What is it that you do for a living? I know you said you own your own business, but what kind? Also, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with wanting things your way. Sometimes you just have to be the grump who gets things done.
I guess I should wrap this up. I have a self-imposed deadline to meet on my current book, and my cat—the asshole—is circling around his half-empty bowl, yowling at me like he’s about to starve to death. You don’t want to know what he does in retaliation if I don’t listen to his demands.
Hopeful,
Olive
I try not to think too much of it, but I shove the letter in an envelope and grab my purse. The faster I get this to Rita, the better; otherwise, I’m likely to change my mind a dozen times.
“Hi, I need to drop a letter with Rita,” I say to Rita’s assistant, who still looks at me like she can’t be bothered to do much of anything other than scowl at her computer screen.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Um, no, I just need to drop this off.” I wave the envelope in front of me. “I can just leave it with you.”
Just then, Rita opens her office door and smiles when she sees me. “Olive, dear! It’s so good to see you. To what do I owe this visit?”
“Oh… I just… I replied to the letter and didn’t have an address to send it to.”
Lies, I could have easily mailed it to Rita Matches. I realize now I wanted to hand-deliver it to see if I could speak to Rita again about Harrison and my match.
“How wonderful, come on in.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I say, completely changing my mind about why I actually came. “I don’t want to interrupt your work.”
“Don’t be silly. Come in and tell me how things are going.”
I enter the office, wondering how much I should disclose to Rita. She is Harrison’s aunt and the woman who makes it her business to match people with their soulmates—the very reason she knows me at all. We both settle into the little seating nook she has set up to one side of her office, giving the room a homey feel.
“Tea?” Rita offers.
“No thanks, I’m fine.”
“So, last we talked, you were having a bit of a conundrum, and with how Harrison took off after you the other day, I have to wonder if things might’ve worked themselves out.”
My cheeks flush pink. “I’m honestly not sure…”
“Did Harrison ask you out?” she asks boldly. “I can’t imagine he wouldn’t ask a beauty like you out, especially after he ran after you like he did.”
“I… well…” I let out a sigh, gathering my courage. “Yes, we went out… twice.”
Rita’s brow rises. “Well then, that’s amazing news. How did the dates go?”
I blush even darker and barely hold back the goofy grin that wants to spread across my face. “They were good.”
“Just good?” she asks knowingly.
“The dates were great,” I admit. “Our chemistry is off the charts. It’s just…”
“Just what, dear?”
“I get the feeling he’s not interested in a relationship. At least not a long-term one. I’m not opposed to casual, but”—I wave the letter I’m holding—“I’m in a different place. I’m looking for more.”
She gives me a knowing look. Of course, she knows Harrison better than I do. Maybe I’ve read him wrong. He was a gentleman about the whole virginity thing… well… mostly.
“I wouldn’t discount Harrison just yet.”
“I don’t know what to do. I feel guilty for dating one man while writing letters to another…”
