Page 156 of Text Me Baby One More Time

Smirking, he shakes his head and places my order for me, adding on a double cheeseburger and large fry for himself.

When we get through the line, Shep parks in the lot and motions for me to get out.

I grab Steve and his bed from the back then make my way to the bed of the truck, where Shep is already laying out a blanket for us to sit on.

We climb on up, our feet dangling comfortably off the back just like after the first gala we attended, and we dig into our food.

There’s no conversation as we eat, because we don’t need it.

We’re content.

After we finish nearly all the greasy goodness, Shep busts out the pints of ice cream, lining up all our favorite flavors.

“They only had one spoon,” he says, holding it out to me.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Uh huh. How convenient.”

“Guess we’re just gonna have to…share.”

“If I didn’t have your cooties already, I’d complain.” I snatch the lone utensil from his hand and scoop out a bite of mint chocolate chip. “But I guess since you bought me all this deliciousness, I’m gonna let it slide.”

“You? Don’t you meanus?”

There it is again, that skip.

“I like that thought…us,” I admit quietly before shoving the spoon in my mouth to stop myself from saying anything else.

“I do too.” Shep sighs heavily. “I meant everything I said in those ads, Den.”

“You already said that.”

“I know, but I really need you to know I meant everything. You have no idea how sorry I am. You were right—I do hold on to the past. I don’t think, I just react, and I make excuses for that. I shouldn’t do that. It’s not fair.”

“It’s really not,” I tell him. “Especially when you hurt so many people in the process.”

“I don’t want to be that person anymore.”

“Then don’t be.”

“Is it really that easy?”

“Yes,” I say emphatically. “You know, Delia told me she thinks I make you a better person.”

“You do.”

“I don’t agree,” I argue. “I think you’re always a good person. You’re just afraid to let people see that side of you, because you’re scared they’ll like you…and then leave you. So, you push them away before theycanlike you, because you’re scared of heartbreak.”

“Aren’t we all?” he questions.

“Sure, but some of us are ballsy enough to face it anyway.”

He chuckles. “Always gotta bring my balls into it, huh?”

“Well, if you’d actually use ’em once in a while…”

He shakes his head, trying hard not to laugh, because he knows I’m right.

He hops down from the truck bed and moves toward me, pushing himself between my legs. Cupping my face, he draws all my attention to him.

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