Page 67 of Spicy Ever After

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“But I’m only doing this because you said you shared yours with Camille on your first date with Merrick,” I say defensively.

“And every first date before that,” she tells me, but I can hear the smile in her voice when she mutters, “Thank God those days are over.”

My scowl vanishes. Because that’s pretty cute. It makes me happy that she’s so happy.

“Okay, now I’m hanging up,” I say.

“Bye, Hattie. BYE, BECK! I HOPE WE GET TO MEET SOO?—”

But I end the call. She’s way too loud.

And, apparently this is hilarious, because Beck tips his head back with a belly laugh. It’s better than cheesecake.

My phone buzzes with a text.

Margaret: We still need to talk about you making out in public. Call me when you get home.

I fire off a quick reply.

Me: DO NOT TELL MOM AND DAD!

Margaret: Why would I need to tell them anything if you call me back???

I sigh.

Me: I’LL CALL YOU BACK. AFTER MY DATE.

Margaret: Have fun. PG kissing only.

“So it’s not just to me,” Beck says, eying the screen of my phone.

I blink. “What’s not just to you?”

He nods toward the device in my hand. “The caps lock.”

“Oh. That.” I roll my eyes. “I know everyone else hates it, but all caps is inherently superior. It’s simple. It’s clear. There’s no random case rules. Like ‘I.’ Why is ‘I’ capitalized, but not ‘me’ or ‘you’? How does that make sense?”

Beck’s grin is falling somewhere between surprised and… and… I don’t know what.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I blurt.

He squints his eyes, the look a little sassy. “I never said I hated it.”

“Y-you don’t?!”

Beck shakes his head, pleased with himself. “Nope. I like it. It’s like I can hear your voice in the all-caps texts.”

I wince. “Yeah. Grandma Eloise once said that even my texts were too loud.”

Now Beck frowns. “I don’t think I’m a fan of Grandma Eloise.”

That same team feeling? It comes back in a giddy rush. Like my blood cells have taken up surfing.

“She’s a cranky old twat,” I say jubilantly. And, let’s face it, loudly.

Beck falls apart laughing. I fall with him.

God. This is the best feeling.

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