Page 64 of Dear Pink

Her clueless date turns and gives us a glassy stare. We overhear him ask, “Are you sick?” Elise sulks and pushes her food away.

We order every sushi special on the menu and share them, and when the check comes, I have my wallet this time. Hannah jokes that she secretly hoped the manager would force us to wash dishes to pay for our meal. The moment stretches while we beam at one another.

After dinner, she proposes frozen yogurt for dessert, and I’ve found my soulmate. Yolo Froyo is only a couple of blocks away.

I unlock my bike, and while we walk to the corner, I catch her staring at me.

“What? Do I have sushi in my teeth?”

“Are you trying to save the planet?” she asks.

“Why?”

She giggles. “You ride your bike all over Dallas.”

“Have you been following me?”

“You’re avoiding the question. Is this an environmental issue?”

“Would that be a deal-breaker?”

“Why? Do we have some type ofdeal?”

She gives me a sideways smile. She’s really going to make me repeat it.

“Will you be my girlfriend, Hannah?”

“Can I wear your letterman jacket?”

I plop my helmet on her head. “How about this.” It’s way too big for her and covers half of her face.

“I can’t see.” She reaches for my arm, and I remove the helmet. Her disheveled hair reminds me of our last moments together in bed. I imagine throwing her over my shoulder like a caveman and having my way with her.

“What about a Ferocious Felines T-shirt instead?” I say.

“Only if you plaster ‘Gabe’s Girlfriend’ on the back.”

“Done. Should I get your name tattooed across my chest too?”

“It’s the romantic thing to do, don’t you think?” Her laugh is explosive.

We get to the yogurt shop, and I already have a sugar high. She makes me giddy. Our connection is special, unlike any other. I lean my bike against the big picture window and scoop her into my arms. She yelps in delight when I carry her over the threshold.

“Now, that’s what I call romantic,” she says when I lower her feet to the floor.

“Will I have to carry you over every threshold from now on?”

“I would expect no less.” She winks, and my heart rate increases. I’d carry her for hours if it means she will keep gazing at me this way. Happiness glitters in her eyes.

The guy at the counter hands us three tasting containers.

“I’m going to require more sample cups, please,” she says to the guy. Yep, she’s my soulmate.

He hands her three more small containers, and I ask for the same.

“These flavors are insane,” she says, filling her first cup with Strawberry-Jalapeño. “Yum.” She licks her lips, and I lean in to lick the rest off. “Yummmm,” she says, moaning with pleasure. The way she sounds gives me an instant hard-on. At this rate, we’ll never get through the tasting cups.

“I’ve found the winner.” She points to the Maple Bacon Doughnut flavor.

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