Better Not Pout (Mistletoe Falls)

by Maren Moore

It’s not that I think love isn’t real, but maybe it’s just not as whimsical as it seems between the pages of a book about a man, written by a woman.

“Trust me when I say I don’t need to beg a woman for anything, Rosalie, unless she’s into that kind of thing, and then I can be a very good boy.”

“Any guy would be the luckiest motherfucker on this planet to be able to touch you, and if he says otherwise, he’s a liar.” We’re so close I can feel the soft puff of air that escapes between her lips as she sucks in a breath. “So no, having to touch you, kiss you, hold your hand when we’re in public isn’t going to make me feel uncomfortable. Even if it’s fake.”

“Just so you know, I brought you coffee this morning because if we’re convincing everyone you are my girl, then she’d need it after I kept her up all night, exhausting her body until she couldn’t move. Gotta take care of her. After all, optics are everything right now, yeah?”

“But I’m starting to realize just how wrong I am about you. Now, all I want is to find out if you taste as sweet as I’ve imagined, Rosalie Sullivan.”

“Yeah, I have the worst sweet tooth. Right, Sugar?”

“You look like you were made just for me. Every single thing about you. I’m fucking starving for you.”