Fall

“Pirates don’t play. We plunder,” he said in his normally accented voice, his eyes darkened a bit before he cleared his throat and looked away. “So how’s your day been?”

“Awesome. I won the lottery.”

“You should buy an island.”

“So you can bury your treasure?” I asked.

He laughed. “Aye.”

“I’ll get you, Captain!” another male voice shouted across the store. “I’m going to cook your parrot and eat it!”

I burst out laughing as Evan appeared in his own pirate garb. He didn’t pull it off as well. His patch kept falling off his face, and his sword was plastic instead of wood like Jaymeson’s.

“Evan…” I sighed. “Always good to see you making the world a better place, one sword fight at a time.”

He immediately pulled off his patch and threw his sword behind one of the rows. “We were bored.”

“Right.” I nodded. “I do that too. Resort to swordplay when I’m bored. I have at least ten costumes at home ranging from cop to Batgirl.”

“Really?” His interest seemed piqued.

“I think she’s joking.” Jaymeson rolled his eyes and then said under his breath. “You are joking, right? Because a Batgirl costume would be badass. Don’t tease if you can’t follow through.”

Wow. They really belonged together. It was almost as bad as watching Demetri and Jaymeson interact. I swear when men bonded it was like taking ten years off their age.

“Sorry to disappoint.” I tapped the countertop with my hand. “No costumes. No masks.”

“Pity.” Jaymeson sighed.

“You have the rest of the boxes?” Evan asked.

“Yup in my car.”

“Jaymeson, go get the boxes,” he ordered.

“Why me?”

“Because you’re donating your time to The Goodwill and lovely city of Seaside, and because I’m your boss.”

Jaymeson made a big show of taking off his pirate patch and setting his sword down then with a sweeping motion bowed in front of me. “My lady awaits.”

“You guys been drinking?” I asked curiously.

Evan snorted. “No.”

Jaymeson patted him on the back, then walked around the counter, and offered me his arm. I didn’t want to take it because that meant touching him again.

Maybe I should just accept the fact that he’d never be mine. If I accepted it, I could enjoy the little moments, store them up in my brain, and then when it was time to move on with reality and life, I’d have at least those memories to keep me warm at night.

Wow. Depressing.

We walked arm in arm to my car. I unlocked the doors as Jaymeson walked around and grabbed two of the boxes.

“Am I too late to help?” Smith’s voice broke my concentration and I pulled my eyes away from studying Jaymeson’s biceps.

I pivoted on my heel. “Not at all! We have two more boxes.”

“Perfect!” Smith leaned in and kissed my mouth before I could stop him, then went over and grabbed the other two boxes. I could have sworn I heard Jaymeson say ‘jackass’ under his breath, but then again, I was probably imagining his jealousy.

Movie stars didn’t get jealous of mortals.

I closed the doors and locked the car, following them both into the store as they deposited the boxes near the counter.

“So…” Smith wiped his hands on his ripped jeans. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Doubtful,” Evan muttered under his breath. Jaymeson hit him across the chest while Smith glared.

“We should go out tonight.”

“Again?” Jaymeson and I said in unison.

I laughed it off and sent a seething glare toward Jaymeson.

“What did you have in mind?”

Smith wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. It felt wrong. Physical contact with him felt… cold.

He cupped my face. “Bonfire.”

“I like fires.”

“Good.” He smiled that beautiful blinding smile. “How about I pick you up around seven? We can toast marshmallows and tell ghosts stories.”

“She’s scared of ghosts,” Jaymeson piped up.

“I’ll be fine.” I gave Smith my best smile as he bent down and brushed a kiss across my lips.

“Great. See you in a bit.”

“‘Kay.”

He waved goodbye and sauntered out.

I watched him the entire way — only because I couldn’t face Jaymeson. I felt embarrassed, like I somehow betrayed him even though I was doing exactly what he’d asked me to do.

When I finally looked back at him and Evan, they were both wearing the same worried expression.

“What?” I stuffed my hands in my back pocket.

“He’s too old for you,” Evan blurted.

At the same time, Jaymeson said. “It’s going to freeze tonight.”

“Thanks, Dads.” I saluted. “But I think I’ll be okay.”

Evan nodded. “Just… promise me you’ll be careful, okay, Pris?”

“Evan, he’s your brother.”

“My point exactly.” He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed them with his hand. “Just promise you’ll be careful. Like I said, he’s older.”

“And that’s code word for what? He has wrinkles?”

Jaymeson swore. “It’s code word for he’s probably a lot more experienced, Pris. Don’t let him take advantage of you.”