Page 54 (1/1)

Me: Can you talk?

Nate: Dialing you right now

He really is, becausehis words My heart skips a beat before I answer

"Hi," I say, bitingmy face into my pillow I can’t wait to hear his voice, but I’m also scared because I have no idea what to say

"Boobs" He breaks the ice i I miss him even more "Sorry, just had to one-up you You knowout for you?" I say back, falling easily into our routine

"Splendidly, thank you veryto add more purple--we think it really POPS!"

"Did you just say splendidly?"

"Your issue is with splendidly and NOT pops?"

Oh od! I love him! No, I don’t love him But I could I want to Maybe I already do? I don’t know hih You’re supposed to know so, work up to love I like hi

"Where’s your head at Thirty-three?" My head is up rip, so I sit up and carry ht, like a more formal posture will suddenly ht

"When do you come home?" His voice is suddenly softer, and I can tell we’re done

"Sunday, around three by the tiain thu loudly in my ear

"Can I pick you up? I mean, I don’t really have a car But I can borrow one You know, frouys? I’d…I’d really like to pick you up"

"I’d like that, too," I say, my forehead flat onunder my blanket

"Hey, Rowe?" His voice seems nervous, not like hio But…" I can hear hi, and I’ for his words to be what I want What I think I want "Ihtly with the sleeves of his shirt

This…is falling

My head is trapped with thoughts and fantasies about Nate We texted a fewasI let down uard with him, and it was scary, but I survived And I want to let him in more I want to let hi routine is much like Saturday’s My dad has my laundry folded nicely inoffcooking abilities It’s part of our shtick, puo so he’ll continue to take care of everything in the house I don’t think we really need to do it, becausein the world to see his women happy But we do it anyway, maybe more for us than hiht,"that Nate’s shirt will now s andto the trash to clear my plate I can feel both of ive that to you?" My dad’s al at me, and I’ ood teaood ones" My dad is fishing My mom put him up to this It has been two years since I have dated a boy Hell, it’s been two years since I’ve been social with anyone outside of this house other than Ross, my pharmacist, and the occasional run-in with theer

"Nate Preeter?" Now my dad is interested He’s a baseball coach, and he’s had a few players go on to sos Of course he knows Nate’s na like hell for an exit

"So this Nate…is he, a friend?" My mom has entirely different interests in the conversation, and the longer ell on the topic--the more I want to poke my head inside my own body like a turtle