Page 154 of The Perfect Love

Book Boyfriend: I’ll be at your apartment by 5.

Book Boyfriend: And for the record, with that first acronym, think less dirty. Take it back to our first date. See you tonight, baby.

Me: Have fun. Love you.

I put my phone away and continue my walk to class, going through the letters in my mind.

CITYTTBABYATB

Start at the beginning. C… C, I. Could I or can I? Can I what? Can I taste? Taste your… tits?

I laugh to myself as I get into the building. I know Trevor likes playing with my boobs, but enough to put it in an acronym? Wait, if it’s related to our first date, that wouldn’t make sense.

When I get to my classroom, I pull out my notebook and write out the letters again.

Can I? Can I take? Can I take your… teeth?

Okay, that’s definitely not it.

I’ve only got a couple of days until our date. How am I going to freaking figure this out before then?

I look down at the paper again.

Can I teach? No.

Can I talk—ooh, tell. Can I tell you this… fuck I’ve got nothing.

What did we do on our first date?

We went to The Lake Shack.

Now I’m back to take.

Can I take you to the…

I have no idea.

When the professor appears at the front of the classroom, I reluctantly put my notebook aside. I can come back to it. Even though a part of me likes guessing. And maybe I want to let him surprise me.

He probably knew that and that’s why he sent me that clue.

Damn, he’s good.

“Yes. That’ll be perfect. So we’ll do the small booth and have a little area where people can sit and connect if it’s something they’ve been through. And definitely a volunteer sign-up.”

“I love that you’re bringing this in. I know there will be some women there who would love to sign up to volunteer.”

“Thanks, Nadine.” I look up from the notebook in my lap and see Trevor walking down the hall and carrying a tray with food on it. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll relay all that to Kristen.”

“Sounds great. Talk soon. Oh, and happy birthday.”

“Thanks. Bye.”

I hang up, smiling, as Trevor walks into the room.

“Here I was going to wake you up to a fancy birthday breakfast, but no, you had to get up and work.”

I give him my sweetest smile. “Not work. Planning for the women’s festival. I had an idea to have a booth there for Promise, and Nadine was just getting back to me about it.”

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