Page 106 of Let's Get Textual

“I know you too, Zach.”

“You do?”

“Oh yeah. You have this smile that lights up your face and a whole different one, a naughtier one that lets your dimple poke through.” I give him a suggestive grin. “That one is my favorite. You also like to have the last word—guess we’re screwed there. You tend to tip the corner of your mouth up when you’re amused, and even though you act cocky, you’re secretly worried everyone will judge you for your nerdiness.”

As predicted, his dimple pops out. “Huh.”

“Huh.”

“So you think you know me?”

“Oh, I know you, Zach. I know you.”

His lips are on mine. It’s a slow, mild kiss, but sensual all the same.

Pulling away, he whispers, “I’m glad you do, Delia.”

The back door swings open and out comes Jack.

“Hey, go help grab your brother’s things. He brought laundry.”

Zach sighs at his father’s request and pulls himself off the swing. “Which is so weird because I’m certain we have laundromats down south, right, Delia?”

“I’ve used one or two myself.”

He turns to Rose and pretends to crack his neck and knuckles. “Don’t worry, I’ll work him over for you.”

“Just don’t bruise his face—it’s all he has going for him,” she jokes, following him inside and leaving me alone with Jack.

“This is a beautiful home you have, Jack. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Oh no problem. It’s great to see Zach happy. I always worry he spends too much time alone in that basement of his, especially since his last breakup, but she was no good for him anyway.”

A shiver races through me at the mention of Zach’s basement and the moment we shared down there.

“You’ve raised a terrific man—very full of himself, but a great man.”

“He gets that from Rose. I can’t imagine myself being so vain.” He winks and I laugh.

Rose comes back outside, a tray of drinks in hand, still wearing those pajamas. I stand to help her but she waves me off.

“Nonsense,” she says. “You’re a guest. Sit.”

“I was warned I’d need to change for dinner,” I say. “Something about an eating contest?”

“Every year since the beginning.”

“Have you ever polished everything off before?”

They both nod enthusiastically.

“Several times. It’s usually when one of the boys brings a guest, but it’s been a few years now. Neither of them have brought anyone home lately, which I guess is a blessing,” Rose says, smiling at me. “They save the important ones for the holidays.”

My face heats up and I think back to what Zach said about my blushing often.Huh.

He comes strolling back out on the patio, pointing at the house. “He’ll be out in a minute. He’s using my phone because his is dead and he needs to return a phone call to his agent.”

“Agent?” I question.

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