Page 3 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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is checking me out.”

Vass snatches the book I’m reading

and reclines in their sun lounger

under a sun umbrella.

They pretend to read

like a spy with a newspaper.

The book is upside down.

The angel on my shoulder tells me

to tell Vass to turn the book around.

The devil on my shoulder tells me

to take a photo to tease Vass with.

My phone makes the camera shutter sound.

“Τι κ?νεις? Μαλ?κα!” Vass hisses.

They drop the book and grab my phone.

I lean over to watch Vass zoom in

to the background of the photo.

Local Boy is either looking directly at Vass

or directly at the camera: at me.

It’s hard to tell because of the angle.

“I think this is the first time you haven’t

zoomed in on yourself in a photo,” I tease Vass.

“I think you’re right,” says Vass,

“I have to talk to them today.”

“I didn’t say you had to,” I reply.

“I asked if you were going to.

It’s fine to have a crush

without having to act on it.”

Vass waves away my words

like a fly that’s bothering them.

“Should I wave at them from here,

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