Page 113 of We Can't Be Friends

I nod again, finally opening my eyes to look at her. I didn’t expect tears, my life isn’t traumatic by any measure.

“Cal, you have no boxes to check with me. My only expectation of you is to be you.” She wipes at a tear on my cheek. Her words are a warm hug I’ve needed for so long. Her hands snake up my forearms, then around my neck. “I wish they saw how incredibleyouare. Intelligent. Clever. Ambitious. Organized. Protective. Intentional. If they never see that, that’s a loss they have to live with.”

I go to open my mouth, but Chloe shakes her head no.

“We can finish picking up or doing whatever you need to do, but I’m not letting you verbally disagree with me about how I see you. How I feel about you. Their opinions aren’t my opinions. I know their opinions matter, that it’s all you know, but I hope you realize how special you are to me.”

Chloe seals her lips over mine. My heart skips a beat and I lean into the touch, but it was quick. Pulling away, she uses her thumb to wipe the red lipstick from my face.

***

An hour later, there’s a gentle knock on my door before it opens.

“You up?”

Tucker barges in, using his solid head to open the door. He jumps up on my bed circling before lying down at the foot.

“Can I come in?”

“You’ve never asked before.”

“True.”

She’s in her sleep uniform but instead of bare legs, she’s in a loose pair of pants.

I pat the spot on my bed next to me.

Padding over to the side, she drops her phone on the bedside table before pulling back the covers.

“You’re staying?”

“Boyfriend-girlfriend. What if your parents show up in the middle of the night and I was in a different bed.” she states in a playfully soft tone. “Is this okay?”

“Yeah.”

Chloe climbs in and looks perfect. Her dark hair flows out on the pillow. Peaches overtaking the smell of my detergent—I can’t wait for the morning when her smell lingers.

She rolls onto her side, watching me. I mirror her position, sliding down from the headboard I was sitting up against to read.

“Didn’t know you wear glasses.”

“Contacts. I use dailies.”

With a genuine smile, she scans my face. “You should wear them more.”

If Chloe looks at me like that, I’ll never take them off.

We lay there for a little while in silence. Watching each other, breathing the same air. My rapid heart and mind finally settling.

I stretch my leg, foot grazing her shin. “Pants?”

“Constricting, I know.” Chloe pretzels our legs, scooting closer to me. “Didn’t want your parents showing up and catching me half dressed.” I silently laugh.

“What’s your shirt say today?”

“Hot boys read. Know any?” I appreciate how light Chloe is right now. The casual way she’s being playful but gentle with me. She’s like a Rubik’s Cube and slowly, I’m figuring her out. Completing one side and revealing a new part of her.

“First you think I’m pretty, are you admitting to thinking I’m hot?”

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