Free In the Distance by Eileen Griffin, Nikka Michaels

sautéed apples.”
    Jamie muttered to himself, “Wait until you’re home to kick his ass.” Then, in a much louder voice, he called out, “On it, E.”
    Ethan’s only response was to turn up the music. Ray Davies crooned about Father Christmas at a decibel level I could feel in my chest. Jamie shook his head and left my station to grab the broccoli, leaving me rattled and confused.
    Christmas was a holiday I’d dreaded even when I lived at home. The hypocrisy of pretending to be the perfect son in a perfect Christian family was always magnified at Christmas and Easter. It wasn’t enough I heard about all the sinful abominations who were going straight to hell for their lustful and heathen ways at home, I had to endure our pastor’s fire-and-brimstone rants about how the very fabric of our godly society was under attack from the philistines who were pressuring the government to legalize the sodomy and loveless orgies they selfishly wanted to force on the God-fearing Christians around them.
    After my parents kicked me out, I spent every major holiday at the shelter. The problem with being on the streets during the Christmas season was that holidays, actually any holiday, usually led to parties and drinking; drinking usually led to gutless assholes who drunkenly thought it was open season on the homeless people they came across; which all ultimately led to a lot of homeless people getting their asses kicked for no reason whatsoever. From day one, I learned to hit the shelters early on the day of a holiday to ensure a bed for the night. It wasn’t the same as being with family who loved and accepted me, but it was a hot meal in a safe, clean place where no one told me I was going to hell for simply being who I was born to be. The past two years, I’d spent my Christmases at the shelter, not because I needed a place to stay, but because I didn’t really have any other place to go. This year, it looked like I did.
    I sucked in a breath as Jamie made his way back over to my station. The words were already slipping out of my mouth before he’d made it halfway. “Thanks, Chef. I’d love to.”

Chapter Eight
    Trevor
Mid-December
    “Today was great, Natalie. Once I get your head shots back from the photographer, I’ll send them out with the promo pack we went over today, but from everything we discussed this morning, I’m confident we’re both on the same page for what we want for your career.”
    Natalie’s voice echoed through my Bluetooth. “I won’t lie, Trevor. All of this is overwhelming, but I trust your judgment. I’ve heard nothing but glowing reports from Jamie about you and look where he’s gone. Take me to the top, Pratt.”
    “I plan on it, Natalie. You’re going to be the next culinary sensation.”
    “You sweet talker, you. But enough flirting, I gotta jet. My staff is going to rebel against me if I ignore them for one more minute. Give me a call on Monday and we’ll go over the itinerary you want to set up.”
    “Sounds perfect, Nat. Talk to you then.”
    I disconnected the call and made a reservation at a local restaurant Jamie had been raving about since he’d moved here. After the morning I’d just had, there was no way in hell I was celebrating on my own tonight. When the restaurant came into view, I crowed out loud when I found a parking spot right in front of Bistro 30. Starting a new business partnership and finding rock star parking all in the same day. Maybe things were looking up for me.
    I winked at the pretty hostess and dodged runners and waitstaff as I pushed through the kitchen’s heavy swinging doors. Stoves blazed and the cooks barked orders to each other. To an untrained eye, it would have been chaos, but I’d been around Jamie enough during his time at Cielo to know it was the workings of a well-oiled machine. I leaned against the wall and watched my oldest and best friend. He gave me a smile when he noticed me watching, and for the first time I realized I didn’t feel