Jovie: REED AND ROSE!!
Jovie: We saw them together at the concert!!
Jovie: He said he’s her boyfriend right in front of everyone!!
Jovie: He had his arms around her and everything!!!
Jovie: She’s so pretty
Jovie: Do you think she has a friend for Dad?
Luke: Time for bed
Jovie: Rude!
Nathan: Okay, the nugget took the wind out of my sails, but yes
Nathan: Reed and Rose are dating
Nathan: I was going to tease it a little more, build the anticipation
Nathan: But now you know
Mom: This is good news!
Dad: Finally!
Lucy: Are you sure about this?
Nathan: Did you not see the nugget’s all-caps messages?
Nathan: We were standing right there and witnessed it
Graham: You’re playing with fire to announce it in the family chat
Nathan: Jovie would have said something if I didn’t
Luke: Having less impulse control than a ten-year-old isn’t a flex
Dad: Let’s agree not to mention it to your brother
Dad: Reed won’t like everyone in his business
Reed: No, I don’t
**Nathan has left the chat**
7
reed
It doesn’t happen often,but I might have been overly optimistic when I told Rose that letting people think we’re dating wouldn’t be a problem. I’m pretty sure you have to know how to fool people to pull off something like that, and she just doesn’t have the gene for it.
I’m working the front counter at Perk Me Up with Troy when Rose arrives for her shift. She slips into the back to put her things away and pull on an apron, and joins us a minute later. She waves at Troy but turns to me, smiling extra wide. A beat passes, and she rolls on the balls of her feet as if she’s waiting for something.
“Hey…you.” She slow-motion punches me in the shoulder.
A totally natural girlfriend greeting.
