Cupid Claws by Sable Sylvan

Author:Sable Sylvan [Sylvan, Sable]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: www.sablesylvan.com
Published: 2018-12-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Christmas Eve Eve, 2012

Krampus hadn’t gone easy on Rowan just because they were volunteering at the speed dating event. He made sure Rowan was doing a lot of heavy lifting and running around. By the time the speed dating event was nearly set up, Rowan was super sweaty.

Rowan went to wash his hands and came back to the main hall of the community center. The sign-in table, activity centers, and snack and beverage areas were all set up. The set-up crew, consisting of Rowan, Holly, Krampus, Avery, and Jack and Pandora, wasn’t snacking on the miniature candy-canes, the mugs of warm mulled cider, or the bell-shaped sugar cookies.

As it was nearly Christmas, they ordered a classic — Chinese food. A spread of pork lo-mein, chicken and garlic dumplings, orange chicken, and of course, broccoli beef, was set out for the crew. Krampus was eating a jar of mapo tofu on a bed of ‘tree ear’ fungus. No rice, nothing else — just hot-sauced covered tofu and some mushroom-like things that Rowan was sure he’d seen Krampus growing on the Christmas tree farm.

“Krampus, are you sure you don’t want some of the chicken?” asked Avery, holding up a particularly glossy piece of orange chicken, a portion of orange chicken so shiny that it could make a tube of lip gloss jealous.

“Look — I can’t help it if I have a highly refined palate,” said Krampus, wiggling one of the ‘tree ears’ with his chopsticks. The blackish brown slice of fungus jiggled like a stripper the night before rent was due.

“This was quite the spread, Avery,” said Pandora.

“Yeah, thanks for ordering in,” said Jack. “We don’t have food like this down South.”

“Oh, you’re a Southerner?” asked Holly.

“You know…you could say that,” said Jack. Pandora shot Jack a look and he smirked back at her.

“There are egg tarts for dessert if anyone wants some,” said Avery.

“I could have one,” said Pandora.

“I’m stuffed,” said Holly, rubbing her wide belly. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Then why don’t you run and get changed?” asked Avery.

“Get changed?” asked Holly. “Why? And into what?”

“Well, if you’re going to be playing the part of matchmaker, you best look the part,” said Avery. “It’s Christmas Eve’s Eve! You should be in your Christmas Eve’s Eve best!”

“That’s not a thing,” said Krampus.

“It is if I say it is!” snapped Avery. “Anyway, behind the stage, there’s a bright red bag with a change of clothes in it and some shoes. I think you’ll like what I picked out.”

“Whatever you do, don’t go into the green bag,” said Krampus.

“What’s in the green bag?” asked Holly.

“What this joker has to wear,” said Krampus, pointing his thumb at Rowan.

“Whoa, wait — I never agreed to wear a costume,” said Rowan.

“I got two words for you,” said Krampus. “Tough. Titties. If you’re done, go shower and change. There’s a shower near the bathrooms backstage. I don’t need your shifter musk stinking up the whole joint.”

Holly and Rowan walked backstage together. There were two bags — one red, one green, just as Avery and Krampus had said.

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