Chapter 18: After the L Drop“My words get me in trouble sometimes,” Pepper said. “Actually, a lot. I shouldn’t have—”
“No. I reacted…My fault…It was just unexpected, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry, can we just pretend—”
“No. No, you don’t…You can’t take it back, Pepper.”
“Well, you’re all freaked out. I feel like it’s my fault.”
I lifted my head and began straightening myself out to lie beside her. “You can’t take it back,” I said. “Because, I love you. I’m just too chickenshit to say it first.”
I felt a tear leaking from my eye. It dropped on Pepper’s shoulder before she could see it. She reached out and wiped it away anyway.
“It’s fine,” I said.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m just a little verklempt.”
“Ver—what?”
“Overwhelmed. You’ve never?”
Pepper shook her head.
“Hmm.”
“You gonna be
