“Yeah.I like coming up here.It’s quiet.I like looking at the bustle, not being in it.”Tom nudged his chin at the window.
“So you’re more of a voyeur.”
Tom felt his face get redder than Hot Mall Santa’s suit.
“I wouldn’t say that.”He got too much pleasure from watching Hot Mall Santa’s lips curl around the straw and sip pop.
He checked the clock on the wall.He didn’t have much time to eat.He couldn’t waste precious minutes looking for a new location.And he didn’t want to.Tom sat down.He couldn’t believe he was in the presence of the one and only Hot Mall Santa.
“So how do you like it here?”Tom asked.“You’re quite popular.”
“It’s the holidays.”
“It’s not just that.”
Hot Mall Santa shrugged modestly.The suggestion seemed to pain him just a bit.“Whatcha reading?”
He pointed at the book Tom carried under his burrito.
“It’s all about the best beaches in the U.S.”
“You didn’t just Google it?”
“I like reading books, not listicles.”
Hot Mall Santa signaled for him to pass it over.He studied the cover and flipped through the pages.
Tom unwrapped his burrito.He hoped he didn’t look too suggestive eating it in front of him.He doubted Hot Mall Santa would even make that connection.
“What’s your favorite beach?”Hot Mall Santa asked.
“Miami.Venice Beach and Santa Monica in California look like a lot of fun, but apparently the Pacific Ocean doesn’t warm up like the Atlantic.The water in Florida is said to be warmest.The water on the Gulf side is warmer, but after that oil spill disaster, I don’t trust being in there.”
“The Atlantic is just as polluted.”
“But it has better waves,” Tom said.“At least that’s what I’ve read.”
Hot Mall Santa handed back the book.He picked another fry out from his bag.“Don’t you love the smell?That’s my favorite part of the ocean.They should bottle it up and sell that shit.”
“The Décor Store has ocean-scented candles.”
“It’s not the same.”Hot Mall Santa slouched in the office chair like he did on his Santa Throne.He had this aura of cool.Tom believed some people were born with it, and others were meant to be fidgety, neurotic messes.“You know that salty smell,” he said.
“I don’t.I’ve never been to the beach.”
“To any beach?”Hot Mall Santa asked.
“My family and I would go to Lake Michigan every summer.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“I know.I hate when people here say they’re going to the beach.You’re not!You’re going to a lake with tiny waves, imported sand, and no salt water.”Tom and Hot Mall Santa shared a laugh.“I want to dip my feet in the ocean one day.Miami, Venice Beach.I’ll even take the Jersey shore.”
“They’re all great.”
“You’ve been?”Tom asked.As if Hot Mall Santa wasn’t already sexy and naturally cool.He’d been everywhere Tom wanted to go.
“Venice is pretty crunchy.Lots of tattoo parlors, and the scent of weed hangs in the air.Also, you can go into the ocean anywhere in California.Just pull off to the side of the road.But in Jersey, you have to pay to go on the beach.They have boardwalks, though.And Miami’s just a constant party, especially South Beach.People will party till dawn then sleep on the sand.”
