Boyfriend by Christmas

Sneak Peek

This morning I have work. Most kids my age have jobs at fast food places or bagging groceries. I got lucky because my dad is tight with the owner of this adorable indie bookstore in town. He got me a gig working weekends and the occasional evening keeping the store organized and ringing out customers. It's basically the best job ever.

Saturdays are on the busy side but the store is small. The owner, Todd, is usually in the office doing office-y things, leaving his son Garrett and me out front keeping the store running.

"Mornin," Garrett says when I walk into the store. He holds a cup of hot chocolate out for me, the way he has every morning since we started working together a year ago. "How's the snow?"

"Still coming down," I tell him. "I heard we're due at least a few inches today."

"Think that'll make us busier or slower than usual?"

I stare out the window. The snow is so heavy I can barely see the storefront across the street. "Slower," I tell him.

"Good. We need to take inventory anyway."

I stomp out my boots and head for the bathroom. I look like a snowman in the mirror. The bookstore is only a block from my house so it's usually no problem to walk here. If the snow keeps falling, I may be sleeping in the backroom tonight. There's no way my mom is coming to get me, my dad is out of town, and I'm mad at my sister.

After I change out of my snow soaked clothing, I chug my hot chocolate and meet Garrett on the floor. He's standing in the front of the store staring at our "Books to Read for the Holidays!" display.

"Adding to your collection?" I ask.

Garrett grins at me. "No, but I think we need to add to ours. Why are all of our holiday book selections romances?"

"Because the holidays are romantic?"

"Not for everyone," he mumbles. "I think we should add some books that are holiday related but that aren't romances. Do those exist?"

"I have no idea," I admit. "But I'll look into it."

Garrett nods.

"Hey, speaking of holiday romances," I say. Garrett and I are in the same class at school so he might have some insight into operation BBC. It might be nice to get a guy's perspective.

"Yeah?" he asks. His cheeks look flushed but that might be because someone just opened the door. I look up and see it's Todd. He nods at both of us and wanders back to the dark abyss of his office. I didn't even know he wasn't here yet.

"I've got this plan," I tell Garrett. "To get a boyfriend by Christmas. I plan to go on a first date with a few guys and then narrow it down to the best possible choice and then date him."

Garrett turns slightly away from me. "Do you have any guys in mind?"

"Yeah, that's actually why I mentioned it." We walk towards the counter to get the inventory sheets. Garrett and I have worked together so much that we fall into this groove. We can be having a full conversation and still get work done at the same time. Magical. "I was wondering if you would look at my list and give me your thoughts."

"I don't know, Cass," he rubs the back of his neck. "I don't think I'm the best guy to..."

I pull the list out of my pocket. I don't know why I'm carrying it around. I have it memorized and it's not like I need it here. It just feels safer to keep it on me. I don't need my sister finding it. She'd flip.