“What is it?” “An ascot tie. Vintage.” I reevaluate my outfit. Dammit. “I’m underdressed.” “Yeah.” I glare at my closet. “Why do you invite me to these fancy events?” He shrugs and points at my green cocktail dress. “Wear that. It almost looks expensive.” I tug on his tie. “If I embarrass you, invite someone richer.” “You don’t embarrass me.” He grins. My breath catches. “But I like seeing you flustered.” I push him away, then pull off my clothes. He glances at my mismatched undergarments. His face flushes. I slip into the dress. I like seeing him flustered, too.
Fall Contest 2024 “Flirt” Finalist! Arianna Smith lives in California. She shotguns fistfuls of chocolate chips when she's writing on a deadline. Of “Flush,” Contest Readers said: “good use of dialogue to move the story forward” and “great ending and resolution.”