Page 107 of Melt for You (Slow Burn 2)
To: Joellen Bixby
Date: December 16
Subject: Leggings
You’re intentionally being cruel. Leggings are even more revealing than tiny ruffled skirts. I lost at least five hours of sleep last night picturing your bottom encased in Lycra.
How do you know how much money I make? Maybe I’m only doing this job for the perks. For all you know, I could be donating my time in hopes of catching sight of you in the office. Sharing a smile over the coffee machine. Having you ignore me so aggressively as you’ve been doing for the past ten years.
M.
From: Joellen Bixby
To: Michael Maddox
Date: December 16
Subject: Re: Leggings
Ha! You, sir, have a good sense of humor. I’ve attached a picture of my face right after reading your last email. Yes, that is an eye roll you’re seeing. It was so robust I might’ve pulled something. I don’t know how much you make, but I know your haircut costs more than my monthly grocery bill, and that’s a lot.
I haven’t been ignoring you. I’ve been admiring from afar. Go look up the word unrequited in the dictionary. You might be surprised to see a picture of me beside the definition.
From: Michael Maddox
To: Joellen Bixby
Date: December 16
Subject: You’re killing me
Stop calling me sir. Not only does it make me feel like my grandfather, but also there’s a vaguely Fifty Shades of Grey/power exchange undertone that’s wreaking havoc on my nerves. If you tell me it’s intentional, I might have a heart attack. (But I’ll be on the next plane home.)
I don’t have to look up the definition of unrequited to know that it doesn’t apply to our situation. The word assumes feelings are unreturned.
“Barely contained” is a more accurate description, at least from my end.
M.
From: Joellen Bixby
To: Michael Maddox
Date: December 17
Subject: Re: You’re killing me
This is me responding to your email even though my mind is blank with shock due to your last sentence. And to think all these years I thought this affair was one-sided . . . sir.
From: Michael Maddox
To: Joellen Bixby
Date: December 17
Subject: Re: Re: You’re killing me
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
