on for the fifth time just to see it against his light skin, but the mall lights were already dimming, and he and Brent were coming dangerously close to being late for their shift.
“Maybe,” he whispered.
