Page 27 of Lovebug
I look up.
He towers over me now.
“Of course,” I chirp. “You’re busy. Sure. I just wanted to introduce myself—my name is Mabel, hi—and properly welcome you to Bucks County Arboretum and Nature Reserve.”
“You’rewelcomingme?”
“Yes. Is that, um. Is that okay?”
“It is what it is, I suppose.” He shakes his head.
What does that mean?I wonder.
Without another word, he turns his back—his very broad, muscular back—and walks away from me.
“Actually!”
He stops and turns his head only slightly.
I study his profile but have no idea what I’m going to say. I only know that I don’t want him to walk away from me just yet.
“Do you, um… What are you…? Would you be interested in…?”
He huffs out a frustrated breath and starts walking again, and at that moment, I suddenly remember the commitment I made to myself and to my team last night.
“NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS FINANCIAL FREEDOM FEELS!”
That stops him in his tracks.
Gosh, isn’t being a human being a fascinating experiment? I had no idea I was going to say that, yet… I did.
He turns to face me completely this time, a look on his face that keeps morphing. In the span of a few seconds, I see frustration, confusion, and maybe the hint of a smile?
Time to follow through. I am a girl who follows through. I wouldn’t be standing here a fully-fledged, certified entomologist at only twenty-four years old if I weren’t, right? I can apply that same diligence to this path I’m on with Bert and Doreen.
I reach into my fanny pack and pull out a flyer, which was folded neatly in thirds, prepared for an occasion just like this one right here.
“Wally—”
“Don’t call me Wally.”
“Wally, are you interested in learning about the opportunity of a lifetime?”
“No.”
“This is a moment when you can get in on the ground floor of an exciting new adventure. One where you can build relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs looking to build multiple streams of residual income for years to come. Where you can join forces with a team offering cutting-edge products and—”
“I’m going to stop you right there.”
“Okay?”
“You’re inviting me to be a part of a pyramid scheme.”
“No! No way! This is the furthest thing from a—”
“Is that a flyer for ‘the business’?”
“Did you just use air quotes around ‘the business’? I assure you, no air quotes are necessary, sir.
