Page 34 of I Wanna Text You Up

Right.

Just then my phone buzzes across the table and I reach over, scooping itup.

I’m surprised to see Delia’s name flashing on the home screen. It’s late and she’s usually so grandma-like and thus already in bed at thishour.

Delia:Okay, it’s been long enough now, and I’ve been dying to ask—how’s it going withCaleb?

Me:You never told me he was somoody.

Delia:Surprise!

Delia:He can be quite the handful, but he’s a goodguy.

Me:Yeah, I don’t doubt that at all. It’s going to be…interesting living with him, that’s forsure.

Delia:Well don’t let our past interfere with anything, you know. Just treat him like you would any otherroommate.

Me:I will. He’s fun so far. Funny. A little flirty even. I think it’s going to be good living withhim.

Delia:That’s Caleb for ya, endless flirt and the life of the party. I’m happy to hear that, Zoe. I was worried you were going to hate me forever for bailing onyou.

Me:I could never hate you…unless you did something REALLY awful, like burned all my rapCDs.

Delia:I cannot believe you even still own CDs. You and Zach, you’re both so…OLDSCHOOL.

Me:Don’t hate us ’cause you ain’tus.

Delia:Ya know, that’s exactly what he wouldsay.

Delia:You’re both exhausting. Goodnight.

Me:Night.XO

Treat him like any otherroommate.

She’s right. I need to do that. I need to treat him like he’s just Caleb, not like he’s her ex…not like we have some weird scrambled historytogether.

He’sjustCaleb.

JustCaleb.

If that’s true, why does my heart beat a little faster when he’s around? Why does my breathing pick up like I’ve just climbed fifty flights of stairs? Why is all my attention focused onhim?

Every time he comes home from his late nights at work or at study sessions, I hear him, and I lie awake in my bed listening, waiting…for what? I don’t know, but I feel so…tuned in tohim.

Which is so stupid because we haven’t spent that much time together, and when we do, it involves grocery shopping and him annoying me until Ilaugh.

But still…there’s something there, something sitting just beneath thesurface.

“What in the hell are we watching?” he finally enquires after the episode is nearly halfover.

“Parenthood.”

“Like that old movie with Steve Martin init?”

“No. Well…sort of. This is a very loose adaptation ofit.”

“It’s…”