“Unfortunately, I’m not authorized to give that kind of discount.”
“Can I speak to a manager then?”Eileen asked.
“Iamthe manager,” Tom said.That sentence never got old to him.“I can call around to other stores, see if they might have it.Or like I said, you can order it online.”
Tom smiled his most customer-friendly smile, which told her she was losing this game of chicken.
“I’ll take this one,” she said quietly, defeated.“With the ten percent,” she added with her last gasp.
“Wonderful.I love this wreath.Donna can bring this to the register for you.”
“Be careful,” the woman said as Donna lifted.
“Donna will take excellent care of it,” Tom said.
“I will, like it’s one of my own children.”
Eileen walked up to the register, with Donna behind her.Donna turned around and shot Tom a knowing smile.He gave her a nod of solidarity.Like any good manager, he had her back.
Tom strolled through his bustling store.His associates diligently helped customers and cleaned up their zones and completed transactions.After only six months as an assistant manager, Tom was promoted to manager.Like he had told Jordan on the phone almost a year ago, he’d been given the work of an assistant manager for a while, just without the title.When given the opportunity to be a true ass man, Tom ran with it.
The pillow wall was on the verge of having a pillow mudslide.The row of festive throw pillows were jammed to one side and slowly spilling onto the floor, while larger pillows were laid flat rather than sitting up and sticking out on their side.He didn’t blame his employees.Most customers never put merchandise back the way it should go.
He fixed up the wall, organizing the pillows by size and color.It wasn’t until he turned around did he realize he had an audience.
“Nice job,” Randall said.He wore mesh shorts and a tank top with his guns proudly displayed.Sunglasses perched atop his head.It had been his uniform lately.
“How’s the weather outside?”
“Still sunny and gorgeous.This is Florida.The beautiful weather isn’t going away anytime soon, Tom.”
Some days, Tom would wake up thinking he was back in Oakville and that he would be facing a cold, gray day—and Antonio.But then he would open his window, breathe in that warm ocean air, and thank his lucky stars that there’d been an assistant manager position open in Florida.
Antonio had resigned from The Décor Store shortly after Christmas.No store in the Oakville Mall would hire him.Last Tom heard, he was working as a sales associate at a Discount Barn Outlet.
Every morning, Tom stood on his back porch, which looked out on the ocean, and drank his coffee.Sunlight sparkled on the water.The blue of the ocean didn’t seem real to him.It was like Florida had discovered Photoshop for physical objects.Randall would join him, kissing his shoulder to let him know he was there.Tom needed those soft kisses like his morning coffee.He couldn’t believe this was his life.
Tom missed his mom and Kirsten, but both were happy to have a free place to stay in a warm climate.When he first moved down, his mom came with him to help him settle into his new apartment.They treated it as the Florida vacation they always planned to go on, with plenty of beach time.In fact, both ladies had flown down to celebrate Thanksgiving with him and Randall.They planned to take his mom and Kirsten to lunch at the News Café this weekend for prime people watching.Randall was planning to invite his cousin and aunt down for Christmas.He’d gotten back in touch with his parents, who still did not approve of his sexual orientation or that he dressed up as Santa, but they still wished him well.It was a baby step, and Randall hoped the first of many.
By the pillow wall, Randall slipped his arms around Tom’s waist, which Tom pushed off.
“I’m on duty.”
“And you’re drop dead sexy at it.”
“I have to make an example of myself for my employees.”
Randall cupped Tom’s ass and gave it a slap.“Was that a bad example?”
Fortunately, Tom’s apron covered the tightening in his pants.
“Or was fucking your boyfriend in the break room a bad example?”
Tom shushed him, maybe a bit too loud since a customer looked over.“Do you need help with anything?I love those baskets.I use them for extra umbrellas.”
“Good idea,” the customer said.
Tom turned back to his boyfriend.“Please do not mention that again while I’m working.Even though it was really good.”
