Page 74 of Little Miss Fortune

‘Um. So... why are you here?’ He scratches his neck and smiles awkwardly.

‘I was going to apologise. And thank you for talking to Sashka.’

‘Oh that’s really—’

‘But then’—I put my hand up—‘SIMPO asked me to come in. I have my job back because they think you sexually harassed me.’

‘Ha ha,’ he chuckles.

My death glare startles him enough to tense his shoulders.

‘What the fuck do you mean ha ha? What a reckless thing to do, Toby. You might get into so much trouble.’

‘I know.’ He nods.

‘No, I don’t think you do. It might result in you getting fired.’

‘I know.’

‘Then why did you do it?’

‘I don’t really care what happens to me,’ he says with a smile, but something is off.

‘What do you mean?’

He is surprised for a second, finding the right words, which again feel like nedopravda. Well, you said that I might have good luck.’

‘Small good luck.’

‘And I thought it might be worth it if it means... that your problems are fixed.’

He bites into his lip. His face scrunches from embarrassment.

‘That’s so risky. And reckless. Why would you do something so risky and so reckless after...’

After I was such a bitch to you.

‘Because I thought you would feel so bad about being mean to me that I could ask for anything and you would have to say yes.’ He slips back into his playful persona.

‘Toby.’

‘Fine. In truth... I felt awful. It was selfish of me to expect you to go out with me. I wasn’t thinking what it would mean for you in the long run. So I thought maybe if I fix all the things that are major thorns in your side, you... you would agree to go on a date with me.’

My heart could burst out of my chest. A wave of delicate softness washes over me, making me want to reach out to his face and stroke his cheek, but instead, I squeeze, ‘What a silly thing to do,’ out of me, and it affects him in the same way.

A smirk shatters into a bright smile. An air of ease settles, pushing the uncomfortable tension away. If it were socially acceptable, he would probably be jumping up and down right now.

‘Do you want to come up?’ He points at his apartment complex.

‘Who do you think I am? I do not sleep with gentlemen before a third date.’

‘Wow, shot myself in the foot there, didn’t I?’

I playfully push my fist into his shoulder. It should have been awkward, but Toby’s smile made it into quite a sweet moment.

‘I meant more for tea or to talk,’ he says, a light blush breaking through.

‘No, I think we need to save all the talking for the designated date time. And I can’t today. I was going to meet Leon for a quick drink, but I can’t stay late because I’m grounded for being fired, and it’s my turn to cook food.’