The Day I Kissed An Older Man

"Miss Rita," Sherman acknowledged with a slight nod. "I hadn't expected the host to be so uncomfortable with all the socializing."

Rita dropped all pretenses after running into him. She smoothed the hem of her skirt with one hand while the other clutched a handful of little titbits she had swiped from the kitchen. She had avoided eating any of the main meals so as not to leave a bad impression on the guests, but her hunger was becoming too much to bear.

"You can't gatekeeper feelings. Am I not allowed to feel that way?" she retorted. "You're acting like you're so high and mighty."

"Those who act high and mighty tend to think others are too," Sherman confessed with a wry smile.

"Tell me, do you still think I've taken your seat? I presumed you'd grasp the situation once you knew who I was."

We both have the money to afford the ticket. Why do you insist Miss Claire reserved that seat for you? Hasn't it crossed your mind

but notice Rita's agitation as she vented her frustration by biting furiously into

if you were just a different reporter," Sherman remarked, "But aren't you the same as us? Your status is among the

she was angry at Sherman, she could not but acknowledge that she belonged among their ranks. After all, she would never have been able to get a ticket to Claire's performance without the help of

still, her father was desperately attempting to find a partner for her. He was eagerly introducing all those rich young

banquet fully aware of its nature. Hearing her voice out her innocent musings seemed to be the height of

that sort of person," Rita conceded