“So what’ll it be. I have a lot of booths to cover.”
“Coffee,” Merry said, staring out the window.
“We’ll each have a cheeseburger, fries and a shake. Make mine chocolate. Merry?”
“Vanilla,” she finally answered, realizing she’d completely caved to his wishes.
“Vanilla, then,” Bartlett informed the waitress.
“Got it,” she said before rolling off. “It will be a while with it being dinnertime and all.”
“That’s all right. We have plenty of things to talk about,” he replied looking intently at Merry. The waitress disappeared quickly.
“Why don’t you ask her out?” Merry suggested coldly.
“What?”
“I said why don’t you ask her out?” Merry repeated. “You did say she was adorable.”
Bartlett laughed.
“Tell me your jealous,” he insisted grinning. “Please, it will make my day.”
“I am not jealous! Not in the least. I’ll never take a man seriously if he openly admires another woman, so no risk of my feelings being hurt.”
“She’s a kid,” he shot back. “Jesus, do you think I would mess around with a teenager?”
Merry laughed.
“That elfin female is at least a hundred years old,” she said confidently, her nose in the air.
“Impossible,” he snorted.
“It’s true. Ask her when she comes back,” she scoffed.
“Most females don’t like to reveal their age,” he argued.
“That is true with most human females,” she countered. “Elves are different. They don’t mind a bit.”
“Then how old are you?” he teased.
“I’ll be two hundred in about three months,” she stated.
“No way,” he gasped in shock.
“Yes Way, you culturally influenced human!”
“So, if you left here, would you age instantly?”
Merry snickered.
“No, it would be gradual. You should do your research, Mr. Bright, if you’re going to work here,” she drawled.
“I did a tremendous amount of research,” he said in his defense. “There are just a few things I’m not clear on.”
“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?” she asked. “Are you looking for a teacher?”
“No, not really,” he replied. “At least not in the areas I’m curious about. I feel pretty confident regarding my abilities.”
