Page 117 of Can't Text This

I laugh at his bossiness but do as he says, holding the phone tightly to my ear, ready to soak up every sappy word he’s about to fire my way.

He exhales a deep breath, gathering his courage, I suppose.

“I like you, Monty. I like youa lot.” His words are what some would consider juvenile. The force behind them, though—that’s what makes them so powerful.

My knuckles begin to turn white as I grasp the phone even tighter.

“I like you a lot too, Robbie,” I tell him.

“No, you don’t get it. I can’t stop thinking about you, or your ass, your tits…your kissable-as-fuck mouth.” I chuckle at how far off this conversation just went, in typical Robbie fashion. “Or your off-the-wall personality and stupid sexy grandma outfits, which is kind of embarrassing if you think about it.”

“They aren’tthatbad.”

“I beg to differ. Anyway, I like seeing you, spending time with you. I want to keep doing both of those things…often.”

The line goes silent, and I worry for a moment that I’ve lost him.

Then it hits me, what he’s saying right now—what he’stryingto say without really saying it.

My heart picks up its pace and I’m so giddy, so full of energy all of a sudden.

“Robbie, are you…are you asking me to go steady with you?”

“I think so.” He mutters something I can’t entirely make out, but it sounded very similar to his favorite prayer. “Yes. I meant yes. I am.”

“I…don’t know what to say.”

“I know this was supposed to be light and fluffy and fun or whatever, but it’s evolved. I want more than that. I want stability. I want real. I want you.”

His words nearly knock the breath out of me, but I manage to squeak out, “You want me?”

“Fuck yes I do. You’re the first thing I think about in the morning—after having to pee and my son, of course.”

“Well I’m glad to know I comeafteryour full bladder.”

“Stop making fun of me. I don’t do well with this kind of shit.”

“I’m sorry. I just…I’m scared.”

“I am too, Monty, so goddamn terrified, like my throat is closing right this minute, but I think you’re worth it—worth the risk.”

“You think?”

He laughs, and I can hear him shuffling around on the other end of the call like he’s pacing or something. “I’m usually a wicked good judge of character, but something about you scares me. So, as much as I want to be cocky and be all, ‘No, baby, I’m sure,’ I can’t do that—not with you. You’re different than anyone I’ve ever met before. You make mewantdifferent things, like something steady, but I’m also really fucking scared by that little fact.”

“I think it’s brave for you to admit you’re just as scared as I am. I want to say yes.”

“Then say it.”

“I…ugh.”

A ping sounds in my ear and I pull the phone away to see I have a text from Robbie.

“Did you just text me?”

“Nope. Wasn’t me.”

“Hang on.”

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