“You can do this, Juliette,” I coach myself in front of my gilded mirror. “All you have to do is go over there, give him the plant, and introduce yourself. Then you can run back to your hobbit hole and overthink the entire interaction.” I pull a face and groan. I have got to start giving myself better pep talks. This is what happens when you live alone for too long–your awkwardness grows and multiplies like a weird fungus. My hands tighten around the tea tin I turned into a planter and I start toward the door. He might not be a plant person, but when I made cookies for Darren to welcome him to
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