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“Probably not. There was no…”

“Fireworks?”

He glances down at me. “Fireworks. It was more like those popping snappers you were entertained with as a child, fun for the briefest of moments.”

“When you put it like that…”

“It sounds sad? I know. So, I’m happy we traveled down the path we did. Everything worked out as it should have.”

“Are you always so optimistic?”

“Nah. I have my fair share of ‘woe is me’ days.” He shrugs. “But I try to, ya know, keep myself cheery and all that.”

“I like that. Reminds me of my Zoe.”

“Ah, the butt-toucher.”

I laugh. “That’d be her. She’s a wild one butsomuch fun.”

“I could tell.” Zach chuckles as I yawn in the middle of him talking. “Two coffees weren’t enough?”

“I had a late night last night. We did a midnight showing and I was one of the closers. I took a quick nap after my last class, but I had this date with a cute nerdy guy so I had to get up.”

“Yeah? And how did that go?”

I shrug. “I’ve had better.”

“Admit it, this is the coolest date you’ve ever been on.”

“I don’t know… My first date was at a theme park. That one is hard to top.”

“A theme park? Pssh. I can rent you anentiretheme park.”

“You cannot.”

He winks. “I’ll never tell.”

I roll my eyes and pull him back down the sidewalk. “Come on, Romeo. Take me home before I fall asleep and snore or something.”

Eleven

“Delia.”

Shake.

“Deeeeeelia.”

Shake.

“DELIA!”

I shoot up with alarm zinging through me. “EARTHQUAKE!”

A boisterous guffaw fills the space and I survey the area, discovering I’m inside Zach’s car.

Crap. I must have fallen asleep.

“Did I snore?” I ask.