Page 25 of Digging Up Love
Finally caught up on all eighty-four replies—she’d used just about every version of smiley face that existed and laid on cheery emojis like buttercream—she exited out and flicked through to Quentin’s contact, ignoring the voice that told her she was playing with fire.
Alisha:
I know it’s hush-hush and everything, but any idea what is lurking in our yard?
Nerves ravaged her instantly. Why couldn’t she leave well enough alone? She wasn’t even interested in a boyfriend,couldn’tbe interested in a boyfriend. And she’d never once let a hot guy derail her resolve in the past. What made Quentin different? He listened without an agenda, for one. He didn’t twist her words into what he wanted to hear, or leap to conclusions.
And the way he looked at her ... not like he was sizing her up, or trying to poke holes in her existence, deflate her just enough to stuff her into a box. Around him she got a reprieve from the exhausting performance art her life had become ever since moving back home. Ever since moving to Hawksburg, period.
She swung her legs off the couch, clicked off the lamp and TV, and double-checked the locks before heading upstairs to bed.
Halfway through brushing her teeth, her phone chimed. A GIF of Rex fromToy Storyappeared on her screen.
Quentin:
Not this kind.
Alisha laughed, spraying toothpaste foam all over the mirror.Dang it.She swiped at the splatter with the hand towel.
Alisha:
Bummer. But I win the bet with Mrs.Snyder. Her money was on Rexy.
She spat and rinsed, then found a GIF of Barney.
Alisha:
This one?
Quentin:
Lol, not quite.
Maybe one of these. [GIF ofThe Land Before Time]
Alisha:
Lol, loved those movies as a kid.
Quentin:
All 50 of them?
Alisha:
I think there were only like a dozen.
Quentin:
“Only.”
Alisha:
I guess that means you weren’t a fan?
No reply came, so she wrapped a scarf over the braids she’d pinned up, patting her head to ease the itchiness. Her mouth twisted in a rueful smile. If only she could banish thoughts of Quentin so easily—with agood hard whack upside her head. She was supposed to be blocking him out, not finding ways to keep their conversation going.
But that was just it. She wasn’t grinding gears, pushing the relationship along. They’d tumbled into the stream and been swept away together, and for once she wondered if it would be so wrong to let go of the reservations weighing her down and just float.
