When Cupid Falls In Love

Chapter 29: Cupid

Joey wasn't kidding when she said she knew the perfect place to eat.

A few blocks away there was a quaint greenhouse that had the most colors I've ever seen in a non-magical place. In the middle of it, there was a tree with curved branches, creating a canopy of leaves above us as we sat below it. Around us, the interior was dimly lit by city lights and the fireflies that slipped in when Joey opened the door. I'm not sure whose greenhouse this was, but when I saw her pick the lock, I decided not to ask. Instead, I explored before getting comfortable on the ground and eating as I admired the luscious plants around us.

"This is beautiful. Do you come here often?"

"I used too, with my mom. She liked to plant her roses here. When she got busy with touring though, she stopped taking me," Joey said around a mouthful of pizza.

"I'm sorry. Maybe she can take you when she comes back," I suggested, tempted to ask more about her mother, but she started talking again before I got the chance.

"Nah." She swallowed. "So, will there be another date with Penny?"

I smiled sadly. "I don't know. She promised there would be, but after how terrible everything went, I'm unsure," I admitted as I put my half-eaten slice down. "Joey?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think Penny likes me?" I turned to her as I peeled off a string of cheese off my shirt. "Because I'm worried, she doesn't and you're the most honest person I know, so I know you'll tell the truth. No matter how much it hurts my feelings, I trust that—"

"Whoa. Slow down. Let a girl swallow her pizza," Joey said as she finished chewing and wiped her hands on her jeans. "Man, you got it bad." She sighed, before sitting up. "Look, I'm not a girl whisperer so I can't truthfully tell you if she likes you. However, I think you still stand a chance to win her over."

"Really?" I asked hopefully.

Joey nodded. "Yeah. I mean, despite your many negative qualities, you have a few good ones." She shrugged as she leaned back against the tree and looking up at the leaves.

At her suggestion I had good qualities, I smirked. "Oh? Such as?"

I've never seen someone look at leaves with such wonder.

She snorted. "Like I'm gonna tell you," she said as she stood up and stretched.

Standing up as well, I shoved her playfully. "Come on Joanne, it wouldn't kill you to say something nice about me," I teased, hoping she would. I wanted to know what she thought my good qualities were.

"It very well might, because it'll go to your head and you'll never shut up." She shot back, furthering my curiosity.

Was she being defensive? It seemed like she was being defensive.

Placing a hand over my heart, I held up the other. "If you say something nice about me, I swear I won't hold it over your head. This time."

Huffing, she rolled her eyes. " Fine. Whatever." Briefly, she looked me up and down. "Well, you're not bad looking for starters. You definitely look like a God," she reached up and picked some petite flowers off a low branch. "And sometimes, you're surprisingly shy and sweet, despite the cocky attitude," She muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.

"And?" I asked as the warmth from her complements made my toes wiggle. They felt genuine coming from her, I believed them. She had nothing to gain from inflating my ego.

"You're funny too, I guess. So, you got that going for you," She said, before smirking a little. "To bad you can't dance. If you could, you'd win her for sure."