"Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true."
― Robert Brault
Rick was trying to come down from a high. Boy was he on cloud nine. He had scored with Michonne for the first time ever and it was pretty darn good. Sex after rescuing her from a spider incident wasn't something he planned but sex with Michonne was everything he dreamt about whenever he was alone in his apartment thinking about how the woman with an unpleasant scowl could disarm him with the sweetest smile.
His mind wandered to the moment the towel dropped and he witnessed what was covered by her endless dresses and her worn pair of jeans on Friday. They had sex and it was very difficult to look inconspicuous when coming into the Go Stop building when all he wanted to do was steal kisses, touch her hand, to feel her skin and body next to his.
"What is this?" Rick unfolded his manifest. He noticed the addition of two names.
"Thank me later."
"Out of all the people?"
"I kept it gender-specific. Are you fluid?"
"We've discussed it. I am stagnant. Unmoving. Unchanging. Not fluid. Why these two? I have one person in mind, and it is neither Lori nor Jessie." Rick whispered the names. His lips were close enough to where the cubicle wall didn't line up, but it was where Michonne would press her ear on occasion to hear him take a call. One to two calls a day to her 30. This was the space they shared notes, handwritten comments, and food order through a small space between the partition.
"What's wrong with those two?"
"You have never seen me interact with those two."
"I know."
"That should tell you something, Michonne."
"It has. I shouldn't hog up all of your time. I don't want you to have any excuses when manifesting. Now give me back my paper. You are many things, but I would have never pegged you as a manifest thief."
Rick slid her folded sheet through the cubicle space between the walls that separated them on the service floor. She noticed he had written on her paper.
Lucky for you, your manifesting dreams are over,
signed, iwanttobeyourhonestfaithfulfunfriend.
"That's only because you know what it takes, Mr. Groomes. You are very crafty."
"I learn from the best. Now, Michonne," Rick reminded, "everyone uses my first name. I would like for you to honor the deal we made. Remember? If we win, you'll call me, Rick. Well, we won, and I am waiting."
"I've called you by your name last night, that wasn't enough for you?" Michonne teased.
Rick was slightly stunned.
"The spider?"
"Yeah. The spider."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For having someone come and spray my apartment this afternoon."
"By the time I get you home, no fumes."
"Or thousands of baby spiders."
"I am only a phone call away."
Carol pushed a snack cart down the aisle where Rick sat. He was already shaking his head to decline.
"What are you declining for buster?" Michonne scolded.
"Because I'm not in the mood for snacks." Rick stood his ground.
"If you were what would you pick?"
"Chocolate Kat Bar?"
"Okay. Select." Michonne nodded,
"Carol, I have changed my mind. I will take a chocolate Kat bar."
"Sure, Rick." Carol allowed Rick to make his selection while she casually glanced over at Michonne who instantly sat down. Carol hadn't proceeded to the other desk when Rick reached up and over to give his candy bar to his co-worker who was very chummy with each other as of late.
Michonne stood back up once she could hear Carol their supervisor offer snacks to the others within the aisle of desks. She stuck her tongue out, "I can't stand her."
"Not much to like about her." Rick agreed.
"She is going to fire me one day."
"No. I am going to fire you one day."
"How's that? Big promotion waiting for you?"
"Never know, Michonne."
"Hmmm."
"Future looks brighter. I'm happier. No complaints. Anything I want to change is within my ability to do so."
"Sounds like a white male privilege."
"Seems like you want more of it?"
"It? or You?"
Michonne was unable to hide how highly amused she was just by how things seemed to warm up nicely between them. She dismissed the fact that her teammates were occasionally eyeing her as it appeared she was talking to herself until Rick stood up, looking over the wall and down at her when she sat down again to make sure the caller did hang up.
"What's my name?"
"Rick."
"Thank you for calling Go Stop Insurance..." Rick sat down to take the call while wearing the biggest smile plastered across his lips. He received his pen and scratched out Lori's name and Jessie's. Rick wasn't bothered that Michonne was standing up peering down on him. He was boldly smug while he handled a customer and removing any doubt that Lori and Jessie were two women he was trying to manifest.