Page 57 of Colton’s Mate

This had to be a mistake.

Callie put down the shotgun and opened the door. “Hey,” the girl said cheerfully, her ponytail bouncing. “Delivery.”

The carton had air holes punched in it, and was marked, “Live Specimens” on the front.

What. The. Actual. Hell.

“What is it?” she asked suspiciously. Kittens? Rats? Ant farm?

“Not sure,” the girl said. “Reptiles.” At Callie’s expression, her megawatt smile dimmed somewhat. “Um, you did order these, right?”

“Noooo,” Callie said. “Is there any way to know who sent it?”

“Maybe?” The girl held out the carton, and Callie took it gingerly. Reptiles? Yikes. Visions of lizards, hila monsters, and snakes danced in her head. Or possibly an alligator?

No alligator, her lynx said. Alligator bad.

The girl fished a tablet out of her pocket and tapped the screen. “It says here it’s from a Colton McCall.”

Okay, it could still be lizards, hila monsters, or alligators. Probably not snakes, because not romantic. But it was a present from Colt! That gave her a little tingle of pleasure.

Nobody she’d dated had ever sent her presents. Even ones that could possibly eat her.

She put the box carefully on the side table and signed the tablet, then carried it into the kitchen and set it on the counter.

She hoped that, whatever it was, it would be in a cage.

And also that it wouldn’t be scary. Or see her as food.

Carefully, she slit the tape on top of the carton. Should she just open the flap and peek inside? But what if it was a snake and did that quick snaky thing where they lashed out at you so fast you couldn’t even see it? And it bit her nose?

Veto, said her lynx. We do not like our noses bit.

Callie stood back and opened the top flap with her fingertip.

Nothing jumped out.

She gathered her courage and stepped closer, preparing to look inside.

No, no, no, snakes alligators MONSTERS! said her lynx.

It was turtles.

Two adorable little turtles about the size of her palm, in their own glass habitat, with plants and a little sunken water feature that probably needed more water because a lot had sloshed out in transit. It even came with food and a ‘how to care for your turtles’ pamphlet to tell her what to do.

She cleared a space and brought in a little table from Tex’s old room, so they could be in the living room with her and watch TV and stuff. Then she poured more water in their tiny turtle bath, and gave them some food from the thoughtfully enclosed container.

Minutes after she had it set up, she got a text from Colt.

Did you get my present?

Callie replied: They’re so cute! Let me send you a picture.

She snapped a couple of pictures and texted them.

Callie: Should I ask ‘why turtles?’

Colt: Turtles aren’t romantic? (A sad-face emoji followed)