Page 36 of Let's Get Textual

Me: Nah. Let’s get wings.

Zach: Fine. Wings it is.

Me: *whispers* What kind are you getting?

Zach: WE ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME FLAVOR. We aren’t THAT pathetic.

Me: Fine, but just so you know, I’m pouting.

“So, what are you doing tonight?” Zoe asks as she’s applying some kind of fancy makeup all over her face. I have no idea what it is because makeup isn’t my thing, but damn does that girl know how to apply it.

I can feel my smile and I know Zoe sees it before I can catch it.

“Why are you smiling? What’s going on? Whatareyour plans for the night?”

“Um…I think I’ll watch Netflix and order food.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen. “Oh! You’re going to ‘Netflix and chill’ with yourself, huh? You naughty girl, you.”

“Zoe! I amnotgoing to masturbate and watch Netflix—not that there is anything wrong with that,I’mjust not doing it. Why in the hell would you think I am?”

She shrugs. “Your smile. I don’t know. It’s…secretive, and that’s the only secretive thing I could think of. Sorry, sex on the brain right now. I mean, Iamgoing on a date with Shep.”

“TheShep.”

“Yes,theShep.” She sighs, and it’s wistful, which is unlike Zoe.

I won’t lie, my best friend is known for being a heartbreaker. She’s a love ’em and leave ’em type of girl, never lets anyone too close before she’s moving on to the next guy, and that’s okay. That’s her thing.

If there was a male equivalent to Zoe, it would be Shep, and they both know it.

But the fact that she’s so worried about what she’s wearing, the dreamy sighs, the shaking I catch in her hands as she applies the last of her makeup tells me something is different about this date. She’s nervous, and Zoe doesn’t get nervous.

I’ve met Shep a few times through Caleb, and he’s always been decent—way too cocky, but decent. That said, I have seen the way he flings girls around and have witnessed him getting slapped a few times. He just grins and moves on to the next girl. I always thought it was a bit…sleazy, the way he acted about it.

“Hey, Zoe?”

“Yeah?”

“You’ll be careful with Shep, right? He kind of has a reputation…”

A booming laugh fills the room. “Delia,Ihave a reputation. I’ll be fine.” She stands and spritzes herself with perfume.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Now, stop worrying about me and wish me luck. Shep should be here”—a knock sounds at the door—“well, now.” She quickly slides her feet into the cutest booties and blows me an air kiss. “Gotta run, babe! Have fun tonight!”

I sit there and listen as she greets Shep at the door. Even from the bedroom, I can hear the nerves in her voice. What surprises me is the shakiness I hear in Shep’s voice too.

Maybe this will turn out okay.

My phone buzzes and I read the message on the screen.

Zach: I’m ordering my wings now. You have twenty minutes to get your shit together, woman.

Me: You just lost so many cool points by calling me “woman”.

Zach: That’s okay. I’m sure I was way ahead of the game anyway.

---