Page 72 of Let's Get Textual

“Wait, wait, wait. Are we allowed to snuggle during this Netflix marathon?”

“Hmm…I’ll allow it.”

“Naked snuggling?” he says, waggling his brows and stalking toward me.

I pat his chest. “Don’t push your luck, stud.”

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

The sudden flash of a bright light wakes me. Then the sudden loss of my pillow wakes me up even more.

Zach springs off the couch, ready for action.

“Shit, Zoe. I was about to karate chop your ass,” I hear him say.

I peel my eyes open to find Zoe standing in the doorway, hands on her hips and a devious grin across her lips. Zach stands still, shoulders tense, and he’s ready to pounce.

“Nice boner, Zach.”

He falls back on the couch, pulling a pillow into his lap. Glancing down at me, he says, “Your friend is the worst.”

“I told you so.”

“And what exactly were you two doing? Huh?” Zoe pesters.

“Sleeping, hence the embarrassing boner reveal,” Zach answers.

“I’m with him. We must have crashed out.” I check the clock hanging by the front door. “Oh crap, we’ve been asleep for three hours. It’s after eleven now. Don’t you—”

“So sorry to interrupt, but is that a baby goat?” Zoe throws her purse down in the middle of the floor and squats in front of Marshmallow’s cage.

“That’s Marshmallow. You scrolled through our texts about him.”

“She’s seen our texts?” Zach asks.

“Long story,” I say, waving him off and sitting up.

“He issocute! Can I have him?”

“No!” Zach and I shout at the same time.

“I don’t even think we’re allowed to have pets here, but I want him so badly.” She sticks her fingers in the cage, giggling when Marshmallow licks them. “He’s like the greatest thing ever.”

“He’s probably hungry. I need to feed him.”

Zach goes to move off the couch, but I lay my hand on his arm, stopping him.

“It’s late…” I start.

“I know. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’ll gather up Marshmallow and we’ll head home so you can rest before class tomorrow.”

I should let him leave…should let him gather his things, give him a lingering kiss, and allow him to walk right out that door.

But I can’t.

“Do you want to stay the night?”

His eyes widen, and I’m not sure if I’ve asked something I shouldn’t have.

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