“Fine,” I mumbled, putting it on and fixing my hair. Hair, by the way, I’d worn down the last couple of days, all because he’d mentioned he missed seeing it down. “How do I look?”
“Stunning like always. Go! If you change your mind, I can be here in less than five, ‘kay?” she offered, and I knew Lola would be there if I needed her.
I walked to the front of the brewery and stopped. Staring at the dark wood of the door, I breathed in deep. My heartrate picked up a little with nerves. I had no idea what the hell Onyx had planned, but something about this setup felt like a big deal. Monumental, really. He’d shut the whole place down for me.
I glanced over my shoulder only to see Lola still in her little Subaru hatchback, her car running as she waved at me to go in. I knew she wouldn’t leave until I was safely inside. I blew a kiss at my best friend and then, without thinking about it again, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Nothing, and I mean nothing could have prepared me for the beautiful way the empty brewery was decorated. Soft warm twinkle lights were wrapped around every post and rafter. In the corner was the workshop Onyx and I had built and I had carefully painted.
“Hello?” I called out but didn’t hear anything or anyone.
I moved closer to the workshop area, smiling at the impressive Santa’s chair someone from city hall had let us borrow. The thing was beautiful. Big and ornate with gold-painted ornate wood arm rests and legs. The back and seat were made of a plush deep red velvet.
“What do you think?” Onyx’ deep voice sounded behind me, but I didn’t turn to face him.
“It looks good here,” I whispered. “You should do this yearly,” I added. He hummed with approval. His heavy footsteps sounded behind me until I felt his heat hit my back, and then one long arm wrapped around my waist and lips touched my temple.
“I’d do it for you.”
“Hmm…” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m sorry for not calling,” he apologized, and I turned to look at him.
My eyes widened at the getup he had on, and my lips twitched, but I didn’t full-on smile. Fuck, Onyx Trejo looked good in everything I had ever seen him in, but a Santa suit? Jesus. He could easily create a Santa through the year calendar for whatever cause the city needed next, and it would fly off the shelves.Internationally.
I didn’t even know I had a Santa kink, but right there, in his arms, looking up at him, I knew I’d do just about anything to be his good bad girl. Or his bad good girl. It didn’t really matter if it meant I’d finally end up on his lap.Stop thinking with your hoo-ha!a voice in my head shouted at me. And as tempted as I was to ignore it, I couldn’t.
When people show you who they are, believe them,my grandma liked to say. Onyx had shown me a lot of who he was. Regardless of why he’d said what he’d said, he’d let me believe things that weren’t true for months.
And why? Because according to him, he didn’t have time for more and I was too young for him? There hadn’t been an extra twelve hours added to the day in the last three days, and our age difference hadn’t changed.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Life got a little crazy,” he said, and it stung a little. “Okay, a lot,” he added. I worked two jobs and would have found the time.If he wanted to, he would.I stepped out of his hold, and surprisingly enough, he let me. But I didn’t get far. Not when hisfingers took mine in a strong yet tender hold. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Look, Onyx, I get that you did something sweet but—“ The words died on my tongue when I saw the setup he’d created for us. “What is this?” I asked, blinking slowly as I took in the sight.
Right on the stage, where karaoke or bands played, were a bunch of pillows. Fuzzy- and soft-looking, surrounded by thick throw blankets.
“It’s an indoor picnic.” I looked at him.
“You closed down the brewery on a Sunday to set us up an?—"
“Indoor picnic.” He nodded. “Originally, I thought about having it at my house, but Lola”—he cleared his throat—“said she’d cut my balls off before she just dropped you off at my place after I didn’t call. This was a happy medium of where she okayed our first date.”
“First date.” My heart clenched tightly in my chest.
“First of many, I hope.” Hope bloomed, but self-preservation held on.
“But… we have this, and then what, Onyx? You don’t call for what? A week this time? Two because of the holidays and craziness going on here?”
I’d been through this before.
When my parents had split up and my dad moved and re-married, he’d slowly stopped showing up. Stopped trying at all until it felt like he’d all but forgotten about me.
“No.” His voice was steady and firm. “I’m not going anywhere, Candy.”
“I’m sorry if that’s a tough one to believe?—”
