Page 50 of The Love Proposal

To Summer

This day is the worst

Little chance of getting her to reply, as I’m sure phones are also banned on the female side of the spa, but what can I say? I’m an optimist by nature.

Half an hour later, while I lie in a chaise sipping my third herbal tea of the day, a soft vibration shakes my pocket. I check the screen and see with a jolt of pleasure that it’s a text from Summer.

From Summer

Why? Did your massage suck or something?

Leaning on my side to shelter the phone from view with my back, I compose a quick reply.

To Summer

No, I was talking about food. I had to eat those stupid raisins at breakfast and now all they’re giving me to drink is herbal tea

From Summer

Herbal tea is actually good for you. But I get why you’re not a fan of raisins

To Summer

They’re the worst invention ever made

Why would someone in their right mind take nice grapes and turn them into shriveled-down dead droppings set free into the world to ruin all the best foods?

Summer sends me an emoji of a crying and laughing cat.

From Summer

I hate them only when I grab a cookie thinking it’s chocolate chips and find raisins instead

To Summer

Oh, that’s the worst

How’s the spa day going?

From Summer

I snuck into the locker room

I already had my massage and if I stayed in a Jacuzzi any longer I’d be sprouting gills

To Summer

Can you get away unnoticed?

From Summer

Why? Can you?

To Summer

Say the word and I’m outta here

I delete the answer and re-type it three times. I stare at it, letting my thumb hang over the send button. Am I making a mistake here?