Page 3 of Screwing With The Scrooge

Longing fills me and I hate it.

I hate that I want her more than anything. I shouldn’t; I know that any relationship that I have will just end in a disaster.

“You’ll never be worth anything. You’re nothing but a murderer.”

My father’s voice fills my head, and I blink, pulling myself out of the bad memories. I grab the pie, my appetite long gone as I head inside.

My house is quiet, and I sigh as I look around, wondering what I should do today. My hip starts to ache, and I know that it’s going to storm at some point today.

My phone buzzes, and I wander into the living room as I pull it out and glance at the screen. It’s an unknown number, but as soon as I read the message, I know instantly who it is.

UNKNOWN:How did you like my cherry?

Xavier: How did you get my number?

I saveher number into my phone.

Olive:Townes gave it to me.

Olive: Isn’t this great? Now we can talk all the time.

Xavier: Great.

Olive: How was the pie?

Xavier: Haven’t tried it yet. Was really looking forward to some pancakes and bacon.

Olive: I can make that for you. Invite me over.

I shovemy phone back into my pocket. My emotions are all over the place. I know that she’s just messing with me. She’s probably like this with everyone. It makes sense since she’s so confident and sassy. Everyone in town already loves her.

Still, I can’t help but wish that she meant it. I can’t help but wish that I could really invite her over and not ruin everything.

I sigh as I head back into the kitchen and eye the pie box. With a curse, I grab a fork and take a bite. The sugar and tart cherries melt in my mouth, and I grumble as I take another bite.

I try to ignore the image of me eating a different cherry, but I fail. My eyes look out the window towards Olive’s house, and I swallow my bite and push the pie box and any thoughts of my curvy little neighbor aside as I get to work.

CHAPTER2

Olive

“I’m notsure that I’m very good at this flirting stuff,” I tell my sisters as I walk into the bakery.

“He didn’t like the reindeers?” Saffron asks

“Or the cherry popping pie?” Ginger, my sister, asks as she wipes down the counter in the back of the bakery.

“I’m not sure. He said that he hadn’t tried it yet. He didn’t mention the reindeer.”

“Maybe he didn’t see them?” Maple says, and I frown.

“They would be pretty hard to miss.”

“Maybe he didn’t know that it was you?” Ginger suggests, and I snort.

“No one else really interacts with him. He has to know that it was me.”

I sigh as I lean against the counter.

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