Page 5 of Loyally, Luke
Izzy:They got each other’s coffee and then she acted rude and demeaning when they had to exchange. He said she looked like a high-class sort because she was in a suit and heels... and had some sort of arrogant vibe about her.
Penelope:Wait! They got each other’s coffees, had an argument, and Luke actually noticed her shoes? Izzy, you must know what this means!!!
Izzy:I get a little nervous when you use extra exclamation marks while foretelling futures.
Penelope:Oh! Give me five minutes and I’m calling you!!!
Text from Penelope to Luke:Izzy just called me and told me about your arrival and your... meet-cute! Oh, Luke! It’s a perfect movie moment!
Luke:Um... I don’t recall ever using the word “cute” in my conversation with Izzy about my arrival. In fact, I rarely use the word “cute” at all.
Penelope:No, silly. A meet-cute! You know, in the coffee shop! A meet-cute is a funny or charming first meeting between two main characters in a movie. Meet... cute. See? Cute meeting.
Luke:There was nothing cute about that meeting. Nothing. She was arrogant and I had a headache. I ended up feeling stupid and spilled half my coffee on my shirt. There is nothing cute about losing one’s coffee. Or feeling stupid.
Penelope:See? That’s a perfect meet-cute! Ooh, like a Hallmark movie or rom-com. Luke! I bet you’ll see her again.
Luke:I don’t want to see her again.
Penelope:That. Is. SO. PERFECT!
Luke:Exactly. It would be perfect to never see her again.
Penelope:Don’t you know what this means?
Luke:That my headache is returning?
Penelope:It’s the inevitable enemies-to-lovers trope! And you were wearing flannel! AHH!! I can almost hear the Hallmark Christmas chime going off in the background of your life.
Luke:It’s not Christmas.
Penelope:Lucky for you, the magical Christmas chime extends all year long.
Meet-cute? He growled down at his phone. Just the two words paired with the definition turned his stomach. Ridiculous. Penelope and her little powder-puff, sparkly shoes, glitter world.
What didsheknow?
And the woman in the coffee shop wasn’t cute at all. Her face flashed back into his mind, those large blue eyes of hers catching in his memory. Nope. Not cute. Pretty. Maybe even gorgeous, but not cute.
And looks lost their charm when distorted by sneers, glares, and disdain.
Ha! See there? Fantastic vocabulary.
Luke:I’m doomed. Oh, wait! I’m working about a hundred miles from where we met, so no, I won’t see her again. And I refuse to respond to any comments you make about the “H” word. Or the Christmas chime. Ever.
Penelope:Twitterpated.
Luke:I’m turning off my phone now.
Penelope:Just you wait. I know about these things. You’ll see. No one can truly escape the Christmas chime. Not even you, Luke.
Luke:Bah humbug, Santa isn’t real, tiaras are for wimps.
Penelope:Only scared people resort to such senseless responses. Especially about Santa.
Penelope:*chime*
Chapter2
