The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 23 Reliable Joy After placing the grocery bags in the car, | took Noah to the commercial space just beside the grocery store which would soon becmy boutique. Luckily, he cprepared. Apparently, he keeps his builder's tape h ooked on his belt at all times.

He promisedhe could get the place done in two weeks just in tfor the spring formal.

As we were leaving the empty commercial space to go around town, | noticed a man walking down the sidewalk. It was Cristos! He was wearing a form fitting black T-shirt, skinny jeans, and black loafers with no socks. He was sashaying quite ostentatiously with one arm on his waist while his other arm swung forward and backward with his every move.

Noah followed my eyes and grinned at me. “Ah yes. | had a feeling you would notice him.

Con. I'll introduce you. Hey, Chip!” Noah called out.

“If it isn’t my favorite construction man!” Cristos said flamboyantly, his hand twirling in the air. He glanced atand winked. “And he has a date!” | bit my tongue to keep myself from giggling.

“It’s not like that, Chip. I'm just showing Virtue here around town. She just moved into my neighborhood,” Noah quickly explained, embarrassed | was called his date. Cristos began to fan himself with his hand.

a “I thought you were going to say she just moved into your house! Boy, you almost gaveheart attack! Virtue, darling, I'm Chad Hendrix Palmer, the town’s bartender, but you can callChip for short. Lettake a look at you, beautiful, Cristos said, lifting my chin up and scrutinizingwith laughter in his bright blue eyes. “So pretty. Oooohhhh, Nicole has scompetition.” He snapped his fingers, delighted at the idea. “Virtue, tonight is lady’s night at the local pub, half off on all drinks. Do come. It will be an interesting night.” | was so busy gawking at him that | didn’t answer. “Virtue, cat got your tongue?” Cristos asked.

“Oh, yeah, Lisa toldabout that. I'll stop by after dinner,” | answered quickly, embarrassed | was caught off-guard.

“Oh, Lisa, poor thing,” He grimaced, then quickly chanded the subject. “Well, what can | say. What happens at the Buzzed Pub stays at the Buzzed Pub. You, darling, have to witness it 1/4 CHAPTER 23 Reliable firsthand. So, where are you two headed?” “I'm going to show her around town. We'll even drop by at the Mayor's office, so we can get a head start on those permits for the construction of this place, Noah answered, pointing at the empty commercial space.

“Oh, so you're headed to the town hall to see Lim. Well, ta-ta darlings. Virtue, I'll see your later tonight,” Cristos said and sashayed away to the grocery store.

“I like him,” | blurted out loud, giggling. Oh Cristos! You are such a character! “That makes the two of us,” Noah said, chuckling. “Con. Let's grab a cheeseburger from the diner and head to town hall. Once the permits are approved, we can start shopping for the construction material and furnishings at Dom'’s. Don’t worry. The permits will be processed quickly because | know the Mayor,” he said proudly.

When he noticed the cynical look | gave him, he quickly explained, “Well, yeah, | know everyone knows the Mayor, but he and | are really good friends.” Good friends, he says.

Sure, Noah. Good enough to stabin the back. You are sooo reliable that way.

It's only my first day back and | have to face the monster in all my nightmares.

Sebastian “Virtue is headed to the Mayor's office, Cristos whispered through the phone.

“I'd like to ano apologize for the delay. I'll call you as soon as your order arrives,” | said to him. “You too. Good day.” | abruptly ended the call and hid my smartphone in my pocket.

“Who was that?” A high pitched nasal sounding voice said in front of me. | wished | could. tell Nicole to leave, but she gavepriceless information for free. If she wasn’t so useful, | would tell her what a bi tch she really was...

to her face.

“Just t s person askingto follow up on his orders,” | said, making it seem call wasn’t important. “Anyway, before you make a decision on lights, how about with you to town hall and take a look at that office?” Nicole's face lit up like a Christmas tree. This was one of those rare times she’d be a [11] HAPTER 23 Reliable patadein front of all the women in this town. She couldn’t get any attention from Xavier and Cristos had seemingly made everyone believe he was g ay, so that left me, the reliable one. | had to make the girls in Liam's group trustenough to tellif not all, most of his deep and darkest secrets.

When the three of us ‘moved here, all the single and unhappily married women vied for our attention. Cristos got sick and tired of all the groping, so he told everyone he was g ay. Xavier, on the otherhand, was only sociable at work. Outside of the grocery store, he was quiet and moody, angry at all the people living in this small town for what they did to Joy. If he had his way, he would take a machine gun and kill each and every living soul. It's actually a relief Joy is finally here with us. | actually saw Xavier laughing when he cback from the diner with his lunch. He’s now in a better mood.

If people in this town only knew all three of us were in love with Joy. It seems strange how three men could fall in love with one woman and share her. | even thought it was going to be difficult, being in this kind of relationship, but it wasn’t. All four of us were happy and we wouldn't have it any other way.

“Oh, Dom, really? You would cwith me?” Nicole asked, not hiding her surprise and excitement. | nodded my head.

“Stanley can watch the store for me. Right Stanley?” Stanley, an employee of mine, was a high school graduate who was trying to save smoney for college. He was actually really helpful and had a good eye with regards to interior design. | was thinking maybe | could. leave the store to him when | left.

“Sure thing, Mr. Samuels,” he said enthusiastically.

“If there are any problems, you can reachthrough my cell, | told him, then focused my attention to the short platinum blonde standing in front of me. “It’s a beautiful day. How about if we walk?” Nicole giggled and wrapped her hand around my arm. | was teny remove it, but | needed information on Liam and Nicole was one of Liam's clo “Sure, we can walk, Dom, Nicole said, grinning from ear to ear. We exited my shop while Nicole clung to my arm, smiling smugly at every woman who walked by.

OF course, I'd rather be with Joy, but | had to make a sacrifice. If we wanted to achieve our goal, we had to hide our feelings.

joy.

Joy was now beautiful, although toand the boys, she had always been The Joy of Revenge: