Page 147 of Text Me Baby One More Time

“It’s okay to be mad at him and still love him, to want to wring his neck and kiss him all at once. No one is perfect. Sure, what Shep did was exceptionally wrong, but that doesn’t make him a bad person entirely. He actually spent a good portion of Sunday telling us about the children’s diabetes charity he’s part of.”

My lips involuntarily curl into a smile as I think of how excited Shep gets when he hears how much money has been raised for the charity at each gala we attend.

“He’s so proud of it. The only time I’ve ever seen him so passionate about something and interested is when he’s talking about baseball.”

“And you,” she adds. “He’s like that when he’s talking about you too.”

“Moooooonty!” Zoe bangs against the bedroom door. “Just say wiener!”

“Go away!”

Delia and I fall into a fit of laughter.

I don’t know what the future holds for me and Shep, but I do know I feel better knowing he stepped up and did the right thing by Delia and Zach. It doesn’t erase all the worries I have about our future, but it’s a start.

And a start is better than nothing.

“So what’s going to happen with your article? Did you finish it?”

“Almost, but now I’m not sure I’ll be able to submit it. I didn’t quite finish out the agreement I had with Shep, so I don’t know how ethical it would be to run something.”

“I don’t think Shep will, like, go after you or anything,” Delia says, trying to reassure me.

“Did you think he would send a naked photo of you out to the entire baseball team?”

She opens her mouth then slams it closed again, shaking her head. “Touché.”

“He wasn’t always a total jerk, you know.”

“I don’t think he was ever a jerk. I just don’t believe he thinks things through very well and acts on feelings rather than rationale. He just needs to…grow up a bit.”

“How can you be so chill about all this?” I ask her. “So forgiving?”

“I learned a long time ago that I could harbor bad emotions for people and let them eat away at me, or I could face those emotions head-on and be happy.” She smiles. “I choose happy.”

“Choose happy, huh? Even if you’re scared?”

“Oh god,especiallyif you’re scared. That’s usually the best kind of happy.”

“I like you, Delia. I think I might keep you around for a while.”

“I got that on video for Allie! Don’t youdaretry to replace me, Delia!”

Delia whips a pillow Zoe’s way, smacking her phone out of her hand. “Monty’s right, youarea creep.”

“Ha! Take that, you wiener!”

“NO!” Zoe whines, scrambling for her phone and rushing back down the hall. “Say it again! I wasn’t recording!”

“Do they make you want to nap too?” Delia says.

“All the time.”

* * *

“Have you read the paper today?”

“Um, Allie, Iworkat the paper.”

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