Page 9 of Mary had a Little Harem

"I know Valerie sent you," Louis half-yelled, glaring accusingly at her.

"Valerie?" Mary scratched her neck as she racked her brain. Did she know a Valerie?

"Don't play dumb! I know my ex sent you."

"Sent me? Nobody sent me?"

"Then why are you here?" Louis scoffed, sending daggers with his eyes in her direction.

"Let's see... You attacked me with a tree in an elevator and then I accused you of being a burglar. Mrs. Smithfield practically forced us go on a date, so, naturally, you showed up as Santa Claus. You ate half my pretzel, we got engaged, and you seem to be a decent shot. After that you stormed off and now you are blabbering about a Valerie?"

Louis carefully studied the woman in front of him, surprised when he realised he actually believed her. The storm swirling in his stomach turned into gentle snowflakes that fluttered down. And just like that, his anger melted away.

"Oh..." he muttered, his ears turning red in embarrassment.

"What did you think?"

"I don't want to say..." He muttered, quite happy that his beard was covering most of his face and she couldn't see the blush colouring his cheeks.

Mary touched his arm, much softer than before. "Tell me?"

Louis started into her eyes, suddenly noticing how vibrant they were, even in the darkness. If you didn't look carefully, you'd easily mistake them for just a regular grey. But they were so much more. They were both darker and lighter than just a boring shade of grey. Silver grey. Beautiful grey.

"I just thought..." he started, still unsure whether he'd actually tell her the truth. Telling her how freaked out and paranoid he was, was not really something he'd like to admit out loud.

"Hey, all my girlfriends flip like switches. I promise you, I've dealt with much crazier," she tried to reassure him.

For another brief moment, he glanced at her. An honesty he hadn't expected swirled through her eyes and he figured, why not.

"Okay... This might sound crazy—"

"I was hoping it would," Mary mumbled under her breath, quickly muttering an apology as he glared at her.

"I thought Valerie sent you to... I don't know, hit on me and make me crazy?" he explained, staring at a small rock on the side of the road. He glanced quickly at Mary, finding a confused look on her face. "Oh god, you were hitting on me, right? Or did I get this completely wrong? Oh fu—"

"Yes, I was hitting on you," Mary quickly admitted, not sure why she did. Especially since he hadn't really reacted to any of it.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Mary narrowed her eyes, surprised at how the cocky, slightly douchey guy had suddenly turned into a rather sensitive and very human man. Not that she minded. It was quite a nice change to be in the presence of someone who dared to speak their mind.

"Why are you hitting on me?"

"Why not? You're not bad looking and I'm single," she admitted, looking him daringly in the eye. If he really wasn't interested, she'd know for sure now.

"Aha..." Louis muttered, studying the slender woman in front of him. As enjoyable as it was to have someone challenge him, he much preferred this version of Mary.

"Aha what?"

"Just aha."

Mary glared at the suddenly unresponsive man, annoyed that he seemed to be fine with her lying all her cards on the table, but hellbound on keeping his own secrets. "I told you how the cookie crumbles, now it's your turn."

"O...kay?"

"Are you gay?" Mary asked bluntly as she checked out the man dressed in a complete Santa costume.

Louis snorted. "Me? Gay? Hah, not at all. What gave you that idea?"

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