Page 113 of Let's Get Textual

“Thank you.”

She ambles away and Zach shakes his head.

“I can’t believe you ordered fries. How can you eat after yesterday? Aftersixplates?”

“It’s a gift.” I shrug and grab for my straw, sticking it in my shake. “I’ll be rather disappointed if this doesn’t end up being something magical.”

“Trust me, it is.”

I take a sip…then another…then a longer one. Then I discover I’ve already demolished a fourth of the shake.

“It’s that good, huh?”

Releasing the straw with reluctance, I moan. “I’m dead. I must be. This is too heavenly to be real.”

“Told you.”

“Can we move here? Like inside this diner? Please?”

“I don’t think the owner would like that much,” the waitress says, setting down my fries. “I take it that’s your first Mega Shake?”

“Yes, but it won’t be my last, especially if the owner lets me move in. Is he cute? Can I woo him with my charm and undeniable good looks?”

“Let me ask.”

“Hey, Pop!” An older gentleman pokes his head out of the kitchen. “What do you say? Can she woo you with—what was it again?”

“My charm and undeniable good looks. I want to move in so I can have a milkshake any time I want.”

He grins then glances to his daughter and winks. “Honey, meet your new stepmom.”

“I heard that!” another woman shouts from the end of the counter.

Our waitress points over her shoulder and says, “That’s my mom.”

“She’s so lucky,” I mutter.

Zach rolls his eyes and orders me another shake before the waitress scurries off.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I didn’t? You mean you weren’t about to hop out of this booth and run off with the old man in the kitchen?”

“Well…no, probably not…”

He shakes his head. “Uh huh. Thought so.”

I feel my phone vibrating in my purse and pull it out. Two missed calls, both from Zoe.

Huh.

“Everything okay?” Zach asks.

“Yeah, just a few missed calls from Zoe. I’ll ring her back later. I’d much rather be spending time with this Mega Shake—I mean, with you.”

I grin at him and his dimples come out again.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much I love them.

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