I swear I can envision him pushing his hand through his reddish-brown hair in frustration. The thought of it puts a smile on my face.

IOBJECT – Can we just meet please?

Ugh. As rude as ever.

I glance around my studio apartment. Although I’m not embarrassed about where I live, I can picture him living in some super posh place with a doorman. No way do I want him coming here and seeing that crinkled nose of his on display.

After a quick Google search, I message him an address.

RAINBOW RIDER – 281 3rd Avenue – See you there in an hour.

His response is immediate.

IOBJECT – I’ll be there.

I set down my phone and grin. Oh, he’s gonna hate me when he realizes where we’re meeting. I almost can’t wait the hour.

Chapter Seven

Andrew

I glance at my phone to double-check the address then look back up at the sign overhead. Sure enough, this is it.

Rolf’s German Restaurant

Christ. It looks like Christmas threw up all over this place. Through the window, I see thousands of Christmas bulbs hanging from the ceiling with garland. Those fake silver icicles hang from the garland, and odd, creepy-looking dolls are stuck in here and there. It’s like a holiday version of hell. My own hell.

“Isn’t it fantastic?”

I turn toward the voice behind me. Fuck me.

Kenzie smiles up at me with her long blonde hair hanging in waves down to her breasts. She wears a cream wool coat that nips in at her waist. Definitely an upgrade from the elf costume. The elf costume didn’t hide her attractiveness, but tonight she looks like a woman that I know beyond a doubt I’ll picture when I’m jacking off again.

I clear my throat. “I assume you picked this place to spite me?”

She grins. “Of course I did. Shall we?” She motions toward the door then skips over there.

She’s obviously still miffed with me and I have no idea how she manages to put a smile on her face and be so jovial.

I follow her into the restaurant and have to blink a few times from being assaulted by the holiday decor. Literally every surface of the ceiling is covered. I almost feel as though I have to duck so I don’t walk into one of those creepy dolls.

Kenzie talks to the host for a moment, and he points at the bar area. She looks over her shoulder at me and motions me forward. “You good if we just sit at the bar? They don’t have any tables available.”

“That’ll do.”