groans and takes a minute before a lightbulb apparently comes on. “Have you ever seen The Wedding Singer ?”
“Yes. What does that have to do with this?”
“You know the little old lady who pays him in meatballs, and needs to see him eat them?”
“Yes.” I look at her funny.
“I’m the little old meatball lady, Mitch! It brings me joy to see satisfaction on people’s faces when they eat my food.” Her animation is killing me. I feel like my Charlotte is back.
“Hi, baby.” I smile at her.
“Yes, hi ... please eat,” she begs.
“I missed you,” I say, then take a bite. Her eyes widen—totally reminding me of the meatball lady. I’d laugh, but I just got hit with a burst of flavor I was not expecting. My eyes roll back and Charlotte claps her hands with excitement. “What’s in this?” I groan, then laugh at her.
“You like it?” Her smile is huge.
“Almost as much as I like you.” I take another bite. “Charlotte?”
“Yes?” She plays with her hands.
“You misconstrued what I said before.” I wait for her to look up. “I meant it playfully, and certainly not in the way you took it. I don’t see you like that. If I did, I would’ve stuck to the original plan of payment. Today was a statement, in a way, that I want this all to be very real. I want to provide for you like I would if there were no contract.”
“But there is a contract,” she interjects.
“Yes, and you will adhere to it as planned.” I feel my frustration building. Christ—I’ve almost laid out my cards without even knowing what’s in my hand.
“Mitch, I will never give or ask for more. I have enough ‘more’ on my plate. I will follow the contract and be at your beck and call. I will lay my body down for you, but not my heart. Don’t ever expect my heart—it’s not for sale.”
Her words choke the very breath out of my lungs.
“I’m going to finish this.” I nod to the sandwich. “Go upstairs and get ready for me.” She offers me a weak smile and heads up. As soon as I hear the door close upstairs, I practically knock my chair down, jumping to my feet. I think more clearly when I pace.
I know I need to stay calm. Cool heads will prevail! Settle down, Mitch. Think. There’s nothing to think about—it’s all right in front of me! I’m going with my gut; it’s never steered me wrong before. I just need to go about this a little differently ... like being patient. She’s been through a lot, like her dad said. Josh, that fucking idiot! Though I am grateful to him. If he weren’t such an idiot, she wouldn’t be in my arms now. I plan on keeping her there. I can’t hit her with too many feelings; it causes a flight reaction in her. I’m not going to behave beyond the contract’s requirements, which actually gives me plenty of room for interpretation. No, Charlotte, I won’t buy your heart, but I will earn it! Game on, baby!
“Another humdinger?” I turn around to find Charlotte biting her smile back.
“You have no idea, baby.” I grab my drink.
“So ... you don’t like it?” She points to the sandwich.
“No, I do. I’m going to finish it right now.” I smile and grab the last piece.
“Do you have any red wine?”
“I should.” I head over to the corner cabinet. “Cab Sauv okay?” I look over my shoulder.
“Sure.” She takes the bottle from me.
“Uh ... this one.” I open the drawer next to the one she’s digging in and hand her the corkscrew.
“Thanks.” She takes it from me and tries to figure out how to use it.
“Here.” I smile and stand behind her. “This goes on here ... and ...” Christ, she smells lovely. She looks up at me. I stare down into her beautiful eyes—Kryptonite.
“Mitch,” she manages before rising on her toes for a kiss. I sweep her lips softly. “Do you want some?” she asks. It takes me a moment to register that she’s talking about the wine.
“No, I’m good. Need to finish my sandwich or I won’t get a free
“Yes. What does that have to do with this?”
“You know the little old lady who pays him in meatballs, and needs to see him eat them?”
“Yes.” I look at her funny.
“I’m the little old meatball lady, Mitch! It brings me joy to see satisfaction on people’s faces when they eat my food.” Her animation is killing me. I feel like my Charlotte is back.
“Hi, baby.” I smile at her.
“Yes, hi ... please eat,” she begs.
“I missed you,” I say, then take a bite. Her eyes widen—totally reminding me of the meatball lady. I’d laugh, but I just got hit with a burst of flavor I was not expecting. My eyes roll back and Charlotte claps her hands with excitement. “What’s in this?” I groan, then laugh at her.
“You like it?” Her smile is huge.
“Almost as much as I like you.” I take another bite. “Charlotte?”
“Yes?” She plays with her hands.
“You misconstrued what I said before.” I wait for her to look up. “I meant it playfully, and certainly not in the way you took it. I don’t see you like that. If I did, I would’ve stuck to the original plan of payment. Today was a statement, in a way, that I want this all to be very real. I want to provide for you like I would if there were no contract.”
“But there is a contract,” she interjects.
“Yes, and you will adhere to it as planned.” I feel my frustration building. Christ—I’ve almost laid out my cards without even knowing what’s in my hand.
“Mitch, I will never give or ask for more. I have enough ‘more’ on my plate. I will follow the contract and be at your beck and call. I will lay my body down for you, but not my heart. Don’t ever expect my heart—it’s not for sale.”
Her words choke the very breath out of my lungs.
“I’m going to finish this.” I nod to the sandwich. “Go upstairs and get ready for me.” She offers me a weak smile and heads up. As soon as I hear the door close upstairs, I practically knock my chair down, jumping to my feet. I think more clearly when I pace.
I know I need to stay calm. Cool heads will prevail! Settle down, Mitch. Think. There’s nothing to think about—it’s all right in front of me! I’m going with my gut; it’s never steered me wrong before. I just need to go about this a little differently ... like being patient. She’s been through a lot, like her dad said. Josh, that fucking idiot! Though I am grateful to him. If he weren’t such an idiot, she wouldn’t be in my arms now. I plan on keeping her there. I can’t hit her with too many feelings; it causes a flight reaction in her. I’m not going to behave beyond the contract’s requirements, which actually gives me plenty of room for interpretation. No, Charlotte, I won’t buy your heart, but I will earn it! Game on, baby!
“Another humdinger?” I turn around to find Charlotte biting her smile back.
“You have no idea, baby.” I grab my drink.
“So ... you don’t like it?” She points to the sandwich.
“No, I do. I’m going to finish it right now.” I smile and grab the last piece.
“Do you have any red wine?”
“I should.” I head over to the corner cabinet. “Cab Sauv okay?” I look over my shoulder.
“Sure.” She takes the bottle from me.
“Uh ... this one.” I open the drawer next to the one she’s digging in and hand her the corkscrew.
“Thanks.” She takes it from me and tries to figure out how to use it.
“Here.” I smile and stand behind her. “This goes on here ... and ...” Christ, she smells lovely. She looks up at me. I stare down into her beautiful eyes—Kryptonite.
“Mitch,” she manages before rising on her toes for a kiss. I sweep her lips softly. “Do you want some?” she asks. It takes me a moment to register that she’s talking about the wine.
“No, I’m good. Need to finish my sandwich or I won’t get a free
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