“Why would you want to?”
“ ’Cause you’re just so cute. I mean look at those cheeks.”
“Shut up.”
“Bye, princess,” I say before I hop out of the car.
“I thought I told you to be cool!” she calls after me. I cackle and jog up to the front door. She might not marry me, but I think this summer is gonna be fun.
•••
Mom is on a business call when I walk inside, so I have a few more minutes of peace before I have to give her a rundown and possibly get roped into a nighttime skin care routine video. I head up to my room where I flop down on my bed, careful to not bump my arm. It feels like my heart is still fluttering. I pull out my phone and bring up the twoquick pictures I snapped of Heaven and me with Miss Anita. Miss Anita is so cool. And nice. I see why Dr.Campbell wanted us to talk to her. It felt good to get to know her. Still, I am laser focused on Heaven.
I had to tease her about her cheeks. I don’t know what possessed me to kiss her the last time. I do love some affection, but I know that wasn’t a friendly smooch on my end. She’s just so—I really want to kiss her. Like, really kiss her. I check the time. Bethany is usually back in her dorm by now. I send her a text, praying that she answers.
B, I’m down bad.
Real bad.
I thank God and Jesus when those three little dots pop up immediately.
What happened???
You went over to Heaven’s today right?
Yes!
I think about telling her all about Heaven’s room and how I read her all wrong, but I don’t. She only asked me not to tell people that I was helping her with her social media accounts. Still, clearly, she keeps her rainbow princess tower to herself. Maybe Bethany doesn’t need to know about it.
Well??? What happened?
We had fun!
I wanted to have a horrible time
So I could fall out of
love with her.
And now you like her even more. Oh Say. You’re in deep.
She’s so nice. Just quiet.
I think I love her.
She made me a grilled cheese. I’m gonna die.
Stop!
Why don’t you tell her?
That I like her?
No way.
She is definitely putting up with me. A love confession would be a bad move. The rejection will kill me.
How do you know she’ll reject you?