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Heath: You should stop thanking me.

I smile big.

Hope: Can’t do.

Hope: ‘shrug’ emoji

Heath: Then I’ll make you.

I quickly sit up.What does he mean by that?

Hope: No. You can’t.

Heath: Is that a challenge?

Hope: Yes.

Heath: Be prepared to surrender, because I don’t fucking lose.

I giggle and roll over to my other side. My book is long forgotten.

Hope: You just have to bring the f-word in everything.

Heath: It’s my fucking specialty.

Hope: I believe it’s your favorite word.

Heath: Agree to disagree.

My fingers stop. I don’t know what else to say. I see dots appearing and disappearing on his side.

Heath: What’s your favorite word?

Hope: I don’t think I have one.

Heath: For the record,fuck, isn’t my favorite word.

Hope: So we both don’t have a favorite word?

Heath: Seems like it.

Hope: Tell me when you find a favorite word.

Heath: You’ll be the first to fucking know.

Hope: You didn’t say it, but I’ll also tell you first when I find my favorite word.

Heath: You fucking better.

I’ve never found reciprocation sweet, but in this moment, Heath Travon makes me realize that it’s the sweetest thing ever.

Heath: Is the scar-boy in magic school yet?

I burst into a fit of laughter.

Hope: His name is Harry.

Hope: I haven’t gotten that far.