Page 92 of It's in the Contract
I grab my phone off the end table by my bed, open Instagram, and the first thing that pops up is the video of me falling. It’s going viral. I close my eyes again, feeling a headache pound my temples. Hopefully the Ibuprofen will help with that, too.
How can people be so cruel? I was hurt, and it’s somehow becoming a big joke.
I’m almost asleep when there’s a knock on the door. “I’m fine, Mom,” I say, but the door opens, and Zeke enters the room. He’s wearing a Lord of the Rings hoodie and a sheepish expression, his large brown eyes uncertain.
I sit up straighter, suddenly keenly aware that my hair is in a messy topknot, and I’m lying in bed wearing sweats and a t-shirt. Not my best look. My nail polish is from yesterday, and it’s already chipping. I don’t even have on any perfume.
I clear my throat. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Zeke says. He’s holding something behind his back, and his face is adorably nervous. He enters the room and closes the door behind him.
I give him a half-smile. “I never got to thank you for being my rescuer.”
Zeke’s eyes meet mine, warm and brown. “I—it was nothing.”
I shake my head. “Not to me. What do you have there?”
Zeke steps forward. My headache begins to dissipate. Even my throbbing foot seems to feel better, but it could just be the Ibuprofen taking effect.
Zeke finally reveals what he has brought in one hand, the other hand still behind his back. He’s holding a venti pumpkin spice latte, complete with whipped cream, cinnamon, and sprinkles.
I gasp with delight, and Zeke places the drink into my hands. “I had to sneak it past your mom.”
“Thank you! This is exactly what I need today.” I go to take a sip, but then I see something written in chocolate swirls on top of the whipped cream.
Dance with me?
The writing is sloppy, and the cream is melting into the hot coffee, but the letters are still legible.
I look up at Zeke. “What’s this?” I say, even though my heart is pounding harder.
“Callie.” Zeke sits on the bed and starts fiddling with a loose blanket thread. “Why is this so hard?” He brings his other hand from behind his back, and he’s holding a small brown package. He hands it to me. “Here.”
I take the package, a lump forming in my throat. I open the small box, and there they are—the gorgeous blue earrings I was eyeing at Pike Place what feels like forever ago. I’d almost forgotten about them. “How did—what?—?”
“I saw you looking at these, and I went back for them. They’re for you,” Zeke says, all of it coming out in a rush.
I’m speechless. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.” My heart pounds hard in my chest. What is happening? I look up, not daring to hope that Zeke could be saying what I think he’s saying.
Zeke turns to me with an earnest expression. “Callie, will you go to Homecoming with me?”
I gasp, and my heart leaps with hope. “But—but I thought you didn’t want to get close to anyone. You’ll be moving at the end of the semester.” I don’t know why I’m bringing up his doubts. This is what I wanted, dreamed of, and longed for ever since he held me at the top of the world. I should be thrilled, but there’s a pit of uncertainty growing in my stomach, too.
Zeke smiles. “Shall I explain it to you like you’re an inebriated toddler?”
I smile weakly and take a sip of the coffee. I nod.
Zeke takes a deep breath. “I like you, Callie. I want you to be mine.”
I set the coffee down on my bedside table.
Zeke continues. “I know we’re different. I know I’m leaving at the end of the semester, and long distance sucks. If anyone knows how bad long distance sucks, it’s me. I know that this is ahuge risk for us both, and it’s going to be miserable, and you’re probably going to break my heart?—"
“Zeke—”
He holds up a hand. “And I know I said in the contract that we were only going to be fake friends, that I didn’t want to make any attachments. But, Callie, this—us—it’s real. I can’t deny my feelings for you any longer. And I’m willing to overlook all my fears if it means I get to be with you, for as long as we have.”
I gulp. Tears fill my eyes. “Zeke, I—”Yes. Callie, just say yes.
