Page 39 of Let's Get Textual

I mock his tone. “You’re so…rude about it.”

“I’m quite enjoying this friendship that’s blossoming here. You calling me names, me giving you insurmountable amounts of shit.”

“Oh, yes, very enjoyable.”

“You couldn’t even say that with a straight face. I heard the smile in your words.”

He’s right.Screw him for being right.

“Whatever. Are we watching more of the show?”

“Do you think I could walk away now?”

“Never.”

“Want to…I don’t know, talk over the phone?”

I gulp, and it’s loud. There’s no way he doesn’t hear it. “Um…sure?”

“Why is that a question?”

“Doesn’t this make you nervous?”

“I bought you dinner, Delia. We’re past the nerves stage. We’re two friends enjoying a show together, eating hot wings—or in your case, wimpy wings.”

“Did you just mock my taste in wings?”

“Am I wrong?” he questions.

“I…YES! Those things are spicy!”

“To who? A toddler?”

“You’re mean, Zach.”

“And you enjoy it, Delia.”

He’s right.

Again.

“So, are we hanging up and hitting play, or what?”

“Oh, no. You’re not going anywhere now. You’re the one who took this from texting to phone calls. It’s on, baby.”

I don’t know why, especially since I cannot stand the nickname, but I swear my heart beats faster when he calls me baby.

“You want to listen to me chew? Is that a kinky fetish of yours, Zach?”

“No? What? I’ll be listening to theshow, and maybe your obnoxious interjections.”

“I am known for those,” I agree.

“See? I know you so well already.”

“You don’t know jack shit.”

“I know we live in the same city…”

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