If you haven’t read it yet, you might like to take a gander at It’s a Stretch first because Betty’s story only gets better.
It was just one thing after another with the icing on the cake being Bob winning the bid. Bob’s an idiot. He’s got less talent in his little pinkie than I have in my whole body! Oh wait, I might have that phrase wonky.
You get the point. I’m trying really hard not to roll my eyes at myself right now. So, where was I?
Oh yeah. Lazy, Betty’s-coattails-riding Bob won the bid with the new client. It’s only the biggest coup of the century.
I might have slunk off to my dark corner of the cubicles and buried my head deep in the trash can, but no one could see, so I’ll just deny it. Ahem.
A few of my co-workers tried to cheer me up, but I was far too deep in my Monday-on-a-Thursday blues to pay much attention. I will admit, I almost swore off coffee after the morning I had, but then I smelled the fresh-brewed aroma of Nancy’s special Columbian blend she brings in and promptly gave up the idea. After accepting a paper cup full of the syrupy, smooth bean blend and a few moments of commiseration with my fellow worker bees who also dislike Bob’s cavalier, I-told-you-so attitude, I hid myself away until the clock on the wall read five. Closing time.
I wanted to drive straight home, but the idea of getting in my car was, frankly, a little frightening. I had no idea what awful thing might prevail against me if I got behind the wheel. I hesitated with my hand on the latch, my key fob poised, ready to pop the lock, but I couldn’t do it.
My hand dropped to my side, surrender to the fear an inevitable outcome. I scanned the distance as I pondered the best course of action.
Okay, Betty, I said to myself, your tummy’s rumblin’. First order of business: put some food in the ol’ gut.
With a brisk nod I shoved my spare key back down in my purse pocket.
“Ouch!”
I yanked my hand out and hastily shoved my thumb in my mouth, sucking the drops of fresh blood off the side. Too late I remembered my regular keys, mangled by the police officer’s kind retrieval of them for me, were already in the pocket and sliced the living day lights out of the side of my thumb.
“Great, just great. Anything else for me?”
I stared up at the cloudy sky, daring it to rain, before I looked back at my thumb to examine the damage.
“That’s gonna leave a scar.”
“Do you always talk to yourself, Betts?”
At this point I think I shouldn’t have been surprised at anything, but I was. Darn it all! I couldn’t move my mouth to speak except to look like a fish out of water.
“Da–Dave. Hi,” I said as I looked from my thumb suspended inches from reentering my mouth and his amused expression.
Quick as a wink I stuck my hand behind my back, gripping the bloody thumb tight in my other fingers and did my best to give him a Julia Roberts smile. I should know better, though, since every time I attempt that look I end up appearing more like a crazed lunatic escaped from an asylum.
“Wha–do you work around here?”
His smile opened up wider with a touch of laughter and I could have melted into my shoes, but somehow I held it together.
“My offices are in the same building as yours, Betty. I see you all the time, but you don’t seem to notice me.”
Can I just slap myself now? Seriously. I don’t know how I could have missed the fact that the hottest single male in my apartment building works in the same building I work in. How does that happen?
“You’re pulling my leg.”
“No, but I can if you want me to.”
Did he just try to make a joke? That was so lame it was cute, I thought in distracted amusement.
“Listen, Betts. You don’t mind if I call you Betts?”
I shook my head and forgot too late that my mouth was hanging open.
“Good. Listen, Betts, I’m headed over to Smith’s for dinner and I’d love some company.”
Blink, Betty! If you can’t speak, at least nod for cryin’ out loud. I nodded.
“Uh, yeah. Sure,” I said and hoped I sounded cool.
“Great. It’s just around the corner so we can walk.”
“That’s a relief after the day I’ve had, I’d rather not get in a car at the moment.”
Did I say that out loud? I glanced over at Dave to see if he’d heard. It was apparent that he had, but even if the look on his face hadn’t given it away, the next words out of his mouth would have.
“Yeah, about that. I saw you outside the apartment building getting out of that cop car this morning. Everything all right with you?”
“It’s a long story,” I said in a mumble while I griped at myself for not thinking that whole part of the morning through.
He opened the door to the restaurant for me then said, “We’ve got some time, and I’m all ears. I mean, I’m a good listener.”
Was that a blush on his face? I thought to myself. There was nothing else for it, so throughout dinner I told him the whole sordid tale from beginning to end. I’m amazed he didn’t run screaming from the booth.
“Talk about a terrible, awful, no good, very bad day.”
I gave him a funny look.
“My nephews love that book,” he said with a shrug of the shoulders.
Awww, he’s got nephews and reads to them! Can I just be totally in love now?
And to cut a long story short, Dave offered to drive me home and give me a lift to work tomorrow morning. He even walked me to my apartment door and checked to make sure the lights worked before saying goodnight. It’s not every day I meet a man who buys me dinner, tells stupid jokes to make me smile, spends time reading with his nephews, and doesn’t let the bad stuff of the day get in the way.
Now I need to get a Band-aid for this cut. Today could have been a complete fail, one big ugly scar on my memory, but it turned out better than I could have hoped.
genre: humor/romance
Witty and cute! I just LOVED this 😘
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Thanks, Candice! I’ve had another dull well and haven’t read any yet, but I will! I just can’t miss any of the stories, and I really need to know what’s going to happen with Grace & Mog!
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I total understand! I hope you enjoy the installment for this week. Tuesday’s story is already brewing. I will try and punch it out tomorrow. 😉
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Can’t wait. 🙂
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I missed reading last weeks 😦 but read it first. I really like Betty. Both stories had me smiling throughout 🙂 My kinda ending…dinner with a melt-in-my-shoes-worthy, lame-joke-telling guy!! (yep…the hyphens just work that way, lol)
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Ha! ♡ THANKS, Carrie Ann. I love your characters. See what a fun influence you are on me! 😀
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Loved this Rachael, a bad day turned out to have a very cute silver lining – we all need a bit of that from time to time!! Tee hee….. Just what I needed this morning I can tell you, feeling a bit low so this did we so much good. :))
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*hugs* to you, Marje! I hope the day turns out better for you, too.
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Thanks Rachael. 🙂
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Love this IBFF! Glad Betty got a happy ending 🙂
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Thanks, my dear! She needed one after last week. 😉
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Daaave! *swoon* Aw, I’m so happy for Betty that the day ended well. 🙂 I’m a sucker for happy endings. ^_^
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Me, too. *sigh*
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Oh, yes, just what was needed. I am so glad that Betty got a so-far-happy-ending. 🙂 I feel better now.
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LOL you noticed my abundance of hyphenated words? 😉 yep. We all felt sorry for Betty last week and I’m a sucker for a so-far-happy ending! 🙂
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I too am a sucker for so-far-happy endings. 😀 I have to try really hard to not make all of my stories into fairy tales. Also, I quit like hyphenated words, especially in funny stories, I think they add comedic (?) value.
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haha I might forever be a fairy-tales-RULE sort of gal. haha! And I totally agree about those hyphens. They were all too appropriate in the story and how Betty was explaining things. 😀 I hope they added comedic value! ❤
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Aw thankfully her knight in shining armour saved the day.
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Yeah, sometimes we all could use one of those. 😉
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Well worth the terrible day, if it works out with Dave. Glad that things are looking up for Betts.
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Oh! Me, too! 🙂 Of course, we only know Dave in passing. He doesn’t even live on the same floor, but their apartment building has done a few social events where they’ve met in passing. You know, friends of friends. Hopefully there are better days ahead for Butterfingers Betty. ;P Thanks!
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Is more forthcoming? I really got into this. Sparks and what else is around the corner? 😀 😀 ❤
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There definitely could be! 😀 Thanks, Tess. I’m so very very happy you’ve enjoyed it. I sure like Betty. 🙂 but I like you more, my creative friend! ♡
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I do like Betty as well.
Ah, shucks *toes the dirt*. You’re making me blush, but I thank you for your kind words. That goes both ways, my friend. ❤
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😀
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Very nice!!
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Thanks, Lyn. 😀
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very fun contest! I read a few of the entries!
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Thanks, Lyn. 🙂 you’re welcome to join!
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ha ha can I just vote or do I have to write a story as well?
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You don’t have to write one, but when you’ve read them all then we’d love it if you voted! 😀
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Ok sounds good how do I vote
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After all the stories are submitted I’ll add a poll tomorrow and you’ll have until Sunday night to vote! 🙂
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oh ok! thanks! It is a really nice idea and I like reading the stories, all unique!
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Band-Aid featuring prompt this one lol at least in mine it does.
Haha neat I loved the…. if you can’t speak nod.. bit I absolutely relate to such
And ends well… ^_^
PS I think I have a band-aid phobia lol
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LOL I’ll have to go search for yours. It hasn’t pinged back to my page for me! Don’t worry, I’ll keep all the Band-aids at my house. We are in need of them every day. haha
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I can’t find your story for this week, B.
Am I just blind? What’s the link?
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Oh no 🙈 it was stuck in draft mode let me fix that
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