Tom put his apron away.He hadn’t heard from Randall all day today or yesterday.He’d probably forgotten about him.
“Yeah.”
“Cool.Then let’s get the F outta here.”Kirsten led the way through the store.
Waiting up front, in non-Santa clothes, was Randall.He wore a cable-knit sweater and jeans with scuffed-up non-Santa boots.
“Hey,” Randall said.“Are we still on for dinner?”
Tom put his hand on his chest in disbelief.Kirsten was silently having an aneurysm.
“Yeah.”Tom looked at Kirsten, who was now blush central.“Yeah.”
“Is tonight still good?”Randall asked.
“It is,” Kirsten said.She gave Tom a friendly shove forward.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call,” Tom said.
“It’s okay.I told you I’d meet you after work on Thursday.”
“Right.”Tom tried not to stare, but Randall in normal clothes made Tom’s stomach and heart do a trapeze act together.“You look nice.”
“The temperature dropped into the twenties, so walking outside in that Santa suit wouldn’t cut it anymore.”
“Right.”Any trepidation Tom had about Randall’s multiple boyfriends and fuckbuddies evaporated as if it were 120 degrees outside.
“Shall we?”Randall gestured to the door.“Good seeing you again, Kirsten.”
“You, too.”She smiled knowingly at Tom before they walked out.
“Where do you want to go to dinner?”Tom asked.“There’s an Applebee’s not too far from here.”
“Do they do take out?”Randall asked.He hunched his hands in his pockets.He still didn’t have a coat.
“Even better.They have Carside to Go.You order on your phone, and they bring it out to your car.”
“Perfect.”
Tom gave him a quizzical look.“We’re eating in the car?”
“Yes, but it’s going to be worth it.Just trust me.”Randall threaded his fingers through Tom’s.It was going to be a good night.
* * *
There areno mountains in Illinois.It is one of the flattest states in the country, and Oakville is frustratingly level.The only change in elevation comes from highway overpasses or when a real estate developer artificially creates hills to build fancy houses on.
It was the latter where Randall had Tom drive them.He would rub Tom’s leg whenever he gave him another direction.The car smelled of Randall’s woodsy cologne and greasy Applebee’s burgers.
“I didn’t tell those people about our secret office,” Randall said.Tom loved that he called it theirs.“They followed me when I went on break.”
“You have fans.”
“They feel more like stalkers.”Randall turned to look out the windshield.“I’m sorry the secret is out.”
“It’s okay.It was bound to happen.”Tom glanced at him quickly.Randall told him to turn left at the light.“Speaking of, um, secrets and outs…are you, um…”
“I don’t bring it up at work.I don’t think my boss or the mall would like it for business reasons.But I am to people who care to know the real me.”
