Page 18 of Let's Get Textual

Zach: Recent breakup?

Me: Ish? The night you first texted me was when we broke up.

Zach: You were already falling for me then. Knew it *smirk*

Me: SMIRK? REALLY!?

Me: I cannot believe I talk to you.

Zach: Technically, you text to me.

Me: Please do not remind me.

Zach: I think you secretly enjoy our chats.

“Ha! Nine minutes and thirty seconds. You gotta buy your own drinks.”

I snap my head toward Zoe, quickly shutting off my phone screen like she has superpowers and can read the messages through the back.

I don’t know why I haven’t told Zoe about Zach. I should because it’s not a big deal, as there is nothing romantic going on between the two of us, but I like having Zach to myself, enjoy the way he’s making me feel. We text every day, all day—have since he called me that afternoon when we realized our mistake. For weeks now, we’ve been going back and forth. It’s nothing deep or poetic, but it’s still something special.

Zach makes me feel special.

Which is so stupid and silly because I don’t even know the guy.

Yet…he makes my heart race with anticipation any time I converse with him. He puts a smile on my face. He knows exactly what to say to make me laugh.

So why is this so complicated? Why am Imakingthis so complicated?

“Earth to D. Let’s roll. I don’t want to miss happy hour.”

Pulling myself from…well, myself, I slide off the barstool and meet an impatient Zoe at the door.

“One drink, Zoe. I mean it.”

She throws a mischievous grin over her shoulder. “Whatever you say.”

Zoe’salready downed three drinks in the hour since we arrived.

It’s going to be a long night.

“Well, well. Check out who Thursday ladies night dragged in.”

A grin overtakes my face. “They let you in here?”

“Iamme.”

“You always were so humble, Caleb.” I stand and give him a quick hug. “What are you doing here? You said Lola’s wasn’t your scene.”

“And I thought it wasn’tyourscene either.”

“Fair point.”

He hikes his thumb over his shoulder as he takes a seat next to me. “The idiots brought me out. Deemed it ‘good for me’.”

“Help you heal your broken heart?”

“Supposedly. Every time I try to explain to them that I’m fine and feel good about the split, it’s a waste of breath.” Caleb winces. “Shit, D. That sounded horrible. I didn’t mean it like I don’t care or anything like that. It’s—”

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