I think I just found my new purpose in life. To make this girl smile, even once. Just for me.

“You’re lame. I think you maybe just need to go find a girl who may actually be interested. This one isn’t.” She picks up the spoon and licks the batter in a really juvenile way, not sexy at all, not even trying to be, and I grimace with her. I know how bad it tastes; I should have forewarned her not to put it in her mouth.

“I’m not someone who gives up. I will ask you every time I see you...You will cave one of those times.” I shift to get comfy, glad she hasn’t insisted I still leave. I kind of like it here and I feel like I might actually be getting somewhere with her.

“Find me the elusive last unicorn and I’ll think about it.” She sighs heavily, and that same ghost of a smile peaks out at me, like she figures she is being clever, and I will never work it out. I find myself willing her to let it loose, watching that mouth a little too closely and I have to remind myself that she is only fourteen.... so I need to back the fuck off.

This isn’t right. She is a kid, Arry.

“Is that a challenge?” I focus on what she said, wondering what the hell she is on about, but the t-shirt is maybe a clue. Some sparkly white horned, magical looking horse. She obviously has a serious addiction to Unicorns, which is good to know. Maybe a subtle way in and she seems to think her challenge will rescue her from my invitations.

If I can figure it out, then she might rethink a pizza date...

Not a date, date ... a platonic hanging out playdate sort of thing. Kid, remember.

Too young, too scarred. Just friends. That’s all I want from her.

“Sorry about that, mia Bambinos... family like to talk. I hope you were getting acquainted with Arry, my golden child. Such a good boy for his mamma.” My mother pinches my cheek as she swans past and blows a kiss at me. She loves to embarrass her kids at every opportunity, and I roll my eyes while allowing her affections. It’s futile to ever stop my mother from showing love, she can be scarily hostile and hold you down for a kiss if you fight it.

I catch Sophie giggling at it though, that elusive smile brightening her whole face and it’s better than I expected. It’s a perfect smile. Lightens her entire soul, brings out her eyes, her tiny dimples, and makes her nose scrunch up daintily with her childlike laugh. She really is crazily pretty, even for a kid who looks way older than she should. I smile straight back impulsively with the infectiousness of it.

bit enamored with her...who wouldn’t be? She’s alluring, and when she smiles......Pure sunshine.

Seems this one isn’t interested in pizza dates.” I point out to my mom, trying to stop staring at her with a goofy grin. I want Sophie to know that it’s innocent, my offer to hangout. That I am

my arm hard and I literally gawp at her in shock. So hard it

much? Jesus Christ, that

a semi abusive slap. Maybe I should ring her own hotline

She never spanked me much as a child, sure as hell won’t be tolerating

I know you! She is not on your radar...ever. Leave her alone and … Sophie dear...” She turns to Sophie with a warm smile and the girl nods at her while I shake my head behind my mom’s back

me better than that. Well, maybe not the first thoughts when I walked in here... but

my permission to slap him in the man parts, if he ever tries to proposition you again.” She is utterly serious, and that death tone makes me want to glare right at her.

Real

I was trying to be nice. It was in no way a loaded invite.” I shrug but move fast when I see

Time to go!

kid into something vulgar. That is never going to happen. I have way more sense and I can tell this girl is a hand’s off, forever, type of a deal. It’s not even like that. I genuinely like her, a lot, and sex is not even where my head is going

I go, reluctantly. Hating that I am about to lose those blue eyes and pretty

work out.” I throw Sophie a wink, maybe it’s a dumb move but it’s organic and I do it before I catch the sense not to. She eyes me up warily, mask back in place, really not

I am on a hunt to find that elusive unicorn and maybe a chance at seeing her again on a more regular basis. Something tells me that this girl is going to matter in my future, especially if she is

***

pen poised on the post-it note, so I can turn this shit off. I have no clue if this is what she meant, but it wasn’t hard to find with a little help from

was lucky to find a shop in town that had one, and I couldn’t resist the hanging display of fluffy toys nearby at the checkout when I went to pay for it. A pink haired fluffy white Unicorn now lays on top of the sleeve, to go with her movie. A stuffed toy for a kid, which seemed appropriate. A little welcome to the neighborhood mascot

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