coffeeparfait
Luna works at Dozy Bakery, a run-of-the-mill bakery with demanding customers, high prices, and low wages. She hates slaving in front of the cash register from 9AM to 3PM every weekday, but the presence of a certain good-looking co-worker helps her make it through the day—although he barely spares her a passing glance. One day, she is approached by a boy around her age named Mitch who pleads her to date him to make a classmate of his—a girl who frequents the bakery—jealous. Luna reluctantly agrees, only because she wants to make her coworker jealous, too. With the help of each other, getting their dream partners will be a piece of cake.
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“Would you like to be my girlfriend?” He paused for a brief moment, seeming to remember something, and raised one finger, signaling for her to wait a second before reaching into his back pocket. He produced a sheet of paper folded into fourths and opened it up, flattening it out on the circular table. “Here’s a contract. Tell me if you disagree with any of the terms.”
Luna skimmed the paper cautiously, because 1) she is weirded out that he had prepared a contract, and 2) Mitch seemed way too anxious about the deal that he was even sweating a bit. “Monday through Friday sounds good… But wait. 9AM to 6PM? Hell no. I only need you from 9 to 3. What’s with the additional three hours?”
“Once your shift is over, you need to help me with her, too,” he replied in an urgent whisper, discreetly gesturing at the girl sitting a few tables down with her back facing them. “She doesn’t stay here all day.”
Luna gave him a long, weary look. Should she be getting involved in something like this? With someone like him? “Fine. But only for the sake of love.” She dipped her index finger in the chocolate frosting of her cake and smeared it on the blank signature line of the contract. “This will be my signature.”
Mitch wrinkled his nose in distaste. “Gross. But it’s a deal.”