First read: 2 stars ( )

Cute short story. Eli finally gets to talk to the owner of the liquor store that he finds very attractive, and they decide to get together. Not a long story, so there isn't much substance, but it's a decent, happy for this minute story. ( )

The story is short but I really like the style of this author, with one of the main character that in first point of view tells us his story. Eli is a rocket scientist, maybe a bit geeky, but not the asocial type; he also had a lover till the year before, but it was not the love of his life and when it ended for Eli it was not the end of the world. He took a dog from the kennel, and he likes the pet a lot, but it's not the same as a lover. And above all with Christmas time all around. Eli would like to share his life with a man, and he has in mind a man in particular, Jonas. Jonas is the owner of the liquor store Eli passes by every day returning back home from work; Jonas is handsome and gentle, but he is always flirting with a woman when he enters the store. And then one day, soon after Christmas, Eli enters the store and Jonas talks to him instead: it's love at first sight, Eli understands that. From that moment on the story, now love story, flows easily and smooth toward a nice happily ever after.

I like Eli's character since he is a nice man, an average man, but not for this insecure or sad. He is aware that he has a simple life but that he can be a good partner for the right man, and while he is dreaming on an apparent unreachable man, he is not depressed and he doesn't let go: when he sees the chance of happiness, he is ready to catch it. Of Jonas we don't know much, but he seems gentle and caring, a good man and the perfect partner of Eli. Both Eli than Jonas seem at easy with who they are and what they want, and this made them both very interesting character.

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/476714.html