“Another game?” Mike collected the cards, shuffling them into a stack. “Maybe hishighnesswill take pity on us.”
We all froze at the sound of the bells from the door. Other than some loitering teens, my pubescent friends had been the only ones in the store. As much as I wanted to lay waste to their hopes and dreams, I suppose I should act like arealproprietor. Other than the recent issue ofGoblins and Girls, these three weren’t buying anything.
“Sorry, fellas, this is a job for royalty.” I gave them a deep bow.
“Why do you always make it weird?” asked Mike.
“So weird,” Pete added.
“Someday you’ll find yourself a lady…” I eyed Pete, “or a lad.” He blushed. There were no secrets at this table. “And then you can embarrass the hell out of your kids.” They gave each other a fearful glance. It’d be years before they realized geeks ran the world. Until then, the thought of a date was almost as terrifying as my elven arrows.
I rode my victory. A little dance, a little shimmy. Istraightened the action figures on the shelf as I worked my way to the front of the store. Stopping, I eyed the weather goddess in her box. I knew exactly where I’d place her in my house. No. I swore I wouldn’t buy any more of my inventory. I gave the box a light touch, unable to resist. “Soon.”
“You’re in a chipper mood.”
Tony Drummond, a descendant of Firefly’s founding father. Every member of his family had been born, educated, and died here. He was one of the lucky ones who fell in love with the girl across the street and lived in domestic bliss.
“I just whooped some teenage ass.”
“That’s not the brag you think it is.”
When somebody said Firefly, the image of Tony came to mind. The lumberjack stereotype existed for a reason. His gray overalls had sawdust on them, and the flannel coat with hoodie must have been at least ten years old. He reached up and pulled off the orange hat, complete with earflaps. I liked Tony. He had manners.
Tony also had a secret.
“Here for pickup?”
He glanced at the back of the store to make sure the kids weren’t paying him any attention. It was endearing that this burly man could wield an axe, but a bunch of geeks had him on edge. When he nodded, I walked behind the counter and pawed through the orders I set aside.
“How’s work?”
He let out a long sigh. Tony leaned on the counter. If Ididn’t know him, he’d make me nervous. A guy like him belonged in the bar or working on a car in the garage. Seeing him in a comic book store was almost unsettling.
“Winter’s going to come early. It’s going to make work miserable. Hopefully, we’ll get the area cleared before the snow piles up.”
“Want me to lend a hand?” I glanced over my shoulder and winked. “Give me a chainsaw and set me loose.”
“Last thing we need is a one-armed comic store owner. But on a good note, it means ice fishing will be here in no time. I just got a new heater for the shack. You can always join me.”
Ice fishing is the most boring activity in Firefly. I might be a big guy, but I wasn’t built for snow. Or heat. This was strictly a fall body.
“If I show up to your ice shack with a six-pack of beer, you know the town will think we’re banging.”
“You could do worse.” He gave me a wink. I couldn’t help but crack up. I appreciated a man secure with his sexuality. He might look like the typical lumberjack, but he certainly didn’t act like one.
“Nancy might object,” I said.
“You’d think twice if you saw her search history.”
I nearly choked. I had known Nancy my entire life. The prom queen and star cheerleader, she was the epitome of small-town royalty. Now, when I saw her, I’d giggle thinking about her double-clicking her mouse to the sight of men getting it on.
“Here we go.” I pulled several issues from a box. “I added a couple to the reading list.”
He glanced at the back of the store again. The kids were in the middle of a magical showdown and wouldn’t notice if aliens attacked. I spun the comics around on the counter for him to check. He went to reach for them and paused.
“You sure?”
I flipped the comic open to the first page. “I think you’re ready. And if you have questions…”
