Page 24 of Love and Other Paradoxes

don’t tease me, joseph greene

please tell me you unbroke the future

Don’t tease mewas too much of an invitation.

:-)

what is that

It took him a minute to understand what was confusing her.

An emoticon. Look at it sideways. It’s a wee smiley face.

oh my god

that is the best/worst thing I ever saw

why is everything about the past so stupid

Don’t ask me, I just live here.

so that means good news? what happened??

He was typing another teasing reply when his phone buzzed again, and again.

please

just tell me

I need to know

He felt a stab of guilt. He’d been too caught up in his own triumph to think about what this meant for her. Swiftly, he deleted his reply and typed another.

It went well. Really well. I’m invited to her room tomorrow.

To practise in “more intimate surroundings.” Her words, not mine.

oh thank god

so what’s the next step with my mum?

You free to meet up? I’ve got some ideas, but we should talk.

A moment passed. Then:

:-O

Is that a no?

it’s a talking face. let’s talk

:-O means surprised.

who made you king of the little face pictures

talk where

He looked up from his phone to gauge where he was.

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