Page 53 of The Oath We Take

Atom:You thought that was romantic? Thought you were going to be mad.

There’s a row of laughing emojis.

Me:I like the fire addition. And I’m upgrading cheese to a cheese board. A girl needs options.

I see the little dots bounce, telling me he’s typing a response.

Atom:Make me a list so I know your favorites. And didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable with the boner comment.

Urgh, I started it, talking about skinny-dipping.

Me:If this is truly a getting-to-know-you phase, it might be too early for us to get that candid.

Atom:I’ll follow your lead. I’m in no rush. I’m liking this getting to know you.

I feel slightly awkward telling him these things, but it feels safe. Dad is still chatting with Karlie, and I lean back in my chair.

Me:I shouldn’t have mentioned the skinny-dipping. Like I said, I’m new to this flirting with you thing.

Atom puts a little red heart beneath my comment, and it shouldn’t make my heart flutter the way it does. I’m glad we held off from sleeping with each other last night. It would have been hard to get back to this place.

Atom:So am I. New to the whole flirting thing in general, to be fair.

I laugh at that.

Me:You are so not new to the whole flirting thing. You forget, I’ve had to watch you in action in my bar.

Atom:There’s no good way of defending myself here, but I will say this. I don’t normally have to put much effort in. This face and my cut do a lot of the heavy lifting.

Me:Jesus!

Atom:He’s not gonna help you. You’re stuck with me.

Me:And he can’t take me on a picnic with all the cheese.

Atom:Feel like I should give you the nickname little mouse or something.

Me:Please don’t.

I include a laughing emoji, so he knows I’m not mad about it.

Atom:Isn’t that what they do in all those books you read at smut club?

Me:Want to know a secret?

Atom:YES!

Me:I don’t actually belong to their book club.

Atom:What? But you hosted the thing?

I wince a little, but it’s the funny, nervous, oh-my-God-what-will-he-say-about-this kind of wince.

Me:While you were showering, I ran down to the bar and called Quinn and told her to move it to my place so I wouldn’t have to sit looking at you all night.

Atom:I had no idea you were capable of such switch and bait tactics. Did you actually read the book or were you making that shit up?

Me: I read part of it before the book club, although, not gonna lie, I may have finished it and started the second one.

---