Glorious Return #2
Saint Nick grinned, “I do love that for you both.” I walked back up to the counter with him and purchased my caroler.
I handed him some hot chocolate mix. I told him, “This is from my sources in Faerie. It’s quite delicious and I knew you would enjoy it.
If you do, as I suspect, I’ll get you a personal batch as well as one for the store. ”
I had kept him in supply of hot chocolate and hot apple cider year round.
They were staples in a Christmas store. Saint Nick grinned, “I’m sure it’s great.
” I told him, “I’m working with my people on the best darn hot apple cider recipe.
We are close.” Fang agreed, “It’s definitely improving. ” I knew that.
Saint Nick chuckled, “Of course it is. It’s been good the last several years.
” I replied, “Ah, but good is not the goal. We must go for the best of all time. It’s got to be top tier.
I will have everyone talking about your hot apple cider.
You will be named the best Christmas store for it.
The world will know of this shop. It will be in magazines, papers, books, travel blogs, and all the rest of the things I can think of. ”
Saint Nick reminded me, “I am in magazines, and I know that’s your doing.” I continued, “Bloggers will blog. The Social sites will all know of this store's ever continuing greatness. I will have you in the black year round.”
He chimed in again, “You already do all that, Dylan.” I said, “I will get SGAP through those doors and capture a picture of it. I even have a way to do it ready to go. Everyone will copy SGAP because he’s a trend setter, despite my best efforts.
If you can’t beat them, you have to join them. I SHALL USE MY WIND UP TOYS FOR GOOD!”
Saint Nick chuckled, “Of course you will because you always have.” The plan had been in place, but now it was firmer. It would be quite easy to get Haley to convince SGAP to come. Now, it was going to be a requirement for the party. Yes, I liked that.
Fang chuckled, “I love it. Thor will have to come shop here if we tell everyone their Secret Santa gift must come from this store. Thor loves rules.” That he did, even back when his name was Duke. He changed it for his mate and that was quite possibly the best thing he’s ever done.
I’d put the rule on the invitation so that he couldn't order online, as he did in the past, because his rule loving partial Fairy Hackura mate would demand he come in person. A wolf who changes his name for his mate will definitely follow the rules to make her smile.
I told Fang, “I’ll even include a line about how mates can’t go at the same time. He’ll have to come alone. MUHAHAHAHAHA!” Fang agreed, “That would be best.” Yes, it would because his precious Super Fun Sized Fairy Ninja Goddess would make him comply with the rules.
I needed to get my invitations set to go. In fact, I needed to get on a certain calendar that filled up far too fast. Because SGAP was still winning popularity contests even though we were far removed from high school.
I waved goodbye to Saint Nick and began to formulate my plan. I left the store and called Haley’s office line. If she didn’t answer, I’d call Miley. That Super Creepy Ninja Duchess Assassin adored me and how I made her cousin smile.
Haley answered, “Hello, my friend Dylan.” I exclaimed jubilantly, “We have a party EMERGENCY!” Haley chuckled, “How fucking fun. I adore those.” I said, “You may not know, but I used to host a Friends Christmas Party around these here parts.”
Haley replied, “I thought it was a party emergency. It’s fucking July and Christmas is in December.” I groaned, “I know. I’m such a slacker, the invitations must go out POST HASTE! I always got on SGAP’s calendar so early. All so he could say he had to come to my party to avoid other commitments.”
I sighed, “That was even before he was the Alpha. Once he became the youngest Alpha, not forced to take over in forever, I would send him the invitation in April. Good old Saint Nick reminded me of the joy my party used to bring.”
Haley asked, “Saint fucking Nick? Do you mean the man you have come to the party playing Santa?” I answered, “Yes, that adorable man. One day I’ll get SGAP to do that on Christmas day.
” Haley gasped, “That would be so fucking adorable!” Fang snickered in my head because now I knew it would happen one day.
On said day, I’d be ready with a camera.
I agreed, “It really would. The point is, I need to plan my glorious return for my Friends Christmas Party. It must be with a BANG! I have to make up for all those Christmas’s without Dylanmas. Because that’s what I called the parties.”
Haley asked, “When did you stop throwing them?” Fang whined in my head. I replied, “Who could keep track of such a thing?” Haley’s silence spoke volumes. A pop sounded beside me, and she popped me back to her office.
I grinned, “YAY! You are free. I was going to ask.” Haley agreed, “I am free, but you can’t out evade me.
When did you stop hosting your Friends Christmas Party?
” I muttered, “Maybe it was cancelled in my mind after Lacy ran away. Who could blame me? SGAP even tried to get me to have it, but there was no joy in Christmas without Lacy.”
Haley sat back surmising, “That’s why it was such a fucking big deal to you about opening the presents on Christmas. The joy was put back in the holiday for you because Lacy was home and yours. Not just because you love the damn holiday and opening presents.”
I tapped my nose, “You are so smart. SGAP tried to send an invitation for party, but everyone knew it wasn’t mine. I said I wasn’t having it, and he sent it in October. Which is so late for Dylanmas, but it proved his deep love for me.”
Haley agreed, “You’re family to Eric and you both fucking know that. Though, that is adorable. He’s not the best at putting together an invitation.” I snickered and pulled out my phone. I told her, “It’s in a special folder that I remind him about every so often.”
I showed her the invitation. Haley actually put a hand over her mouth and was clearly trying not to laugh.
Fang offered, “Thor did try.” Try being the operative word.
I finally found something the man was bad at.
I assured her, “You can laugh, it’s hilarious.
SGAP did try though and for that we give him credit.
I got a graphic designer on his payroll STAT!
It was a service for all really.” Haley busted up laughing.
Fang purred, “We are going to have the best Christmas Party. It will be a glorious return!” It definitely would be. Haley replied, “It’s so damn sweet that Eric tried though. I’m honestly shocked to my actual core you’ve never mentioned this before now.”
I admitted, “I keep it in my pocket for rainy days.” Haley replied, “It’s rained a shit ton since I got here, but it’s not today. So, you did not save it for a rainy day.” I grinned, “Right you are. The point is, we have an EPIC party to plan.”
“It has to be brand new and massive for my glorious return. No Grinch’s can come, so that excludes Mommy Queenie Meanie. SGAP is allowed because his heart grew to its normal size via your entrance in his life.”
Fang snickered, “Mommy Queenie Meanie never came.” I knew that, but this year I wasn’t inviting her. Fang snorted, “You never invited her.” I retorted, “I cordially uninvited her every year, but this year I want her to be forgotten entirely.”
That woman told Travis he was wrong about Jackie, and she must SUFFER for that decision! Fang agreed, “She should and we do bring that up every so often.” Exactly. Cassandra expected to be uninvited to my party, not forgotten entirely.
Haley replied, “It’s your damn party. I’m not going to oversee the guest list.” I winked, “Nathan always comes. So, you’ll have to make sure he comes even when Mommy Queenie Meanie doesn’t.
She’ll try to come or say he can’t go.” I’d have security ready to bounce her to the MOON!
Hey, King Fire Hands might be able to make that actually happen. Fang snorted.
Haley laughed, “So, you want her to be busy the day of the party that we are planning? Fucking done.” I squealed, “It’s going to be the best Dylanmas. I need grandeur. Which means we have to have all your best ideas. Cancel your day!”
Haley grinned and called Miley. Her cousin answered, “Hey, bitch.” Fang snickered, “I hope Cassandra hears them talk on the phone this way.” Yeah, I did too. Now, I needed secret cameras to follow Mommy Queenie Meanie around to put together a montage of her eye twitching for a memo.
Fang agreed, “That’s definitely a good side project.
We could send it to her and tell her we are just trying to help her control her reaction.
Like she did with Thor, Steele, Olaf, and Kobe.
” I filed that away mentally, because it definitely needed to happen.
It’s not like Mommy Queenie Meanie would tell anyone about it. She’d be too embarrassed.
Haley told Miley, “I need you to cancel my whole ass day because an ally is in crisis.” Fang demanded, “FIND OUT HOW SHE KNOWS THESE RULES!” Yeah, I’d asked Marissa Kyle if she was the secret fount of information for Haley, but she was not.
It hurt my brain not to have the answer as to how Haley was doing this.
Fang grumbled, “The Beta’s here have an idea.” I knew they did, but they weren’t sharing. Which was directly in violation of the Beta code. Sharing is caring. They paled when these moments happened of Haley knowing pack details and exchanged glances.
So, they either knew, or they were pretty certain they were right. No amount of bribing got them to tell me though. Here I was about to plan Dylanmas for them too. The world didn’t deserve me. Fang agreed, “That’s true.”