Luck of the Draw

Chapter 27 - Some Just Assume

Morning and Mickey hurried around the apartment feeding and watering his cacti, issuing soothing assurances that their friends would be home again after the Christmas season and that all was not lost. He whistled as he worked, his thoughts fleeing back to the rapturous moments on the bubble wrap with Carly White.

It had happened so quickly he wondered if he'd been dreaming, and it wasn't until they finished and he saw her through different eyes that he knew it was more than real... it was the apex of his desires

Arthur was starting to sag from the ceiling because of his weight and Mickey spent quite a while rigging up a support so that he wouldn't fall and break or worse, fall on Mickey while he was sleeping. Naughty stood smugly by the door, having been rescued by Carly after the paramedic incident, waiting to inflict casual damage on anyone careless enough to get too close. Mickey gave him a slight scold.

He had dashed around town stapling up the flyers, getting only one or two in his fingers, answering questions and generally doing a verbal ad campaign for Eden's Accessories. At one point he passed the NaturGro lot beside the bank and paused to check out the merchandise.

Teddy had tried to sell him a tree, but Mickey saw very quickly that aside from not having to maintain the tree, he could offer little else in the way of information. There were no varieties to choose from and the scents were provided by a chemical tablet you added to the water, which by the way, was supposed to be unnecessary.

His services took nearly all day what with chatting and expounding on Mac's Christmas efforts to the various merchants. When he returned to the store it was just in time to wait while Carly locked up for the night.

"Flyers are all up and I checked out the competition. And I'm bushed."

She gave him a blazing look until she realized he meant the Christmas trees and hid her awkward error by blowing her nose.

"Not a cold I hope."

"Nope."

"Wouldn't want to get sick now."

"What's now supposed to mean?"

"Christmas!" He gave her a sad look. "I was going to suggest another trip to the Oasis for dinner. Kind of a treat for all the work you've been doing for Mac."

"I thought you were bushed."

"I still have to eat."

"Getting to be a bit of a habit isn't it, eating out?"

"Would you rather eat in?" he wiggled his eyebrows and felt the hard jab of her fist on his arm.

"Actually I would rather eat at home. I have had a long day and putting my feet up would feel real good tonight."

Another eyebrow wiggle and another punch, and they walked arm in arm to their apartment.

Mickey told her all about NaturGro's operation and how he felt they had a good edge on the market for their trees.

"The trees look great and the needles are generic. So pine, fir and balsam all look the same. But you have to add whatever scent you want to water, which by the way, they aren't supposed to require. They suggest putting the scent tablet in a spray bottle."

"Takes the feeling out of Christmas doesn't it?"

"Yeah, too much is artificial today in everything."

"Everything?" An eyebrow wiggle of her own and this time a surprising hug of his arm. The evening looked promising.

"So whose place?"

"Do you have anything to cook?" She asked.

"Sure... well, no, not really."