They were only open until six on Christmas Eve, and Tom wasn’t going anywhere, just his mom’s apartment to watchIt’s a Wonderful Life, so it wasn’t a huge imposition.Just the principle of the thing.He wished that all this owing could amount to something, like a promotion.
“Fine.”
Antonio clapped with graciousness.“You are the best.I will definitely let corporate know about this.”
“Thanks, Antonio.”
He marked his clipboard, then put it down.He inched closer to Tom and checked to make sure no customers were around.“So, what’s going on with you and the mall Santa?”
Hello, left field.
“What?”
“I saw him come in here today to talk to you again.Are you guys friends, or…”
Tom’s eyes nearly fell out of his skull.
“I kind of got this feeling he played for our team.Well, Milo thought so after meeting him.”
Tom felt exposed, but at the same time, was grateful to have someone else know.
“We’ve become friends.”He could call them friends.That wasn’t an exaggeration.Perhaps a stretch of the truth, or even an understatement depending on how one looked at it.
“Well, just be careful,” Antonio said.Tom couldn’t tell what was going on behind his eyes.
“Careful?”
“That Santa guy seems like a player.I don’t trust him.”
Had they met the same mall Santa?Tom hadn’t heard Antonio be this serious with an issue that didn’t involve stealing.
“He’s a nice guy,” Tom said.
“He seems that way, but I don’t want you to be taken advantage of.He just comes in here and is a big celebrity, and everyone is in love with him.That can go to a guy’s head, and people can become disposable to him.I just…I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Tom’s cheeks got warm.He wasn’t used to this kind of attention from Antonio of all people.Where was this concern about Tom’s schedule?He admitted he liked it, knowing that Antonio cared about him like this.
“You’re too good of a guy to fall prey to a person like that.”
“He’s not…I appreciate the concern, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I can’t help but worry about guys I…work with.”Antonio put his hand on Tom’s shoulder, but it felt totally different this time.Everything did.
“Thanks.”
Antonio went back into his office.For the last moments before the after-work crunch of businesspeople grabbing gifts for co-workers and loved ones, Tom remained fixed at the cash register, thinking.Maybe Antonio was right about Randall.The attention could easily go to his head, and there could be ten different Toms out there.Being that beautiful of a specimen was like having a superpower, and all superheroes struggled with using their powers for good.With chiseled abs comes great responsibility, right?
CHAPTER12
Even though he had his phone number, Tom couldn’t work up the nerve to call or text Randall.Antonio’s words of warning embedded themselves in his brain.
Tom worked his shift on Thursday and didn’t say a word about Randall to Antonio or Kirsten or anyone who dared tried to ask him.He kept to himself, helped customers, and tried not to think about the Hot Mall Santa putting his mind through the wringer.
“Jesus, some woman I was helping with ottoman cushions would not shut up to me about her pap smear.”Kirsten took off her apron and tossed it in her locker.Tom stood next to her and folded his up neatly.
“What’s a pap smear?”Tom asked.
“It’s like a really invasive throat culture, and I’ll let you Google the rest.”Kirsten shut her locker.“You ready to go?”
