Page 51 of Romeo

His next text came quickly.

Jasper: That second one sounds made up.

Me: It’s real

Jasper: Favorite color?

Me: Green.

Jasper: Dark green or light green?

I stared at the screen, shaking my head.

Why did the shade matter?

Me: Deep green. Like pine trees after rain.

That felt oddly specific after I sent it. Like I’d handed him something instead of answering a question.

Jasper: Favorite candy?

Me: You’re asking a lot of questions

Jasper: I’m thorough.

That was one word for it.

Me: Chocolate-covered caramels.

Jasper: Noted.

I narrowed my eyes at the phone.

Me: Why are you noting it?

Jasper: No reason.

Me: Jasper

Jasper: Fiona.

I could almost hear the amusement in his voice.

Me: You’re impossible

Jasper: Yet you keep answering me.

He wasn’t wrong. I could’ve ignored him. Could’ve told him he was being weird. Instead, I’d just given him my favorite flowers, favorite color, and favorite candy without making him work very hard for any of it. He’d become so easy to talk to that I didn’t think about what to say. The answers just slipped out.

I put the phone down and stared at my calculus book.

Peonies.

Ranunculus.

Deep green.

Chocolate-covered caramels.