Crashing the A-List

He smiles, and his big gray walrus mustache pulls up at the ends. It makes him look like the Quaker oatmeal man

but I feel like that damn thing is pasted on my forehead right now. A scarlet letter of extortion. I swallow a little too hard

weirdly confident and unflappable posture he throws off—Charlie just has an air about him I can’t quite place

Oh my god, you scared the heck out of me,” I wheeze, clutching at my heart

It’s outlandishly cold outside today. I immediately regret my choice to dress like a normal person, thinking movement would keep me warm

I pull my green gas station work gloves—acquired during my last visit to the mini-mart in a futile attempt to win over Rufus—over my fingerless ones and suck back the last dregs of my now-frigid bodega coffee

We can’t all make it through life on rainbows and kitten kisses

Just because the world of the job-having has cast me out doesn’t mean I begrudge others the joy of a paycheck

But seriously. I had plans. And I was so close. I really loved my job. It was stressful and exhausting, and I was technically doing the work of at least three people, but it was mine and I was good at it.

I’ll keep this secret of yours if you promise to accept a ticket from me to fly out to visit for a weekend in a few weeks.” He plops the pillow down beside my head. “What say you, Miss Montgomery?”

I issue a tremendous fake gasp. “Why, Mr. Tiddleswich, are you blackmailing me?”

“Ahh, yes,” he says, and laughs. “We’ve now come full circle.”

“Scoundrel.” I click my tongue.

“And don’t you ever forget it.” He moves just enough, until his face is hovering over mine.

“Are you really going to kiss me right now?” I say with a giggle. “That would be soooo cliché.”

“I’ll gladly risk it.”

And he does exactly that.