Page 119 of Small Town Swoo
“Have you kissed her?”
“Um. Yeah.”
“French kissed her? Like, you touched tongues?”
“Yes,” I said, squirming a bit.
“And you liked it?”
I shook my head. “This is weird, you guys.”
“Dash.” Pinky put a fin on my arm. “You’re so in love with her.”
“Definitely,” said Alaska.
“It’s so obvious,” said Plum. “Haven’t you ever been in love before?”
“No,” I told them. “I’ve never said those words about anyone. I’ve never even thought them. But then, I’ve never felt this way either.”
“That makes sense,” said Pinky. “You need words you’ve never used to describe the feeling you’ve never felt.”
Alaska sighed. “I’ve been in love like ten times.”
“Same,” said Plum.
“So you never told her you love her?” asked Seven from where she was perched on the back of the couch.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I—I didn’t want it to be true.”
“Just because you don’t say a thing out loud doesn’t make it not true,” Scribble said.
“I realize that,” I said. “But the situation is complicated, okay?”
“No, it isn’t,” said Pinky. She snatched my phone. “What’s her number? Let’s call her. I vote you tell her now.”
“I second.”
“Thirdsy.”
“The matter is not up for a vote, you guys.” I grabbed my phone back. “We are not calling her.”
“Give us one good reason why not.”
“Because she asked me not to.”
Plum narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
“Nothing! It’s just that even if I did love her?—”
“You do,” said Scribble. “We’ve already established that.”
“And she loves you too.” Alaska pointed at the photo open on my phone, a selfie I’d snapped of us at the wedding. I was grinning at the camera but she was looking up at me, her expression one of pure adoration that even now made my chest tighten. “You can tell just by that picture.”
“Okay, but not every love story has a happy ending.” I felt triumphant delivering the final zinger.
