Page 63 of The One

You guys have all of college together. We don’t.

Me

I’ve lived with you for 18 years, Pen. I even shared a womb with you. You act like we’ve only had minutes together.

Penelope

We’re not 18 for a few more days.

Me

Close enough.

Penelope

Stop texting me and go have fun on your date.

Me

Love you.

Penelope

Love you way more. (You’re still an asshole though.)

The sound of the door opening caused me to look up, and I slipped my phone back inside my purse. Rhett was placing a big bag in the backseat, making sure it was secure before he climbed into the front.

I turned around to inspect it. “What’s that?”

“Food.” He reversed out of the spot and pulled onto the road.

“I see that, silly.” Even though the bag was large, there was no way it was holding a pizza box. “I thought we were getting pizza?”

“Change of plans.”

“Change of … plans?”

He slowed at the light and looked at me. “I wanted to do something a little different tonight. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

It was dark outside and in the car, so I couldn’t really see his face. The traffic light and the adjacent vehicle lit random spots, giving me hints of his expression. But it was enough that I could see his smile and how huge it was.

One so big and addictive that my lips tugged wide. “I don’t mind at all.”

He reached for my hand and brought it up to his mouth. “You see, there’s a certain someone in this car who’s turning eighteen next week.”

“I wonder who that could be.”

He kissed my thumb. “It can’t be me. My eighteenth birthday was last month.”

I giggled. “I guess that leaves only one other person.”

“We’re going to be in school over your birthday, Lainey. I thought we could celebrate tonight. Not with your sister and our friends and family. Just us.”

I didn’t know how it was possible, but my grin was even bigger.

“Does that mean we’re not going to the movies?”

He kissed the tops of my other fingers. “No, we’re not going to the movies.” He nibbled on my middle knuckle. “Unless you’re dead set on seeing—shit, I don’t even remember what you said you wanted to see.”