Rita's day

As you think about how to optimize your side hustle for maximum profits, the shower cuts off. A minute later, Rita emerges, damp and wrapped in a towel.

“Oh,” she says. “Hey, baby.”

“Hi,” you reply. “Thanks for the wine.”

“Of course.” She bends down and kisses your forehead, then sits beside you. It’s obvious that she is as tired as you are.

“Everything OK?”

“Tiffany quit today.”

“What happened?”

“She was just exhausted. She tried to use some time off, and I had to tell her no.” Rita looks dejected. “Because I don’t have enough people to cover. So she just quit. I don’t blame her. It just sucks. More for me to cover.”

That really blows. “I’m sorry,” you say, looking over at her.

“You had to work late too,” she says.

You feel a pang of guilt. She smells like body wash. She closes her eyes and just sinks into the sofa. You look at her, her smooth, bare, brown legs, the white towel, her damp cleavage, and the wet hair clinging to her face.

That feeling of guilt just won’t go away. You can picture exactly what would have happened with Meg tonight if you’d done things differently. Drunkenly making out on the couch. Maybe things would’ve happened there with all of them, or maybe in Meg’s bedroom with just her.

You have to get it together!

“Baby?” Rita says. She’s opened her eyes and is looking at you with concern.