Velvet and venom

nd any money on medicines for ulcers," she said. They couldn't afford money for anything, which was why Me

of gummies into her cheap travel bag. But her mother didn't listen a

rilla." So, Asa would help her braid it and pack it into a bun. Asa had asked her to live with her in Manhattan and had already succeeded in

oom, making her jump in fright. "Meryl, I ha

reamed as Steven jumped and

w! Steven, leave your sis

said, pushing Steven off in b

e such language here; is that clear?" Me

ders and whispered into her ea

shoulders before I get to Manhattan?"

plied, showing her his rough, calloused palms he got from doing

and said, "No, you d

something big. "That's because I haven't moisturized yet." Then he spat into his p

ike them now,

she replied w

o friends?" Mrs. Giovanni ask

nd Cecelia already, and I went to the c

done with y

ryl said, rushing tow

there, my Elena," Mrs.

both excited and afraid. What if she just decided to stay here and find a good job? Galena wasn't a

ul girl he had ever seen and wouldn't stop staring. But he wasn't sure he had a chance with her, which didn't help that h

again to Asa with a bewildered look on her face.

you, idiot," she s

you want, Mer

d of awkward; he barely tal

" Asa said, like it wa

aid, flopping the letter on her bed. They

oking at him before. He was quite good-looking; he had an oval face and very curly hair that complemented his glasses. He was tall a

ad never tried looking at him before. He was quite good-looking, with an oval face and very curly hair that complem

, and he liked to listen to Meryl talk. They became close after a couple of dates, and soon Alex was dropping Meryl off at home on his well-worn Harley Davidson. He would pick her up to go to book

tightly. They passed old lady Maurice, who lived next to the Giovanni family's garden, and Alex let Meryl's hand go so she could run to the

on his tanned arms, while the night breeze ruffled his curls. She noticed how large his strides were

kissing her everywhere but her lips; he was kissing her nose, neck, an

tulip mania'?" he asked

she re

es and always joked that if he were to die doi

single tulip bulb sold for more than 10 times the actual income o

quickly thought up a joke: "Wow, Mr. Alexander Mo

r leave, whether you want them to or

ell, I'm glad I have you to

orriedly, like she hadn't told him just last mo

an assistant. The pay is not bad, and

enderness in his eyes, and then he said, "We'r

s on her chest. "I don't see your bike,

"No, silly, h

and let him use his arms to guide her onto his back. She laughed as he ran ahead like she was weightless

ard her door creak, but her heart calmed down

king at Meryl sheepishly. "I see

she replied, her eyes shifty, but

ir for days as he helped her hang the stars, with her giving him directions until he had snapped at her, "You know I'm only help

ved helping her. She

m about "the Manhattan Project," a private joke they had started sharing. He had asked for more overtime shift

Meryl's bed. She was saying something about visiting the Gran

der. "Are you even listening to

bout getting stampeded to death,"

visiting the Grand Cent

ame thing,"

mart Guy," Mery

isit that place annually, so

ng. Soon, he joined her, and they morphed from laughter to