Page 94 of I Wanna Text You Up

He grins. “I was hopingso.”

I turn my head, not wanting him to see the blush creeping up my face, but he seeks me out, reaching for my chin and pulling my attention back to him. His midnight blue eyes flick between my hazel ones and mylips.

“Because it runs deeper for me, Zoe—a lotdeeper.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and dart my tongue out to wet my dry lips. “Good.”

He closes the distance between us, stretching over the counter to press a soft, sweet kiss to my waitinglips.

That’s all it is, one small kiss, and then he’s settling back into his seat, bringing his slice of pizza back to hismouth.

So why does it feel like so muchmore?

Mittens jumps onto the counter, somewhere he’s not usually allowed, and begins to rub againstme.

“What about him?” Caleb asks. “Is he going withus?”

“Oh definitely. There’s no way I’d leave the little guyhere.”

“And your parents are cool with bringinghim?”

“Are you kidding? My mom is half in love with him already and she hates cats, and my dad cannot wait to snuggle the littleguy.”

Caleb tilts his head at me. “Have you been sending your parents pictures of mycat?”

“Hell yeah I have. He’s adorable asshit!”

“You’re not wrong.” He dips his head down. “You also know he’s sniffing at your pizza,right?”

I glance down. “Shit! Mittens!” I shoo him off the counter. “Get!”

He takes off, his paws slipping against the counter, causing his legs to catch my plate and flip it up. My pizza goes flying into the air and makes a loud smack against the kitchenfloor.

I look down at it, annoyed. “Guess I should just be glad it’s not on thecarpet.”

Caleb smiles at me sheepishly. “Sorry. He’s really cutethough.”

“Argh. Iknow.”

I pick up the slice of pizza and deposit it in the trash before pulling off a paper towel and wiping up the mess on thefloor.

“So, uh, what did Delia say?” Calebasks.

I peek his way and notice how he’s not looking mine. He’s curious, but he’s also scared. He doesn’t want her to hate useither.

I rest against the counter, staring at him. “She wants me to behappy.”

“And are you?” He finally looks at me. “Are you happy,Zoe?”

“I’m well on my waythere.”

Sixteen

“We needto head to bed. We’re going to have a long daytomorrow.”

We.

The word rolls off his tongue so easily, and I love the way itsounds.

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