Page 59 of I Wanna Text You Up

“If it wasn’t for charity, I’d have pushed myself out of that limo while it was barreling down the highway. My ass has never been touched so many times in one nightbefore.”

I laugh at the look of horror on his face. “Oh, come on, admit that you liked it just a littlebit.”

He shakes his head at me. “I’m not dignifying that with aresponse.”

I bump his shoulder again. “I’m just giving you shit. Well, kind of—I do think you likedit.”

“I liked it about as much as I like you rightnow.”

“See!” I point his way. “Youdidlikeit.”

He puffs out an irritated sigh. “You just never stop,huh?”

“That would beboring.”

I glance back out at the field, smiling. He’s not irritated with me, not at all. He loves the banter and endless amusement I provide—I can tell by the way his body moves closer to mine, by the constant tilt to hislips.

“You play any sports when you were younger? Or have you always been attached to that paintbrush andeasel?”

“I use more than a paintbrush, but yes, I’ve always been attached to my art. I’ve never even so much as played catchbefore.”

He spins my way, mouth dropped open in shock. “You’rekidding?”

“I’mnot.”

Grabbing the glove he’d dropped on the bench beside him, he stands and extends his hand my way. “Let’s go. We’re playing catch. You have to play catch at least once in your life or you haven’t lived a full life. Trust me onthis.”

I slip my hand into his and follow him over to his overflowing equipmentbag.

“Pick a glove,” he tellsme.

“Anyglove?”

“Yep. Just put it on and see if it fits. Make sure it feelsright.”

“How will I know if it feelsright?”

“You’ll justknow.”

I go through three gloves before I find one that feelscomfortable.

“Good?” heasks.

“Yep.Good.”

“Okay, now step out about 15 yards. We’ll startthere.”

“Uh…yards?”

He chuckles. “Just keep walking until I tell you tostop.”

I walk a few feet and glance back at him. “Here?”

“Keep going…there’s good. Now, do me a favor and don’t judge me for my bad throwing, okay? I don’t even think I should really be doing thisyet.”

“We don’t have to,Caleb.”

Even with the distance, I can see him glower at me. “No, we’re doing it. I’ll just ice my handlater.”

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