It’s easy to see how this could be our life together. Pickingout Christmas trees together. Cozying up in front of the fire with Comet. Getting wrapped up in bed together.
But it’s not.
This is not real life. It’s only a fantasy until Brooks can get his own place and find some stability in his life.
I need to pop this bubble before I get too swept up in it.
“Hey.” Hunter is shaking hands with a family as they set off with their tree. “Can you help us?”
Hunter crosses his arms as he approaches me. “I don’t know. Can I?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means. I think this is a bad idea, Charlie.”
“And I told you, I don’t care.”
Hunter walks away from me, carrying a saw. “Don’t come crying to me when it all goes south.”
“You’re such a grinch!” I tell him, following him to the cart that will take us to where I left Brooks.
“Just trying to keep your feet on the ground.”
I hop up and sit next to him. “My feet are just fine, thank you.”
The wind blows around us as Hunter steers us in the direction I came from. I’m thankful for the distraction and him not pestering me about Brooks.
“You would find the best tree in the entire lot,” Hunter confirms when he sees where Brooks is standing as we pull up to him.
“You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever been back this far,” Brooks tells us as Hunter starts to saw down the base. This far out, the trees aren’t precut.
“We have a lot of space here, with more than just the tree lots.”
“Really?” Brooks asks. “I guess I figured you’re only busy at Christmas time.”
Hunter steps back, wiping his brow. “That’s partially myfault. I don’t do a good job advertising. We get by, but I could do more.”
A light shines in Brooks’s eyes. “You know, I went to school for marketing.”
“Really?” Hunter asks. His eyes flit to mine to confirm, and I give him a nod.
Brooks nods. “I did. If you want some help, I could take a look at your website and offer some advice.”
“Hunter doesn’t have a website,” I offer. “Only social media.”
Hunter cuts me a glare.
“Not one that is public. I don’t understand how to build them and could use the help. I want to expand and do more in the offseason to bring people here and?—”
“Let me help. I’m really good at it. It’d give me something to do, even if it’s only temporary,” Brooks says, eagerness hanging on every word.
“Just like that?” Hunter laughs.
“If it means I’m not sitting on Charlie’s couch every day, I’m game.”
“Great.” Hunter sticks his hand out for Brooks to shake.
“Aww. Look at that. My two favorite people working together.”
