Nothing about her is appealing, I told myself.
Except for her tits.
But aside from those.
And the way she looked at you over lunch.
She was just happy about the food, and besides, you’re not interested.
Except why was I kind of looking forward to seeing her again?
Merrie:Got my stuff and left the keys with the doorman.
Merrie:Thanks for letting me crash. I’m out of your hair.
She was leaving?
Of course she’s leaving. You didn’t want her to move in with you, did you?
But, though I hated to admit it, I had sort of been looking forward to going home to her.
It’s not home. It’s just a place you live.
But with Merrie there, it had felt like home.
Matt:Where are you going to stay?
Merrie:Don’t worry, not in the shop!
I should have just toldher to come stay with me last night.
I had barely slept as it was. I kept dreaming about Merrie, about her tits soft against me when she hugged me. She had been posting pictures of her decorating the town hall with a number of seniors. Instead of working on my pitch, I had kept refreshing Instagram, hoping she would post more images of herself.
The evening had not been productive.
“You need to perk up,” Eli said when I blew into the office the next morning. “The town hall meeting is tonight. We need to convince them to approve the vertical farm expansion. Did you finish the presentation?”
I had not finished the presentation last night because I was thinking about Merrie.
“I just have a bit more to do,” I lied.
“I’m worried,” Eli said, leaning against my desk and crossing his arms. “The Facebook group already has people posting and complaining about how the vertical farm buildings are ruining the landscape. We need to make sure the expansion is approved or we’re never securing funding.”
“So, what do you want me to do?” I asked, turning on my computer.
“We need a popular small-town figure to come out in favor of us.” He rocked on the balls of his feet. “Maybe someone like Merrie?”
“No way.”
“Hear me out—she’s the grandniece of Bettina, who is super involved in town. Merrie is in the bake-off, and she is a small-town business owner. It’s perfect. Come on. Do it for the company!”
I sighed and took out my phone. Merrie picked up on the second ring.
“Merry Christmas!” she shouted into the receiver.
“Is that how you answer the phone?” I asked, wincing.
“Of course. It’s Christmas. How do you answer the phone? Do you just bark at people?”
