The Art of Catching Feelings

by Alicia Thompson

Freckles had been her nemesis since she was in second grade.

If for any reason she did take the wheel—like if he’d had too much to drink and she’d had to drive them home—he would berate her the entire time, pointing out yellow lights she could’ve made it through or demanding why she hadn’t turned down a particular street.

Fuck that guy

“I just want someone to know me,” Daphne said. “To love me for who I am but to also push me to be who I want to be.”

seventy-five percent of her pictures were of her cat, twenty percent of books, and the remaining five percent were screenshots of memes she thought were funny.

Same

And not with some guy you have absolutely zero chance of a future with.” That got Daphne to lift her head. “What do you mean by that?” “Come on,” Kim said. “He’s a professional athlete. He makes stupid money throwing a ball around and probably has just as many women throwing themselves at him. It’s nothing against you. It’s just…how’s it going to be when the novelty wears off, you know? And you’re stuck in another Justin situation where you worship the ground he walks on and he barely even thinks about you.”

Wow, fuck off Kim

She curled up on her bed, grateful when Milo immediately jumped up to lie next to her, even if he did go with the butthole-in-her-face orientation he seemed to vastly prefer.

Lmao

She was half-tempted to text him something suggestive herself, like just got into bed—made me think of you.

Do it

D: I mean, you did make me uncomfortable. Just in a different way.

HORNED UP

D: Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Hanging up now. “Wait,” he said. Daphne gripped the phone, her palm already slick. “Don’t hang up. Please.”

HELL YEAH

“I’ll tell you every way I’ve imagined this,” Chris said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll tell you everything I want you to do. I know you have to be quiet—but I don’t.”

Hot

“Obviously I wouldn’t use anything with batteries,” she said. “I live in the modern era. All my toys are rechargeable with USB.”

“Fuck. I knew you weren’t wearing a bra.” “I knew you were looking.”

“Worship me next time,” she said. “Tonight I just want you to fuck me.”

Hell yeah

That time gave Chris the opportunity to stop by the store and grab the ingredients the online recipe he’d found told him he needed to make chicken carbonara. It had been described as “easy,” “delicious,” and “date-night worthy,” so he certainly hoped all that was true.

Ugh I love a man cooking

“But isn’t it just as foolish to throw it all away, just because you’re mad? If you love her, then you should be with her. This isn’t reason enough not to be.”

Sometimes I think you believe you don’t deserve that joy, but you do.

She put her hand in his, and just the feel of his strong fingers wrapping around hers, his other hand gripping her waist…it felt like that first time back in your own bed after spending nights in a hotel.

You’re the book I want to reread. For the rest of my life.”