Page 152 of Can't Text This

“Mornin’, Miss Andrews.”

“Good morning, Xavie.” His little brows scrunch together because I only call him Xavier. “Oh, sorry. Xavier,” I correct myself. “How was your weekend?”

“Good. I got to have donuts yesterday with my mom. Then when Dad picked me up, I asked if we could getmoredonuts and he said yes, so I got you one.”

“You brought me a donut?” I ask.

“Yep!” He holds his little finger out to me. “One sec.”

Dropping his backpack to the floor, he spins around and drops to his knees to unzip it.

I can’t help but smile at the fact that he stashed a donut in his backpack.

“Here you go.” He holds a crushed box out to me and frowns when he notices the state it’s in. “Oops. It got smooshed. Dad said that might happen.”

I take the box from his hands. “Thank you, Xavier. That’s very kind of you.” It’s also very convenient since I didn’t have time for breakfast and I amstarving.

“What’s the special occasion? Why’d I get a donut?”

He shrugs. “Just because.”

“This is the bestjust becausedonut I’ve ever been given. I’ll go ahead and eat it now if you don’t mind.”

He leans in conspiratorially. “Can I have half?”

I burst into laughter and open the box, ripping the donut in half without an ounce of hesitation.

“Here you go, little man. Enjoy.”

He shoves the sugary treat in his mouth, then holds out his thumb and mutters a muffled, “Thanks,” on the way to his seat.

I lift the other half of my donut to take a bite, but then something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye.

There is a bright blue sticky note attached to the lid of the donut box.

What the…

I lean in closer to read it.

Donut give up on us.

Robbie.

My heart jumps into my throat for all the right reasons.

I scramble to dig my phone from my bag, forgetting all about my hunger and the delicious donut sitting in front of me.

Me:I didn’t plan on it.

Python:Good. Me either.

Me:That’s not what it seemed like the other day.

Python:Let’s just say I had a lapse in judgment and I’m a fucking idiot.

Python:I am much more smarterer than I was then. ??

Me:And still just as exhausting I see.

---