"...he had a way of taking your hand which made it clear he'd have to be the one to let go."
― Alice Hoffman, Local Girls

"How many customer service reps do you think we have at Go Stop?"

Michonne shrugged. Her attention was fixated on the cookies behind the glass case at the bakery. She had no idea how many people were in their department overall. Rick allowed her hand to fall away so she could spy every single cookie she desired while he finished up with the transaction.

It felt nice holding her hand throughout the farmers market before heading to the bakery where he took her hand again before letting it go. "If we have 20 people on our team and there are essentially thirteen teams, or is it..." Rick spoke loud enough for Michonne to hear and assist with his calculations.

"You should only concern yourself with what you know. Everything and anything else is above your paygrade, or is it?" Michonne smiled smugly at Rick, who turned his attention to the bakery owner to officially request an elaborate gingerbread house and 20 tiny replicas for their team members.

"Have you decided?"

"I'm confused?"

"About?"

"We are supposed to make the Gingerbread house, Groomes."

"We will lose if we think we are going to make a Gingerbread house, Michonne."

"Are you saying I'm not creative enough?"

"I have no idea how creative you are, artistically speaking. I know that you are crafty, hands down. What I am actually saying to you is that by the time we decide on a roof for our house, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't start nibbling on the foundation."

Michonne scoffed. Her eyes rolled. "Our foundation was never edible. Okay?"

"I hope...it is my great hope that I have helped lessen your confusion as to why we will have this baker to create a winning project. Nothing in the rules says we couldn't seek outside help."

Michonne smiled, "You are crafty too."

"Thank you. Now, how many cookies do you want so I can settle everything at once?"

"I'm not sure how many I want. Every cookie, except the coconut and the hazelnut, and the raisins, look darn right tasty. Oh, and no lemon flavor."

Rick had the baker box one of each, and every cookie except the one's Michonne pointedly did not want. She was a happy camper and appreciative.

"You want to taste this one?"

"Which one is it?" Rick tried to keep his eye on the road as he traveled to take Michonne back to her car located in the Go Stop parking lot.

"Triple chocolate chip."

Rick was expecting her to hand it to him, but instead, he found the cookie right at his lip. A cookie she had already bitten into. She was waiting for him to take a bite. He did. She waited for his response.

"I'm surprised you are not overweight, Michonne."

"I have a high metabolism."

"I thought it was low blood sugar."

"That too."

"Yeah." Rick was doubtful. He believed Michonne loved food, preferably sweets.

"Two things can be true at the very same time, believe it or not. I also run most mornings."

"Really?"

"Tell me what you thought of the cookie?" Michonne didn't want to skip over the topic until she was satisfied with his response.

"It's good. I usually get that and the regular chocolate chip from the bakery. You've made some great choices."

It was only then Michonne ate the rest of the cookie after he declined a second bite.

"Can you unscrew the cap to my water bottle for me?"

"Sure." Michonne assisted him with his request.

"I try to get in a morning run at least three to four times a week. How often do you run? I'm amazed to know you are a runner. I shouldn't be surprised. You have a great body."

"Well, the kind of running I'm talking about sounds different from what you do. See I like running. I run to the store. I run my mouth. The kind of running I don't like is running out of time. Running into guys who aren't meant for me. And running myself crazy about it. Actual fitness, my stamina is consistent withstanding nothing more than a thirty-minute slow jog."

For a brief second, Rick was confused. Her humor slowly registered. He was amused and curious at how much was literal versus figurative.

"Maybe one day, we can go on one of those slow jogs."

"I will need advance notice."

"What kind of guys do you like Michonne?"

"Handsome ones. Ones that are married. Ones that have girlfriends or situations. Ones that are liars. There was one who was gay."

"I'm decent looking. I'm not married. I don't have a girlfriend or a situation. I have no idea what that means, exactly. I have never lied to you, and I am not gay."

"I haven't asked you anything point blank period, yet."

"Why haven't you?"

"Because I desperately want to have a good time and enjoy all the possibilities. Risky business having me think I am the girl you choose to hold all your secrets."

"When you speak like that, I'm pretty confident no one would understand you, Michonne."

"Really?"

"I'm teasing."

Rick pulled alongside Michonnes older model Toyota Camry. He had parked his car but kept his engine running."

"Thank you for the cookies, Groomes."

"Thank you for coming along, Michonne."

"No problem." Michonne unlocked her passenger door.

"Hey, um, Michonne?"

Michonne hesitated to exit his vehicle with her giant box of cookies on her lap and a bag of fresh vegetables.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing Friday night?"

"The same thing I do every Friday night. Mortal Kombat. Why?"

"Oh. I mean, I wanted to know if you want to have dinner with me? There's this new restaurant called Mulberry. I wanted to know if you would like to join me?"

"Okay." Michonne accepted.

"Okay." Rick nodded. He was excited that she accepted.

"I will meet you there."

"Okay." Rick accepted Michonne's prerequisite to meet up. He much preferred to pick her up from her place but he was flexible."

"Okay." Michonne was relieved that she would have a getaway if things went south. Usually at this point with any other guy, it would go south fast. She was cautious. Overly superstitious. Self-sabotaging.

"6 pm?" Rick needed clarity.

"7 pm." Michonne needed more time to be ready and not rushed.

"I'll make the reservations."

To Rick's surprise, Michonne had kissed him. Her lips landed on the corner of his mouth. He didn't know how to react to it and by the time he made it to his apartment he wanted to kick himself a thousand times.