A Sketch Away From Perfect

rp

. I think she paid off all her student loans!" McKenzy s

like it's a snake that's going to

t," she answers my unspoken question, her tone flat. "You have student loans so

I have it in me to become an escort. I've never done anyt

engage in sexual acts'. It's even in the legalese we read in the sample contract. Big and bold. In fact, if we go to the home page..." She

point abundantly clear. "Still, dating for

. You're a beautiful, sophisticated, twenty-five-year

y of my own laptop and stabs my touc

You know, you're far too stuffy for a sexy woman your age. Live a little. Just give me

let out my internal scream. But she was right. If I'm going to stand on my

e 'rents?

d if I ask for rent money one more time, they'

e fills out a f

at the heck did you put

. "Relax. Art. Nature. Long walks o

. I haven't done that s

lies. "I mean, you're going to be a rent-a-woman.

. "McKe

ing you've been putting the 'finishing touches' on f

fee table design for the bett

the model, I can make mo

to throttle her. Instead, I look away and respond to ou

aving the original," she mutters. "Ok

efeated, I sigh out the number. "And the email address

around. "Are you still

I'm not crushing on him. I admire him and

d pose naked for him and then roll aroun

mples. "He'

es a perfectly good f

ou don

aaaand 'Submit.' Congratulation

rative pillow at her

you." She steps away from my la

ly going over to see the profile s

replies. "It's the you that

mortifies me. "I am not using a be

re pictures," she muses. "They'll

en and there, but then my banking app pings my ph

and wince as the bank app continues with another push notification

on the back. "T

hair after showering off flecks of paint, when my laptop dings. Curious, I look at my phone then realize

in and deposit me at the feet of some pervert. Taking several deep brea

rner winks playfully at me, tem

ck to Otsego to live with my parents.

ne request–and a message. I think I can handle the message. Actually,

tIAm

see a green dot indicating he's online. I decide to respond. If I

'm Harper. This is a

start there. I shake my head at myself. At lea

'm Harper. Are you i

into little bits in your van

I'm Harper. I hea

ry to minimize everything. No, Harper, he's contacting you because he

e33: Hi. I

te

o

.

u

tIAm

per. I'm Scott. P

? 'Pleased to meet you too'? I'm

your wallet, you're here for my ar

ed to feel this guy out because, as much as I don't want to move back to Ots

is kind of aw

, no

33: Yeah, i

e. You just started today? I'm not being creepy,

d happily settle for a couple of thousand to resusci

d starving artist. No gre

ked at my request yet, but I'm completely vetted, and I promise I've had all my shots, and I d

ith you. If we hit it off, I'd love to talk to you about my art. You would be my first

y family off my back about marriage, so I need a stand-in gi

phs. What the hell? I'm an artist. I should be happy to exhibit my art wherever to w

beautiful. Have y

despondently at my colorful, abst

fe33: No

lied. Mayb

la

buy my artwork in order to get me to be your stand-

should drop the line, "But

I am starting

want some cracker

ing this a try? It's my first time too. I

ver the keys. Then

Yeah. Let's g

thing, but do you know where you'd like to meet so I can pick y

, I give it

at the Hampden Co-Op. It's

great. Pick you

ng. If you chop me up and throw me in the Missi

ol! Same, H

sit back in my chair, feeling stunned but also a bit relieve

double-take at his profile pic. How can a man that handsome have to buy a date to stand in at his cou

ring me. He doesn't want any weird set-ups by family members trying to mar

ance