Page 81 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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he mock-gasps, and grasps the pendant

like he’s clutching a string of pearls.

“I guess I did.” I laugh, proud of myself.

“Wow, you’re so bold.”

He rubs the pendant

between his thumb and index finger.

“Do you like it?” I ask.

“This pendant,” he replies,

“or your flirting?”

I shake my head and roll my eyes:

he knows what I mean.

“Yeah, I like it,” he says,

with his dog-toothed smile.

His foot finds mine under the table.

“I like you, Kai.

Me gustas mucho.”

Oh,Obi.

I feel a different kind

of heat rise in my body,

from my feet to my blushing face.

“¡Muy bien!” I say.

“I like you a lot, too.”

I feel so lucky.

I feel surer about Obi

than I ever did about Matt or Kwesi.

I could never have imagined this moment

happening with either of them.

I can barely believe it’s happening

with Obi right now.

Monday: Doe-Eyed—After School—Vass’s Bedroom

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