She didn’t need them. Not now. Not when something so beautiful had sparked between her and Tate. Her phone buzzed again—different this time. The kind of chime that made her whole body still, then light up like fireworks. It was his alert, his special notification for when Tate texted her. His name glowed across the top of the screen.
She quickly thumbed the screen to read it – and smiled. It was a photo of him, licking the frosting off a cookie with a mischievous grin on his face.Shameless flirt,she thought, sighing at the swoony image of her man.
Um, so the cookies were a hit, huh?
A nervous giggle tumbled out of her throat, sharp and too loud in the empty room. She bit her lip, tapping quickly, her hands shaking as she texted him.
You are amazing, and I want the world to know it.
Her breath came faster as his reply rolled in almost immediately.
You’re the only one that counts in my book.
The words poured from her in a waterfall of honesty and longing. He was it. He was everything to her, and she had imagined so many times what it would be like to tell him how she felt – but those same old fears held her back. She pressed a trembling hand against her heart as though to hold it together, because surely, surely it was about to burst.
The breakroom blurred around her—the hum of the refrigerator, the faint scent of stale coffee grounds, the shrill beep of the microwave someone had just abandoned. None of it mattered. She was in her own little world now, a world painted in the glow of his words.
Speaking of books, are you free tomorrow night?
Her breath hitched. She clutched the phone with both hands, afraid she might drop it. He was asking her out? Like a legit date?
She typed quickly, her thumbs fumbling with excitement.
If I wasn’t – I am now!
Her stomach twisted with nerves—was that too much? Too eager? Too obvious?
The screen lit up again before she could worry herself to pieces.
Did you already have plans, Sticks? Should I be worried?
She let out a half-laugh, half-squeak, shaking her head.
No – it’s just an expression. LOL.
Then let me reassure you – you have plans.
WITH ME
Her knees wobbled. She leaned back against the counter, staring at the little bubble of words like they were something out of a dream.Keep it cool and calm,Nettie, she thought wildly.
Oh?
Yeah, this guy thinks it’s about time he takes his girl out for a night on the town.
Her.
Nettie slapped a hand to her mouth, muffling the squeal threatening to escape. He called her his girl. The words played on loop in her head, as thrilling and surreal as the first time she’d heard her name announced at graduation. Her heart swelled, pressing against her ribs until it almost hurt. And with it came the echo of his earlier promise, quiet and sure:
“When I take you out on a date, you’ll know it.”
This was it.
This was him making good on his word. Her hands shook as she typed, but she couldn’t stop the smile stretching wide across her face.
I would love to go out with you.
A pause. The little dots appeared, bouncing with infuriating slowness. Then, at last:
