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"It’s just going to take tione a day without talking to his brother," she says back quickly

"I know I’s like Nate But don’t you dare tell that little turd I said that," I say, tilting my neck up to see if the hallway is still quiet It is

Cass giggles "Turd is a funny word," she says There’s a long silence after this Palpable It’s not uncorand about thisremarkable at all It’s one of hundreds of phone conversations Cass and I are going to have, have had

But soht

"You know I’ht?" I put it out there I haven’t said it But I know she knows And I know she loves me back The words--they’re just like a period on the end of our very long, run-on sentence

"I know," she says, al And blushing And beautiful

"Good," I so Instead, now I feel warht

"I sorta kinda love you too," she says, her voice o crazy there and get too coe your bets," I tease I know she’s just nervous Her laugh is muffled, probably by her pillow "So, since I love you more, and I clearly said it first, I think that ht?"

"You are sooooo not the winner," she says, stronger now My little ninja princess

"I don’t know I’m pretty sure if we called up to the booth they would rule in my favor," I say

"Nooooo," she protests--always so coh your sneak attack The playing field was definitely not even I think you’d get disqualified"

"Only one way to know," I say, covering the phone with my hand "Nate! Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan--" He hates it when I use his full name, so he makes his way down the hall to my rooht