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“Here. Put this on.” Stevie threw the Santa hat with elf ears on it at David. He watched it fall to the floor and shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
“You have to.”
“Hard pass.”
“It's part of the uniform. It says right here in the description: Have Fun, Be Festive!”
“No. It will mess up my hair.”
“You're the one who said he needed to make some extra money, right? That was you who said that, right?”
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing. It's an easy five hundred dollars, or more, for walking around handing out hor d'oeuvres and taking away empty wine flutes. And it's for only one night. I can't do it all by myself,” Stevie pleaded.
“Tell me again how you found this job?”
“I told you. Through a temp agency. There are so many office holiday parties this time of year the catering companies don’t have enough people to staff them all. One year I worked two parties a day for two weekends straight and made a shit-ton of money. Now, do whatever you need to do to psych yourself up, because you are wearing that hat!”
“Fine! But absolutely no pictures!”
One hour later, David, Stevie, and the three other servers were given their instructions for the Elm County Small Business Owners Holiday Party. David rolled his eyes at Stevie as their boss for the evening, Barry, explained in excruciating detail how to tell if someone needed something to eat, drink, or trash taken away.
“So basically, pay the fuck attention?” David whispered. Two twenty-somethings giggled causing Barry to clear his throat to silence the group.
“Well, if there are no more questions, the doors will be opening shortly. And don’t forget to smile, be festive, and have a great night!”
“Oh my God. Is he for real? Does he know most of the people who come to these parties only go because there is free alcohol?”
“David? Shut up. The sooner the party starts, the sooner it will be over, and the sooner we will be five hundred dollars richer.”
“Oh, you are so cute thinking five hundred dollars will make you rich,” David said as he adjusted his elf hat.
There was not much to do for the first half hour. As more guests trickled in, the pace started to pick up, and that was when David first saw the most beautiful man he had ever seen walk in. He tried tracking what table he was walking to, but lost sight of him when the two younger servers obstructed his view.
As he was making his second pass around with his tray of spinach canapés, he finally saw him across the room. The man was wearing a navy blue blazer and powder blue button-up. Not his type at all, but the moment they made eye contact, David felt his insides turn to jelly. He got so distracted he almost ran into Stevie.
“What the fuck, David?”
“Hmm? Oh! Sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“Obviously! Just watch it. One more step and I’d be drenched in wine!”
“Yeah. Yeah, I will. Be more careful, that is.” David emptied his tray and scanned the room for Navy Blazer. When he finally saw him again, his heart sank. He was standing at a high-top table with a petite red-head. They were laughing and talking and seemed to be having a good time. David was captivated by the way the man’s eyes seemed to twinkle from across the room. He watched as Navy Blazer ran his hand through his light brown curls. He looked up, smiled, and waved at David. David pursed his lips and made his way back to the kitchen to refill his tray.
Before heading back out to the ballroom, David checked his appearance in the mirror in the staff bathroom and frowned when he saw his reflection. He forgot about the damn elf hat. Oh, well, he thought, I still look good! It would not be the first time he flirted with a straight guy. What the hell!
David took a deep breath and made his way through the crowd over to the high-top. Navy Blazer was by himself scrolling on his phone.
“Crab cake?” David asked. The man looked up and placed his phone on the table.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“There’s plenty more, if you like them.”
“Good to know. Nice hat. Very festive,” he grinned. David stifled a laugh.
“Well I’ve been told that was the plan. To be festive, that is. And apparently this hat is the key.”
“Mission accomplished.” David rolled his eyes and huffed.
“Okay. If you say so-”
“Patrick. And you are?”
“David.”
“Nice to meet you, David. Maybe if you get a chance, I could probably go for another crab cake.”
“Sure. I’ll see what I can do. Would your wife or girlfriend like some, too?”
“She’s not my wife or my girlfriend, and she’s allergic to shellfish, so, no. No crab cakes for her.”
“Noted,” David winked. The petite red-head walked by him and smiled. David smiled back to be polite. He turned around and saw she had rejoined Patrick at the high-top and pointed in David's direction. What was that about?
David worked the opposite side of the room from where Patrick was in an attempt to work up the nerve to see him again. He was filling another tray when Stevie burst in.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh, what does it look like? Trying to get rid of these crab cakes because it looks like whoever was in charge of the menu severely overbought.”
“Not that, dumbass. Are you flirting with the guests?”
“What? No!”
“Well that's not what I'm hearing!”
“Then you are hearing wrong. And who cares if I am, which I am not, what's the big deal? Anyone with a fiber of common sense would know that's how you get more tips.” Stevie grabbed David’s arm and led him to the back of the kitchen.
“Okay, look, I have it on good authority that there is someone out there who may want to go out with you.”
“What are you talking about? Did you go outside and take a break without me?”
“No. Some little red-head pulled me aside to ask what your situation was because her gay ex-fiancé would like to get to know you. How long did you talk with this guy?”
“Not long! We barely even flirted. Do I think he is attractive? Yes. But he is a businessman. And businessmen are boring. It was just harmless flirtation to get more tips.”
“Well she, her name is Rachel, is going to try and get him to ask you out. I, personally, think you should consider it. If nothing else you can make a new friend, and we both know you could use another friend who is not me or your sister!”
“I don't know… Isn't that a little cliché? Meeting someone for a one-night stand at a Christmas party?” David closed his eyes and shuddered.
“All I know is that she said he could not stop talking about the handsome elf who gave him a crab cake-”
“He actually said handsome? I don't know…”
“It's not like this area is a mecca for dating prospects. Just think about it? Fuck. Barry is giving us dirty looks. We've got to go back out there. Just go for it. What's the worst that could happen?”
Before David could answer, Stevie grabbed another tray of drinks and left him alone in the kitchen with Barry gesturing for him to go back out into the ballroom.
Five Years Later
“What the fuck is that?” David asked, looking at the ottoman, hands on his hips.
“What is what?” Patrick feigned ignorance as Stevie snorted.
“You did this, didn't you?” David groused, pointing to Stevie.
“I just thought it may be fun and festive!”
“Come on, David. Wear it for me? Think of it as my five-year anniversary gift for when we first met. Please?” Patrick wrapped his arms around his husband's waist and kissed his neck. “I promise I'll make it up to you tonight,” he whispered.
“Ugh! You know I can't say no when you look at me like that! Give me the damn hat!”
“That's my handsome, embittered, mildly Hebraic-looking elf!” Patrick grinned. “And so festive, too! Wouldn't you agree, Stevie?”
“I absolutely would agree Patrick!”
“Fuck you both!”