"Italian. Lucia's. On Pine."
"AND?"
"The pasta was really good."
Tyler throws a pillow at me. "Devin, I swear to god —"
"He walked me home. We kissed. It was nice."
"Nice. He says nice." Tyler clutches his chest dramatically. "Dev, was it like... nice nice? Or was it 'I'm going to replay this moment for the rest of my natural life' nice?"
The second one. Definitely the second one. The way Silas's hand felt on my jaw. The way he let me set the pace. The way he said goodnight and the word felt like a promise instead of an ending.
"It was good," I say, and even I can hear the softness in my voice.
Tyler goes quiet for a second. Actually quiet, which never happens. Then: "Dev. You really like him."
"Yeah."
"Like, really really."
"Yeah."
"Okay." He nods slowly. "Okay, that's — that's huge. For you. That's really huge." He's trying to be serious, I can tell, but itonly lasts about three seconds before: "SO WHEN'S THE NEXT DATE?"
"I don't know. We didn't —"
My phone buzzes.
Silas:Good morning. How's the book?
Like I read anything last night. Like I did anything last night except lie in bed replaying every second of dinner and the walk and the kiss and the way he tasted like tiramisu and said my name.
Good morning. Haven't read yet. Just woke up.
Late for you. Must have been a good night.
The best.
A pause. Then:Can I see you today? Not a date. Just... reading. Library opens at nine on Saturdays.
Tyler's reading over my shoulder. "SAY YES."
"Tyler —"
"SAY YES RIGHT NOW OR I'M TEXTING HIM FOR YOU."
Yeah. I'd like that.
Good. I'll bring coffee.
Vending machine motor oil?
Only the finest.
I put my phone down. Tyler is vibrating.
"You have a BOYFRIEND," he says. "A hot shifter boyfriend who brings you coffee and reads with you and takes you on dates and —"