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“I was in the yard. The door has glass.”

“You saw nothing.”

“I saw enough to know you’re not neutral.”

I went back to work.

Two hours later, my phone vibrated.

NOAH: Did you kiss me upstairs?

I stared at the message.

ME: Yes.

A minute passed.

NOAH: Thought so.

Another pause.

NOAH: Was checking whether that was a dream.

ME: Not a dream.

NOAH: Good.

I smiled at the phone.

NOAH: Date tonight?

ME: You may be exhausted.

NOAH: Quiet date.

ME: Define quiet.

NOAH: Dinner. Couch. Kissing. No lighthouse man.

I laughed aloud.

Caleb looked over from the ferry cable.

“Good news?”

“None of your business.”

My phone vibrated again.

NOAH: Also I think I like you more today.

The words brought everything around me to a halt.

Not love.

Not a recovered declaration.

Something better because it belonged entirely to the present.