“What?Just stating the facts.”
“What happened to the regular mall Santa?The guy who was actually round and jolly?”
“I think he retired.And why have a regular Santa when you can have a hot Santa?”
An old lady wandered into their section.Tom felt his whole face turn red.
“I’m sorry about her.Can I help you find something?”he asked the old lady.
“I saw him, too,” she said.“He is quite the stud.”
“I told you,” Kirsten said.
“His ass looks great in those red pants.”
Tom would never look at old ladies the same way again.Kirsten gave the woman a hi-five.
“Whose asseverlooks good in Santa pants?I can’t wait to sit on his lap,” Kirsten said.
“I think you’re too old for that,” Tom said.
“Me, too!”the old lady said.The women hi-fived again in a ya-ya sisterhood of horniness.
Antonio found them.Kirsten let out abustedsigh.
“Tom, I need you up front.”
“Sorry,” he said.
“Sorry, Antonio,” Kirsten said with zero sincerity.“Tom, go with Antonio.”
She shot Tom a knowing look, and he signaled to her to knock it off.
* * *
While Tom helpeda woman pick out stemware, he pictured what this Hot Mall Santa must look like.He wondered if he was as hot at Kirsten claimed.Her taste in men could be dubious.She still found Johnny Depp attractive, after all.
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”Kirsten showed up at his side.
The woman viewing stemware cocked an eyebrow at Tom.
“I think I’ll take this set.”She pointed set to a box of blue-stemmed glasses.
“Great choice!They can ring you up at the register.”
“Thanks for shopping at The Décor Store!You have a Décor day!”Kirsten waved at the woman as she walked away.Then back to Tom.“He is seriously so fucking hot.”
“You’ve made your point.”Tom checked to make sure Antonio wasn’t around.
“Don’t worry.Your one true love is on break.”
Tom shushed her.
“Don’t shush me!”
He tidied up the placemats so their edges were all aligned.It was small details like that that Tom believed helped sales.
“Tom, you need to make like Elsa and let it go.”
