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He closed his eyes tightly and rested his hands on his hips, wishing he hadn’t even texted her.

His phone vibrated, and he checked it in a rush. She’d sent a picture, and what he saw in it froze him completely.

Jess had taken a selfie. She had her hair pulled halfway up, and she had make-up on that made her soft brown eyes look so pretty. Her smile was megawatt, and beside her, Raynah was grinning.

What the hell?

“Bathroom break,” he called over to Tommy.

“Oh, so we’re pretending you haven’t been on a break all friggin’ day now?” Tommy yelled as Kade strode for the restroom.

He was going to have to do better the second half of the day.You’re with Raynah?he typed out. Send.

Yeah, at that pizza place. We met for lunch. She’s giving me all the details of why the heck you probably ghosted me. Her theory is you are just a stupid boy being a stupid boy.

Me? Ghost you? I’ve been waiting for a text for two days. Send.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO TEXT ME. Also, I am bringing half a pizza home with me in case you happen to stop by since you are so hungry for it. I added extra tomatoes though because I’m sixty-nine percent mad at you.

He caught his reflection in the mirror, and he was wearing the dumbest grin right now. She’d been waiting for him to text? And he’d been waiting for her? Ha.How can I make it up to you?Send.Cash suggested showing you my six pack and seducing you. Send.

Interesting. I’m asking Raynah about you, and you’re asking Cash for advice on me?

Don’t get too excited. His answer was healing you with my “wiener” which, by the way, hearing that word from a grown man’s mouth just sounded messed up.Send.

She sent five laughing face emojis. Oh crap, she knew how to use emojis. He was going to have to learn how to do this. He opened up the emojis tab, looked through it, and then on a whim, sent her an octopus emoji and hoped for the best.

She sent a beaver emoji back to him, and then he sent an eggplant, and---ahhh! The door opened and Cash shoved his head in. “How’s it going?”

“Dude, go away.”

“Is it your girlfriend?” he whisper-screamed, pointing to his phone.

“You know her name. You helped rescue her.”

“Oh yeah. Is that Jess?”

“She’s hanging out with Raynah. What does that mean?”

“That she’s probably going to get eaten by a crocodile? Because Raynah is a crocodile?”

“I can’t talk to you. I’m emoji-ing right now.” Kade sent Jess a crocodile emoji, and two donuts.

“Dude, you’re doing that all wrong,” Cash pointed out.

“I don’t need your help.”

“Clearly you do.” Cash snatched the phone and began reading out loud as he typed. “I…miss…your…titties—”

“Cash!” Kade barked, grabbing the phone back before Cash could hit the send button. “Fuck off.”

“Here, give me your phone and I’ll take a picture of you with your shirt off.”

“What? No.”

“She’ll like it. Trust me.”

“Cash, please leave me alone.”