Malia: Is that pink??? Surely it’s just pink flavoured white chocolate?
Cove: What does pink taste like?
Malia: I don’t know. Strawberry? Raspberry? Maybe candy floss.
Cove: You mean cotton candy.
Malia: Whatever. Well, is it?
Cove: Nope! I’m afraid you’re wrong, pretty girl. It’s Ruby chocolate.
Malia: Ruby?!
Cove: Wait until you try it. Gotta go. My turn in line’s next. Text me when you’ve tried it. In fact, call me before you take the first bite. I want to hear you enjoy it.
He signs off that last message with a winking emoji that makes my cheeks heat.
Yeah, no, I won’t be doing that.
“You don’t look distressed.”
I drop my phone with a squeak of surprise, which makes Summer laugh, even as she’s frowning at me with her hands on her hips.
“What’s up, MT? What are you wearing? And what are you doing…here?”
“You want to say, what am I doing out of my room, don’t you?”
“No. I’m just…surprised.”
“Me too.”
“Are you okay?”
“I am now. I, erm, went to class…”
“That’s amazing! Well done! I’m so proud of y—”
“But it all got a bit too much,” I cut in. “So I came here and messaged you.”
Pity shoots through her gaze before she schools it and smiles at me. “It’s still progress, Malia.”
“I know.”
“So what do you want to do now? We could go and get a coffee if you wanted?”
I pull a face. No way. Going to class is a necessary evil. The library is a haven, of sorts. Socialising? Not on my radar.
“Thanks, but if you don’t mind, I’d just like to go to my room. Take baby steps, you know?”
She nods frantically.
“Only, I’m locked out. I didn’t grab my keys this morning. I sort of…didn’t think things through.”
I don’t know why I’m so reluctant to mention Bhodi to Summer, but there it is.
“I have my key, don’t worry. How about I come back to your room with you and let you in.” It’s not really a question, I know that’s what we're going to do.
“Thanks. Sorry.”