“Great sense of humour, patience, ruggedly handsome, you pick one.”
“Stop.” Collette didn’t need examples, she had them. She saw him five days a week. He made his presence known. After what Bryson did to her, she just wanted to be angry at someone and he was the nearest target. Jesse wasn’t inherently evil. He was frustrating but he was also the first to crack a contagious smile, the first to make light of any stressful situation, and on countless occasions, he bailed her out from looking like a fool when it mattered, placing the blame on himself. The best parts about him were the silent ones, so she figured she would keep it that way, not to push her luck and break this momentum they’ve had going these last couple years. However, picking on her for her crush with Damien was cold and childish.
“Sweet, generous, thoughtful,” he listed on his beefy fingers, repeating the description she said moments ago.
“Stop it! I see what’s happening here. You’re jealous over Mr. Wright because you feel like there is only Mr. Wrong, because for so long I’ve had my heart attached to Mr. Dung-face. Stop looking out for me. I’m not as naive as you think. I don’t need you as my big brother. I may wear my heart on my sleeve, but I can’t pretend those feelings don’t exist so I’d rather express them honestly. Let me enjoy this. Please. Before Damien entered my life, I was in a dark place. My relationship was going nowhere, if relationship is the right word for something so blindly one-sided. All my hopes for a future were lost. I wanted to marry, settle down, and start a family... now I have a cat.”
“Don’t you get it?”
“I don’t need to get anything. I named her Joy because Damien makes me happy in a way you’ll never understand.”
Jesse stormed out. She glanced at his gift and cut the tape open. At least it wasn’t something outrageous like an ant farm or a mouldy sandwich. Inside the sarcastic mug was a package of Christmas stickers, and a jar full of candies labelled, ‘chill pills.’
She snorted, “Yeah, real thoughtful.”
The gift sucked, but he tried.
Their situation didn’t settle well in her gut. Normally, he’d seize the opportunity to mortify her, make her laugh, or perhaps stick around for her reaction. But he was out there stomping around in the snow—hurt. Why did she treat him like he was bulletproof? The man may have had thick skin, but there were still feelings underneath.
She hadn’t thought for once how selfish her actions had been. Collette had been so focused on doing the best at her job, she hadn’t noticed she wasn’t being a decent human being.
Her eyes lowered. I should apologize.
What if there were other reasons Bryson had cheated? Reasons like this. Maybe he was being kind to not bring up her faults. She rolled her eyes to the lone rose by her desk. She took the flowers home; except the one she kept by her computer, for moments like this. She needed the visual reminder that Damien loved her. She held onto that hope, a reason to be loved, to be considered worthwhile, and to be wanted in someone’s eyes.
Chapter 5
All the electricity buzzing in the air threw Jesse off guard. Why did he care? He wasn’t rubbing his feet against the carpet, yet his heart beat rapidly at her touch, her gaze, the smile she gave that stupid cat. Whatever, it wasn’t stupid, Damien Junior was absolutely adorable. But how would she feel once she realized she named the future mouse exterminator after him?
Could he have made it more obvious? How could he have his grand reveal moment if she refused to take a hint? Ugh! Jesse considered punching the siding, but held his fist back, shoving his hands into his pockets. This prank escalated too fast and far too cruel all at the same time. He sunk in too deep, playing with her emotions—his too, when all he wanted was a reaction.
Walking around the building in nothing more than a hoodie, the cold air limited his time outside. He had to choose between the joke and the gesture. His patience was wearing thin, but at the mention of her ex, this game could persist. He would have to find weirder gifts, perhaps write something more forward in the next love letter.
Or tell her the truth.
But how could he when she wouldn’t listen to him?
Unless... it was like a light bulb went off in his head. Looking up, there was a flickering strand of Christmas lights. Replacing them was a task he would address after the weekend was over.
“What if instead of telling the truth, I show her,” he mumbled to himself, rushing into his car. He found the notepad in his console, flipped past the pages of song lyrics bordered with doodles, and clicked the company pen—yes, a pen he swiped from the cup when Collette was too preoccupied with her new kitten.
Frantically, he scribbled all the positive thoughts he had about his co-worker—because she needed this. She should have never allowed a jerk like Bryson close to her heart, but here Jesse was picking up the pieces. He would give her a hug, but with Ezekiel accusing him of their friendship pushing beyond cordial, and her paranoia around her own family teasing a similar idea, it was becoming a daily struggle to return to their normal.
At his phony signature, the pen tip cut through the paper. “There!” Tearing the page out, he folded it, and scribbled a few dumb hearts on the outside. He smeared the letter on his armpit for the ‘musk’ she raved about. Sheesh, girls could be weird sometimes.
Jesse opened the door, brushing the snow off his beard and jacket inside. Raking through his pocket, he pulled out the note.
“Oh yeah, I forgot. This was from the other day.” He coughed. “The flowers. I was supposed to give this to you.”
Collette practically ripped it from his hands. Inhaling a whiff, she hugged it to her chest, then opened it.
“Evidence.” She gulped, pausing to stare up at him, “I’m sorry. Stress.” She bit her lip, “No not stress. It’s the breakup.” Shaking her head, she exhaled, “Regardless, I was out of line.”
“Hug?”
“Maybe later.”
“Because?”
“You smell and you have a shirt malfunction.”
“I’m wearing a hoodie.” He gestured to his top, flicking the zipper.
“Still...”
“You’re impossible, Lottie.”
“Standards. There’s a difference.” Collette glanced back to the paper in her hands. “Why did you hold on to this, Jesse?”
“You were apologizing?” Jesse smirked, reaching into the box, holding her furry companion in his cupped hands. Active little bugger tried to climb out, so he brought the kitten to his chest, and it purred against his heart.
“I would believe you, if you showed me you were comfortable with sharing what’s on your mind,” he added, nudging her. Damien Junior clapped the corner of the page.
She looked at him warily then lifted the paper to cover her red blushing face—obvious with skin pale as ivory. “Dearest Collette, enough passing notes. This isn’t the classroom. This is the real world with real people, and real emotions. What I feel about you is unreal and I would be really disappointed if I didn’t see you in person this Sunday at the Winter Carnival. I will be wearing one of my bandanas.”
She paused, skimming over the rest of the details, raising her eyebrow. “Huh, I never pictured him to be the bandana type. I was thinking shaved and preppy.”
“Lame. You know what would be cool, is if he was covered in ink, sleeves on both sides.”
“Uh no.” Collette rolled her eyes, fighting a smile. “Maybe he means a bandana tucked in his suit jacket like one of those silk handkerchiefs. Bryson used to grumble over how you wear one with a tie but not a bowtie or something like that.” A chuckle escaped. “Wow, I can’t believe I used to date him. Who cares about handkerchief etiquette?”
Jesse grinned. “That’s right. Who cares? Hey, there’s only one way to find out what this Damien guy looks like. If you show me a picture of him, I promise Ezekiel and I will never groan at the mention of any of your dates.”
“You mean I could share what happened and you would listen?”
Jesse held u
p his hands defensively, “Whoa, whoa there, young lady. No need to get greedy. We won’t groan in your presence.” They shook on it. Holding the kitten, he added, “Can I carry him up to the party?”
“Care to explain why there’s a scratching post in the hallway?” Collette’s mother opened the new package of tree ornaments as Brooklyn wrapped their pre-lit tree with beaded garland.
Collette swallowed, “She... I mean, he is a Christmas present.”
“From who?” Brooklyn crouched to the kitty’s level and unhooked his claws from the lowest branch. At Collette’s silence, Brooklyn caught on immediately.
“Jesse?”
“No!” Collette blushed, “Damien, you know the letter, the roses...”
“Didn’t Jesse give you the flowers?”
Collette snorted, “Jesse delivered the roses. Of course, he would try to take credit if it meant...” she shook their previous mistletoe argument out of her mind. Not in a million years would she let him kiss her with that disease infested beard. “Doesn’t matter, I have a hot date tonight.” Reality finally sunk in, she was moving on. The colours on the tree seemed more vivid. She increased the volume on their Bluetooth stereo, and twirled to the Christmas playlist. She took Brooklyn by the wrists and swung her around the room.
Collette’s mother paused, watching her daughter instead of picking the spot for the glittery ornament in her hand. “With who, Jesse or Damien?”
“Damien, ugh.” Collette stuck her tongue out.
“Hey, Jesse can deliver all the flowers he wants to this girl right here,” Brooklyn teased, so Collette let her go. The momentum flung her across the room, and she crashed onto the couch. Collette crouched down and picked up her kitten.
Damien Junior mewed, and she stoked his soft fur a few times on her way to the main staircase.
“Collette, wait.” Her mother rushed over, gripping the mahogany banister. “Are you sure it’s not too soon? Have you had a chance to talk with Bryson yet?”
“I’m not going to.”
“But he called again.”
“I’m not calling back, Mom.” She snuffed. “I’m going on a date with Damien.”
“Oh sweetheart, I’m only worried for you. I don’t want you to figure this out too late. You would hate to look back, regretting not giving him a chance.”
“Mom, two and a half years was his chance.” Collette’s eyes rimmed with unshed tears.
“You said yourself, Bryson was the one.” She tucked her hand in her hair. “And Dad really liked him too. He hasn’t been fond of the guys Brooklyn has brought home, but Bryson is different.”
“That doesn’t mean he was a good different, and when has Brooklyn ever had good taste in men?”
Brooklyn hollered over the music, “I heard that!”
Their mother waved the comment aside. “Take a moment to think about it; Bryson is smart, successful, and you can’t pretend two and a half years meant nothing. You’re crying over him because you love him. Just reunite already. Everyone figured your wedding was going to be before Kaylee’s. It’s a misunderstanding, a hiccup in the road. Just give him a call and sort this out.”
“No.” All it took was one word and the excitement of tonight’s date was tarnished by her past. Collette stormed up the stairs, locking herself into her room and she wouldn’t leave until she was dolled up for her new boyfriend.
Damien Wright was real, and she had to prove to herself and her broken heart that she could move on.
“What do you mean you’re busy?” Jesse shouted louder than he meant into his phone. He was pacing back and forth in his galley kitchen. “You’re already going to the event. All you have to do is wear a bandana and nod along to whatever she says.”
“Is this the same Collette with the lawyer boyfriend?”
“Yes. No. They broke up. Trust me, it won’t be that difficult. I’ll be around the corner. And she’s like outrageously hot.” Jesse palmed his face, hiding his groan, “You like blondes. She’s cute and perky. Baby blue eyes—your kryptonite.”
“Yours too.”
He glared at his eyebrows. This is what he got for calling on an old friend but the others had the same excuse. Busy, dating, married, past their kid’s bedtime... why did they have to make this complicated?
One fake date with a beautiful woman. He had already done the ground work.
A no-show seemed too cruel. Obviously he wasn’t in his right mind when he came up with the idea. It wasn’t until he arrived home, that his conscience caught up to him. How had he let his temper get out of hand during their debacle? So he changed his plan. He would still prove her wrong and show her why she shouldn’t fall in love with strangers with poetic tendencies. Still he felt overheated with the reminder she saw him in that shredded t-shirt. The rag skipped the laundry mountain and went straight to the trash.
The truth would be revealed one way or another.
“Dude, I’m busy and no. I love you man, but I ain’t doing no blind dates.” The call ended. Jesse panicked. He had less than an hour to have someone sitting on the other side of her table. The idea was to have one of his buddies giving her the worst yet most memorable date of her life. Any of his friends were an ideal candidate.
His phone rang, though it was low battery. After this call with Ezekiel, he would have to charge it.
“That’s an expensive restaurant. Who’s the hot date?” he asked.
“Uh...” Jesse stumbled for words. He would ask him—pay him if he wasn’t already in a relationship. But whether Collette clued in to whether it was Ezekiel or Jesse behind the scheme, they’d have the devil to pay.
“So you’re standing her up. Hilarious,” he said deadpan. “Or...” Ezekiel paused, but he didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed, “Mr. Jesse Damien Thorne you could shave off the jester and be just Damien for one night.”
Be Damien for one night?
Sometimes if a person wanted something done properly, they had to do it themselves. Jesse’s eyes widened, grasping the concept. Rather than sitting back and watching the disaster, he could make the most of it, and she would fall in love with him, having no more excuses to belittle him.
“You. Are. Amazing! Yes!” he cheered. “If you were here I could—no scratch that—I would kiss you.”
“Pass. Oh and change of plans, have to cancel. Movie night with my girly, she’s not feeling like a rock star.”
“Can’t talk,” Jesse blurted, ending the call. Standing in the reflection of his hall mirror, he stroked his overgrown beard, “Shave off the jester, hmm?”
“Whoa!” Genesis lifted her head. She was curled up in a snuggie on the couch, covered in a mountain of mangled snotty tissues. “Do I have a fever, did you say shave?”
Jesse nodded, checking the time on his phone. Ah! He was on three percent.
“Unless you want to dress up as a boy and take over?”
Genesis forced a cough into her fist. “Go take a shower. You smell worse than your brother.”
He quickly snapped a before picture, then with only an hour to go rushed to the washroom.
“Goodbye old friend, it’s for a worthy cause.” His razor buzzed along his jaw line. Clump by clump, it fell onto the towel draped over his sink. It looked like a grizzly cub nuzzled in the basin. He stared up to his face, looking a decade younger.
Squinting at his reflection, he was still Jesse Thorne.
Collette needed Damien.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” His hair was up in a man-bun, Collette hated man-buns. He mumbled to himself, “This better work.” Tying his hair back, he snipped the ponytail to donate later, shook his head and froze. It was hairy murder and the weapon was in his hand.
It had been years since he’d cut it, years of pushing it out of his face, years since his mother brushed her fingers through the short locks.
Genesis knocked on the door jamb.
“Hey, can I have a peek?”
He opened the door for her, but one l
ook and she gagged.
“Is it the flu?”
“No, it’s you. Jesse you went from caveman to mushroom cut.”
Another glance in the mirror, and he agreed. It wasn’t good enough. His curly hair looked more like a mud-stained dust mop dipped in charcoal than the dashingly handsome Damien Wright. Unfortunately time was not on his side, so he chose a style he knew wouldn’t fail.
“Can you fix it?” he handed the razor to her.
“You trust me?”
“I don’t really have an option.”
Genesis shook her head. “I’m not going to be an accomplice to this disaster.” She shut the door on him, and his breathing increased tenfold.
“Okay, this could work. I romance her, then boom! Right when she thinks she has me all figured out, I prove to her I’m the same guy she has been with all these years. Ha! In your face Lottie!” He forced out an unconvincing chuckle, then squeezing his eyes shut, he skimmed the electric razor along his scalp. It tickled his skin. Again and again, until his unruly mane was before him on the towel. He opened his eyes, staring at a new man in the mirror and trembled.
Jesse had a date with his co-worker... maybe. Was this actually happening? There was the chance he could back down, except one look at the new Jesse Thorne and the ruse was over. Sure it would warrant him a worthy eyebrow raise, a great story, but one look into his eyes, she would realize it was him. She had to.
And he couldn’t hide behind the jester any longer.
Well, that is if she paid attention to him. She didn’t though, did she? All those years, it was always about her and Bryson.
It took him a quick shower to calm his nerves. After, he popped out his contacts for an older pair of glasses he hadn’t worn in years. Was that preppy enough? In his bedroom, he picked up the dusty bottle of cologne on his dresser, using it for the first time in what seemed like months. Subtle notes of pine. Wow, that’s strong.
Unfortunately, there was another problem he had to address, his tattoos. His skin was sprawled with them. From the ‘take the risk’ calligraphy to the artwork on his shoulders, the butterfly... there was a lot of ink. T-shirts were out of the equation. Usually he would dress in a way to show them off, but these were unusual circumstances. Sweatshirts would be too warm inside the restaurant and his white shirt would be too transparent.
'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set Page 96
