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I cutme out that late, huh, Kyle?”

He blushed “Maybe”

I took a deep breath, knowing I had to broach the subject I didn’t think he would “About tonight Are we…Ion us—” I couldn’t get the words out

Kyle fiddled with the gearshifter, chewing on his lower lip Finally he glanced at ht “Look, I knohat you’re getting at, and…I’ve ements You know, in case that’s ant But we don’t have to I want it to be right”

“You’ve ain, redder than ever “We have a room at the Red Roof Inn It’s just down the road fro a bit presurinned at me, but we both knew the joke had fallen flat “Just…in case”

A thought struck me and I blurted it out before I had a chance to over-think it “Kyle? Have you thought that etting uncoht has crossedthis because it’s what all our friends are doing?”

He glanced at me in irritation “No! I mean, Jason told me about him and Becca, and I know Aaron and Kyla have done it too, but no No And we’re not doing anything, necessarily I just wanted to have the option available”

I laughed,else “I don’t know if I’ht ahead, or weirded out that you assu, Nell” Kyle sounded alry “I just—you knohat, yeah I did assume I , but I love you I think we’re ready”

I stared at him: he’d said the words “We’re sixteen, Kyle” I quirked an eyebrow at him “And aren’t you supposed to wait until a ro dinner to tell ument doesn’t seeued “Kind of? I don’t know I don’t want it to be”

“Me neither And I guess you’re right, but it’s out there now I do love you I’ve been wanting to say it to you for weeks now, but I’ve been too chicken I was planning on telling you tonight I had a whole thing scripted Like, actually written out” He dug into his pants pocket and pulled out a folded piece of lined notebook paper, edges ragged with ripped-out spiral-bound tags

I knoe’re young, it read And I knowtoo knohat love is But screw that I’ve known you ether Every iether We learned to ride bikes together and we learned to swiether We failed 8th grade algebra together (Remember how nasty Mr Jenkins was? How many times e sent to the office that seether I don’t care what any one else says I love you I’ll always love you, no matter what happens with us in the future I love you now and forever

Your loving boyfriend,