Caleb: You’re right. That’d make this whole us-making-out-all-the-time thing pretty awkward.

Me: And gross. Let’s not forget gross.

Caleb: I thought that was obvious.

Me: It is.

Me: But Caleb? I’d really like to hear the story some time. Even if it’s a sordid tale, I want to know more about you. I want to learn about your past and your aspirations for the future. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve kind of taken a liking to you.

Caleb: Do you give all the people you like black eyes?

Me: Oh my god. How many times do I have to apologize? I was asleep when I elbowed you!

Caleb: “Asleep”

Caleb: I’ll tell you one of these days, Zoe.

Me: Thank you. <3

Caleb: Did you just less than three me?

Me: Shut up.

Me: What do you think about these throw pillows?

Me: DOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT

Caleb: I try very hard not to think about throw pillows at all.

Me: BE HELPFUL DAMMIT.

Me: Give me your opinion.

Caleb: Funny. Last time I tried to give you my opinion, you told me how they’re just like assholes.

Me: I’m sorry. I mean, I was right, but I’m saying sorry now because I want your help.

Caleb: I like your honesty.

Me: Great. So, what do you think about the pillows?

Caleb: They’re fine.

Me: Fine as in “they look good” or fine as in “ew no”? Because there are two very different things, you know.

Caleb: Oh, I know. I’ve lived with you long enough now to know the many, MANY different meanings certain words and phrases have.

Caleb: And they are fine as in they look good. Sky blue fits us.

Me: Back the truck up. What exactly do you mean by “many different meanings”? Elaborate.

Caleb: No, because you know exactly what I’m talking about, and I know if I “elaborate” I’m somehow incriminating myself, allowing this conversation to be used against me in the future.

Me: Oh wow. Is THAT how you think of me? That I’ll just hold on to one tiny conversation for ages and ages and then BAM! Bring it up when you least expect it and throw it in your face?

Caleb: Yes.

Me: Smart man.

Caleb: SEE!

Me: HEY! I was kidding. Mostly.

Caleb: MOSTLY she says.

Me: So, sky blue then?

Caleb: Sky blue is fine with me.

Me: Like FINE fine or…?

Me: ;-)

Caleb: Goddammit, Zoe.

Caleb: Well, it’s done. I officially sold my bike.

Me: YOU WHAT!

Me: Why?

Caleb: I have to pay for physical therapy and these fucking medical bills somehow.

Caleb: Bike had to go. I got a pretty penny, so it’ll help.

Me: And what are you going to do for transportation now?

Caleb: Bus. Walk. Exchange kisses for rides.

Me: Well hell. That really sucks. I’m sorry you had to get rid of it.

Me: But I hope you’re only exchanging those kisses with me…

Caleb: We’ll see.

Me: Uh huh. I’ll remember that tonight when you try to kiss me or get fresh with me.

Caleb: Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Getting fresh?

Me: It’s what I call it. Like father, like daughter. Get over it.

Caleb: I think you were born in the wrong decade. You should have been born in the mid 80s so you could have grown up as a true 90s child. That would have been a good decade for you. You and your weirdness and those fucking denim coveralls you wear when you paint would fit in just fine.

Me: DON’T YOU DARE MAKE FUCK OF MY DENIM!

Caleb: Make fuck of?

Me: FUN OF.

Me: You knew what I meant, you ass.

Caleb: Sometimes with you it can be quite the guessing game.

Me: Are you saying I’m difficult? *cracks knuckles*

Caleb: Yes, but in, like, a good way.

Me: That’s what I thought. Kisses! Gotta run!

Caleb: She threatens me and then runs off. Da fuck.

Me: You love it.

Caleb: I thought you were leaving?

Me: I would if you’d shut up already!

Caleb: So sassy today.

Me: SHHH!

Caleb: Fine, fine. I’m being quiet now.

Me: Doesn’t seem like it to me.

Caleb: Stop answering me then!

Me: Never. I love having the last word.

Caleb: You don’t say.

Me: I do.

Me: ;-)

Me: Hey Caleb…

Caleb: What do you want?

Me: How’d you know I wanted something?

Caleb: Your tone suggested it.

Me: Ah, yes, I forgot all about that superpower of yours.

Caleb: Well, spill it.

Me: Can you do me a solid and pick up a pizza on the way home?

Caleb: Pizza? You want PIZZA?!

Me: Pleeeeeeease? *bats lashes*

Caleb: Sigh. Fine. We can have pizza.

Me: YES! Double cheese and pepperoni and green peppers.

Caleb: Ham and pineapple or no deal.

Me: You’re going to make me barf.

Caleb: Then no deal.

Me: Caleb…

Caleb: FINE. Just this once.

Me: You’re the best.

Caleb: BUT, I’m going to knock on the door and pretend I’m the pizza man. You have to answer in your sexiest pair of pajamas. Deal?

Me: Deal.

A knock sounds at the door and I grin.

Game on, Caleb.

“Who is it?” I say in the huskiest voice I can manage.

Caleb chokes out a laugh. “Pizza boy, ma’am!”

I wait five seconds before swinging open the apartment door.

“My, a special delivery just for me?”

His mouth drops open. “That’s your sexiest pair of pajamas?”

“Yep.”

“Well played, Zoe.” He shakes his head, amused. “Well played.”

I do a curtsy and grab the pizza he’s holding. “Thank you.”

He did the say the sexiest pair of pajamas, not the pair I look sexiest in. Wearing jammies with a topless Captain America on them is technically me wearing my sexiest set.

“I’m going to need to watch my words with you, huh?”

“It wouldn’t hurt.” I stand on my tiptoes and place a quick peck on his lips before grabbing his shirt and pulling him inside.

There’s a flash of surprise on his face, which is understandable since this is one of the first times I’ve initiated a kiss between us, but he quickly brushes it off and closes the door behind him, trailing behind me as I make my way to the kitchen counter.

I drop the pizza and open a cabinet, pulling down two plates before grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge. I set everything down in the front of where Caleb’s seated.

“Dig in.”

We each grab two pieces and stuff our mouths full of gooey cheese and pepperoni.

“So,” Caleb starts, “I talked with my manager about that little Outer Banks trip we discussed the other day.”

“And?”

“He’s cool with me taking the time off. They had only planned to schedule me for one day while we plan to be gone and one of the other women who works there just happens to need a few extra hours.”

“Does this mean we’re going?”

“If you promise me that meeting your parents isn’t going to be an awkward nightmare, then yes.”

“I make no promises.” I clap my hands together and squeal. “Eep! I am so excited! This is going to be so much fun!”

“What are we going to do besides each other?” He waggles his brows up and down. “Kidding. But really.”

“First, no bangin’. Second, we can shop or get facials or—”

“I have a feeling your version of a facial isn’t my version of a facial.”

I wink his way. “Guess we’ll find out, huh?”

“Zoe!”

“What! You started it!”

“Yeah, but I was kidding.”

I feign surprise. “Oh, uh, yeah, me too.” He nearly chokes on his pizza. “Kidding, kidding! You’re the one being pervy. I didn’t know you were so dirty, Caleb.”

“I’m not. Well, maybe a little, but not like creepy pervy.”

“Well that’s good to hear. No one likes creepy pervy.”

I take another bite of my pizza and think about how I want to approach what I need to tell Caleb next.

“So…”

“Yes?”

“I, um, I went to visit Delia the other day.”

He grabs for another slice of pizza. “Cool. How’d that go?”

“It was good. We talked.”

“About what?”

I don’t say anything, instead grabbing for my water and downing nearly half the bottle.

“Zoe,” he presses after several moments of silence.

“We talked about you.”

“About me?”

I nod. “And my blossoming, um…feelings for you.”

His eyes sparkle with amused mischief as he runs a hand across the stubble on his face, pretending to be perplexed. “You have feelings for me, huh? And here I thought you just wanted me for my good looks. I wasn’t aware it ran deeper.”

“You know damn well it’s about more than your looks, Caleb.”

He grins. “I was hoping so.”

I turn my head, not wanting him to see the blush creeping up my face, but he seeks me out, reaching for my chin and pulling my attention back to him. His midnight blue eyes flick between my hazel ones and my lips.

“Because it runs deeper for me, Zoe—a lot deeper.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and dart my tongue out to wet my dry lips. “Good.”