Page 125 of Can't Text This

“No!” She laughs. “You can’t talk to me like that anymore.”

“Why not? We’re still dating, right?”

She goes quiet. I can’t hear her moving, but I can still hear the faintness of her breathing.

Two full minutes pass before she speaks again.

“Yes.”

My heart swells at the three-letter word.

So small, simple, yet packed with so much power.

“How are we going to navigate this?”

“Carefully, and together. It’s not illegal to date you, and it’s not entirely unethical either. We have to be careful, though, tread lightly, and probably not let Xavier know about this. We also shouldn’t have sex again until we can figure this out.”

I spring forward on the couch in shock.

Oh hell no.There isnoway I’m giving up sex. Not going to happen, not when I know how fucking good it feels to be inside her.

“I’m sorry, did you just say what I think you just said?”

“Yes, Robbie.” She sighs loudly. “No more sex. It’s too much.”

“But we’ve already had sex. That’s the dumbest argument I have ever heard.”

“I…” She clicks her tongue. “Ugh. Fine. You’re right. I just wanted to feel like I hadsomecontrol over this situation. Let’s just…be careful,verycareful—like, no one can know we’re together.”

“We’re sneaking around then?”

“In a sense.”

“Huh. I kind of like the idea of that. Sounds…sexy. Fun.Dangerous.”

She giggles, and the genuine happiness I hear in it puts me at ease for the first time this evening.

“Hey Monty?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you’re still my girlfriend.”

“I’m glad too.”

Twenty-One

Monty

Me:Rule #1, no more dirty texting me when I’m at work and YOUR SON is in my classroom.

Python:It’ll be hard, like me, but I can live with that rule. Next.

Me:Rule #2, I can’t come to your apartment anymore. It’ll feel weird now. You and Thumbelina will have to come over here, or we can meet somewhere public.

Python:Stop trying to get me to have sex with you in public, Monty.

Me:I’m not!!!

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