Page 33 of The Surprise

I haven’t replied and it’s been way too long, for a text. She’s going to think I’m mad or something, so I need to saysomething. Anything is fine, probably.

I CAN’T LET YOU PAY. There. That’s suitably flirty and easy breezy.

CAN AND WILL.

That makes me smile. Now she’s the one telling me we should go out, which is definitely forward progress. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR ICE CREAM?

ON IT? She sends a scrunched up face. NOTHING.

MIX INS, I MEAN.

JUST PLAIN CHOCOLATE FOR ME. I’M NOT FANCY.

I’M NOT FANCY EITHER, BUT ICE CREAM’S BETTER WITH MIX INS.

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SAYING, BUT IF WE GET LUCKY, CHILL GRILL, OVER IN GREEN RIVER, MIGHT HAVE HUCKLEBERRY.

IS THAT A JOKE? I ask.

NO JOKE. IT’S A REAL FLAVOR, AND IT’S SEASONAL, AND IT’S AMAZING.

Once I learn to keep things innocuous, I manage to keep her responding for over an hour. And the next day, I do even better. We may be enemies, and it does seem to be the case that her family is trying to oust us from the ranch, but once my mom quells that mess, I’ll be ready to swoop in.

In the meantime, I’m working my best Romeo vibes via text.

I KNOW WE SAID AFTER THE TRIAL WE’D GET TOGETHER, BUT YOU TOTALLY IGNORED MY BIRTHDAY.

I DIDN’T IGNORE IT. IMISSEDIT. THAT’S NOT THE SAME.

YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE ME OUT FOR A BURGER.

WHAT ABOUTMYBIRTHDAY? YOU MISSED THAT, TOO.

GREAT! THAT’S EVEN MORE REASON FOR US TO GO OUT. WE CAN CELEBRATE BOTH OUR BIRTHDAYS, I text.

YOU’RE RIDICULOUS.

BUT YOU DIDN’T SAY I’M WRONG. BIRTHDAYS MUST BE CELEBRATED.

OH FINE, she texts. ICE CREAM AFTER THE TRIAL,IFYOUR MOM WINS.

SHE WILL. I’M SURE. SO WHY BOTHER WAITING?

STOP BEING GREEDY.

DO YOU REALLY BLAME ME? I text. IF YOU WERE ME, YOU’D BE GREEDY TOO.

WHAT?

YOU’RE THE FIRST PRETTY, SMART GIRL I’VE MET SINCE MOVING HERE.

I’M NOT PRETTY SMART. I’M PRETTY STUPID.

I MEANT THAT YOU’RE BEAUTIFULANDSMART.

YOU MUST NOT GET OUT MUCH. She’s funny.

SADLY, THAT’S TRUE.

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