Chapter 16

The long-awaited Monday sprouted like a healthy bean seed; fresh and promising, contrary to Eloïse's preoccupied mind; aged from thinking all night and anxious about meeting Craig again.

Their meeting was planned for 9 o'clock leaving Eloïse with three hefty hours ahead, enough for a tension-relieving run, an attitude and utterance rehearsal, and a little counseling service from her two friends which of course was of no help with Marila's chained-up different seductive approaches and Bennie's vague 'act normal and go with the flow' card.

She didn't want to act normal for she would be acting awkward instead and she had no flow whatsoever.

Eloïse screamed her frustration in her pillow before preparing to leave.

"I heard today's the d-day," Zaphrina's body emerged from the kitchen with a batter-stained apron. "Can I expect some juice on your return?"

"Nope, 'cause there won't be any. May I remind you that it'll be strictly professional."

Remembering her discussion with her husband