Page 124 of Can't Text This

“I don’t know. I was hoping you found a distraction that was working and could share it with me. Nothing, not even alcohol is working. I’ve been sipping on a beer for the last half hour.”

More silence.

Long sighs.

Exhaled breaths.

“We should quit while we’re still ahead, right?” she asks.

“We should, but I don’t want to.”

“I…I don’t either.”

“Are weallowedto date? Does the school have any policies against it?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t exactly look for information in the handbook when I received it. I never thought it was something I’d have to worry about.”

There’s a bite to her words but I know she’s not directing it at me, rather at the situation we’re currently in.

“Can I say something kind of weird?”

“Go for it.”

“When your son walked into my classroom, there was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t put my finger on it,” she tells me.

“His eyes—they’re the exact same as mine.”

“That’s it, because other than that, he doesn’t look like you at all. Why don’t you share the same last name?”

“His mother’s request.” I sigh. “I regret agreeing to that every day. At the time, I didn’t care, didn’t think I’d mind my kid not having my last name. Now I want it so fucking bad.”

“Can you change it?”

“Yeah, but I want to make sure it’s something Xavie wants too.”

“Xavie? Is that what he normally goes by?”

“Outside of school, yes.”

“Xavier Levy.” She says his name with such wonder.

“XavierZacharyLevy. I got to pick the middle name at least.”

“He’s named after your goat-loving bestie?”

I chuckle at her description. “The one and only.”

“That must really go to his head.”

“You have no idea.”

I listen as she shuffles around on the other end of the call.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Getting into bed.”

“Are you naked?”

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