“It’ssettled.”
Something hits me, and I lean forward in my seat a bit, the anticipation of hearing the answer to my next question too much to contain. “And we’re…exclusive?”
“I don’t know about you, but I’ve been exclusive this wholetime.”
“Good.” I sit back. “That’sgood.”
“Zoe?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m real glad you’re my girlfriendnow.”
“Me too, Caleb. Metoo.”
Seventeen
“Nervous?”
“A little.” Caleb pulls his cap off his head and stuffs it into a pocket on the duffle bag he’s holding. “I’ve never met a girlfriend’s parentsbefore.”
“I like it when you saythat.”
“What? Girlfriend?” I nod. “Metoo.”
“But you’ve never met the parentsbefore?”
“To be fair, I started this trip as your kissing roommate and you roped me into being your boyfriend on the car ride. I wasn’tprepared.”
I let out an unattractive snort. “You act like I forced this girlfriend-boyfriend thing on you. It’s not a bigdeal.”
He meets my eyes, his stare serious. “Yes, itis.”
There’s a sincerity and seriousness in his voice that makes me realize that maybe all these feelings I’ve been rapidly developing aren’t one-sided, and maybe Caleb’s feeling them just the same as Iam.
My heart begins beating so hard and loud, I fear he’s able to hearit.
“Am I wrong, Zoe? Is this just a fling toyou?”
I shake my head. “No.”
He studies me, trying to read all the emotions running through me—excitement, fear, nervousness,happiness.
“Good.”
“Good,” Iecho.
I lift my hand, ready to press the doorbell. “Last chance torun.”
He shakes with laughter. “Press the damn button,Zoe.”
We hear the bell chime throughout the house, and wewait.
And wait…andwait.
No one evercomes.
“Are you sure this is the right house?” Calebasks.