Page 133 of The Fake Date Agreement

“Only when Reid isn’t around to see me in them. It would be all over campus before the day was over. That would be it. The death of my reputation. I’d never be able to show my face in public ever again.”

I’m still smiling when he falls silent. It’s not awkward or uncomfortable. He’s in his bed and I’m in mine, and while I’ve talked to friends like this before, it feels different with Caleb. More intimate somehow. Knowing he’s across campus in his dorm makes it easier to ask, “Why did you agree to do this, Caleb?”

“Do what?” he asks, but I think he knows what I mean.

I turn onto my side, wiggling to get comfortable. “This fake date thing. You could have said no.”

“Maybe Reid and Jay bullied me into it.”

“Did they?”

He’s silent for a beat. “No. They couldn’t bully me into doing anything I didn’t want to.”

“Like calling me?”

I’m glad he did. But surprised. Here I am having an intimate phone call with the captain of the hockey team before bed. I never saw that in my future.

“I was curious what you get up to when we’re not around, and you don’t seem like a texter.”

“It was the lack of emoji, wasn’t it?”

“The lack of what?”

“When you texted me before. I never know what to say in a text in case whatever I say is taken the wrong way.” So I wind up seeming cold with my one word responses.

“So phone calls are easier?”

“Not really.”

“Why not?”

“I’m an introvert. Knowing what to say has never come easily. Put Reid in the middle of a party, and he’ll make friends with everyone. Putmein the middle of a party and I’ll sneak away to find a bookcase so I can read or make friends with the cat.”

“And if there’s no cat?”

“Then the turtle. Basically, anything that can’t talk back.”

His laugh is rich, deep, and makes my toes curl. I love hearing him laugh, and I’m smiling before I’m conscious of it.

“You talk more on the phone than in real life.” I mentally cringe at the words that just came out of my mouth.

In real life?Why, Tobie? Just why?

“It’s easier. But…”

“But?” I prompt, curious and relieved he’s not laughing at me for saying something so stupid.

“It’s you. Things are easier with you than with… well, with anyone else.”

I hold my breath, suddenly tense. Having this conversation while he’s in his bed and I’m in mine was nice before, but now it’s maybe a littletoointimate.

It’s reminding me of the fact that he could be naked, and I think he just admitted he likes me.

But does he? Or am I reading too much into things?

“You still there, Myers?”

“Yes,” I squeak, hoping he can’t feel my tension through the phone.

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