TO:Grace Landing ([email protected])
FROM:Colin Yarmouth ([email protected])
SUBJECT:Last night
Good morning,
Sorry for the early email. I hope I’m not waking you! I know I said this on the phone last night, but I just wanted to reiterate that I had a really great time with you on our date. I hope the story I shared with you will help your writing. I’d be happy to read the pages you come up with as you go, if that’s helpful. I don’t know enough about the writing process to offer lots of advice, but at least I can be a sounding board. I don’t know. It’s just an idea.
Another idea: Are you free to go out with me again sometime this weekend? I know you’re working to meet your deadline, but I would love to bring you to my neck of the woods for a taste of Astoria.
Let me know!
C.
P.S.—I just reread that, and I think you’re rubbing off on me. “Taste of Astoria” sounds at least marginally sexual. Lol!
TO:Colin Yarmouth ([email protected])
FROM:Grace Landing ([email protected])
RE:Last night
Wow—you weren’t kidding when you said you had to be up early. I know you have your whole morning workout thing, but I didn’t expect to get an email from you before 6am. That’sextreme, in my opinion.
Yes—although my social calendar is brimming with events this weekend (and by events, I mean binge-watching Netflix, getting Chinese takeout, and trying to hit an insanely high daily page count), I would be happy to go out with you again. When are you thinking? And I feel awful to make you drive all the way to Sheepshead Bay only to turn around and have to drive back to Astoria—that just seems like a waste of gas. I can take the train. It’s no big deal.
Good luck with your morning meeting. Talk to you soon!
Xo,
G.
P.S.—If it doesn’t work out with estate law, you could definitely try your hand at romance novel writing. I think you’d be a natural. Your debut book could be calledTaste of Astoriaand could feature two gorgeous Greek people who run the trope of enemies-to-lovers into the ground with their competing spanakopita food trucks. For sure, you’re sitting on a gold mine.
She’s kind of adorable. Not in that first-grader-with-pigtails-and-no-front-teeth way, but in that I-wonder-what-you-look-like-naked sort of way. Her smile is incredible, and her hair is so soft, and—
Fuck. I wasnotexpecting this.
I knew I was in trouble when Gracie invited me up to her place and I said no. I never say no—not unless I’m catching feelings. Only then might I say things like, “I think our first time should bespecial,” and other shit like what was running through my head when I kissed her in the car.
Daisy caught me this morning when she came in, too. She said “Good morning,” and I said, “Good morning,” but I must have said it weird because the next thing she said was, “Somebody got lucky last night,” in this weird singsongy voice.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Well, first you left early, and then Gordon said he overheard you giggling.”
“I wasn’tgiggling. I wasreading. My God, Daisy. I don’tgiggle.” I could feel my cheeks turning red though. Imayhave been giggling. The manuscript had some funny lines in it. “Fuck Gordon, anyway. Like he knows anything about getting laid.”
“I think the lady doth protest too much,” Daisy said. I could hear the smirk in her voice.
I got up and went over to the reception area. I tried to glare at Daisy, but my smile crept through.
“Are you going to tell me who she is? Or do I have to guess?”
“And risk messing up what we have, my queen? Never. My lips are sealed.”
She grinned, nodding. “You look happy this morning. That’s all I’m saying.”
