All I Want for Christmas by Linda Reilly

Chapter One
     
    “Megabus,” I whispered to myself as I handed the attendant my bag and stepped in line to board. A weekend away from my family was the best gift my parents could have given me for Hanukkah. Not that they paid for the bus ticket or a place to stay, but they gave me the okay to go and that was gift enough. I didn’t need their little bit of money anyhow—just me and a few friends in New York City and I would be content. Sure, if by chance I ran into to most beautiful girl in the world and she happened to be rich and wanted to take me to bed, that would be fine too. But for now, the cheap Megabus fare from Baltimore to New York and crashing on Joey’s couch was cool by me. I snuggled back into the semi-comfortable seat and closed my eyes.
    The three hours went by fast and soon I was looking across the Hudson River at the familiar skyscrapers. God, I love this city. I lived here for three months last summer, but the cost of living was too high and I really didn’t want to scrape by washing dishes merely to stay. My dad raised me do the sensible thing; I went back to college.
    Standing on the curb, bag at my feet and the cold air freezing my fingers, I dialed Joey’s number. “Fuckin’ cunt.” He always addressed me with such endearing adjectives.
    “Hey, Joey. I’m here. Bus just got in. I’ll hop on the A train and be at your place in a few.”
    “Okay, man. See ya soon,” he answered. “We’re meeting Jack and Tyler at Cassidy’s Pub in two hours.”
    His urgency in that statement suggested I haul ass to his place or I’d have no time to take a shower and get ready to leave. I said, “’K’, bye” and snapped my phone shut. I had to shower before going out. My luck, from the fact of just being me, I would run into my dream gal and she’d be instantly put off by my manly stench, never to take me to her bed and certainly never to pamper me with her millions. I had to shower!
     
    *  *  *
    Cassidy’s Pub was a cool place. I remembered being here before. I think it’s Jack’s favorite bar; I don’t know. It’s an Irish pub with Guinness on tap and Notre Dame playing on every television. Not that I cared much about college football, I just found it amusing how the guys would get all wound up about going out and we’d end up here. Like pretty, rich girls frequented Irish pubs when they’re looking for a guy. Whatever.
    “Oh, God! That was amazing,” Tyler exaggeratedly confessed as he slid into his chair and leaned his head against the wall. Only five minutes ago he walked toward the bathrooms with some tattooed chick from the bar. Now he looked absolutely… no, wait—
    “She didn’t do what I think she just did, did she?” I asked, leaning forward on my elbows, eyebrows raised.
    Tyler took a few seconds to regain control over his breathing, and then he rolled his head in my direction and answered with a self-satisfied grin, “Oh yeah, she did.”
    “What?” I was completely shocked. “How the hell did she suck you off back there? And without anyone noticing?” I’d seen the hallway to the very small bathrooms, and there was no way they could do that without being seen.
    “I don’t know man, but she did.” He was the most relaxed I’d seen in ages. Damn, I wish some girl would suck me off in a dark hallway. “She had a tongue piercing too.” He grinned. Fucker!
    Joey came walking back from the toilets. “Hey, there you are.” He addressed Tyler. “I thought you got lost.”
    “Lost? Dude, he was back in the hallway getting blown.” I shared the news with only minimal jealousy.  “I’m surprised you didn’t stop on your way to pee and watch the whole thing.”
    Joey nodded and grinned. “Niiice!” He and Tyler bumped knuckles as some sort of congratulatory action. They could be so immature at times. But then again, we were all about the same age and immaturity was the very definition of twenty-something males, right? I would have done the same if I