Chapter 126

Fiona met me at the door, a wide smile on her face. “Thank God,” she said, dragging me into the room. Her roommate was out with her girlfriend for the night, and we had the place all to ourselves. “We need some girl time!”

“I know,” I said, with as much enthusiasm. Things with Matt and my brother had made it difficult for me to see Fiona. Sure, we had classes together, but that wasn’t the same as having one-on-one time. Fiona meant a lot to me, and I didn’t want to let our friendship fall between the cracks. I wasn’t lying when I told Jack that I didn’t want to be one of those girls who forgot about their friends just because they had a boyfriend.

I dropped my duffle bag and backpack off in her bedroom and shrugged off my coat. I’d come over already dressed in my comfy clothes, and I sank into Fiona’s wide, comfortable couch. She took the seat next to me, an array of DVDs in her hand.

“I’ve got some great movies for us to choose from,” she said, pushing them across the couch to me. “We should make margaritas!”

She jumped up before I could respond, disappearing into the kitchen. I’d never had a margarita before, but I wasn’t about to argue. I wanted to drink and watch girly movies with my best friend, just like everyone else my age did. I didn’t get why different rules had to apply to me.

I pulled the movies toward me and surveyed the covers. They were all at least a decade old, not to mention that they were DVDs. Fiona refused to get Netflix. She said she didn’t want to pay for it, and I sort of understood.

I picked two that I knew I liked and left it up to her to make the final decision. The blender started up in the kitchen, and a few minutes later, she returned with two glasses. The clear greenish liquid filled the glass to the brim, and she handed it to me carefully. I took a small sip, then immediately made a face.

“Sorry,” she said after she drank deeply from hers. “I may have overdone it with the Tequila.”

“It’s a little strong.” I took another small sip, then put the cold glass down on the table beside me. I liked it, but I knew I should probably take it slow. My tolerance was low.

“So, where were you? I didn’t see you the rest of the day.”

Fiona texted me when I didn’t show up for class, but I just told her I’d fill her in when I saw her next. Waiting a full day wasn’t good enough apparently because she immediately invited me over for a sleepover.

“I was with Matt.”

She nodded like she was expecting this. “I noticed he wasn’t around today either.”

“He got in a bit of an accident,” I said, fibbing the truth a little. I still didn’t know what really happened. “He’s fine, but he has a minor concussion.” I didn’t bother telling her about his arm. According to Matt, he healed a lot faster than the average human. It would be suspicious if Fiona thought his arm was broken, and he showed up a week later good as new.

“But he’s going to be fine?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I spent the day with him. I think he just needs some rest.”

Fiona gave me a half-smile. “I’m glad he’s okay, but you have a lot of explaining to do.” I must have looked confused because she quickly amended her statement. “You guys are suddenly hot and heavy. I know you were taking things slow, so I’m just a bit confused. Not that I’m against it or anything.”

“We are taking it slow,” I mumbled.

“Uh-huh.” She gave me a dubious look. “That’s why you’ve been joined at the hip.”

“He’s just worried that Alyx will try to approach me again.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Look, you and I both know that’s not the full reason. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You guys clearly love each other.”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment, and she clapped her hands together in glee. “Oh my God, you guys have said it to each other, haven’t you? I knew it.”

“Yes, we’ve said it.”

She raised her glass to me, a wide grin on her face. “About damn time.” I clinked my glass against hers and took a larger sip, the liquor burning my throat. “I knew you guys were going to get over your issues eventually. You’re so cute together!”

“Really?” I said, suddenly feeling insecure again.

“Really! The cutest couple ever. You have to give me all the details.” She looked surreptitiously around, even though we both knew we were the only ones here. “Have you guys done it yet?”

“Done what?” I replied, feigning innocence.

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, don’t make me have to pry for details.”

“I thought you liked prying?”

She grinned again and took another long drink. Her glass was nearly empty by the time she put it down. “Usually I do, but tonight let’s skip to the part where you tell me everything.” I hesitated, and she gave me a pleading look. “Please, my love life has been so uneventful recently. Let me live vicariously through you.”

Fiona was seeing one guy for a few months, but that ended a couple of weeks ago. Something about being fundamentally incompatible. She dated her first boyfriend all through high school, and sometimes I thought she regretted their breakup. They decided to end things when they both went to college, but I knew she kept in touch with him sometimes.

“We haven’t done it yet,” I said, putting her out of her misery. “We’ve just made out basically, and we hooked up at Jack’s party a little when we first met.”

“But nothing since?”

I shook my head. “Not since the truth about Rose came out. We wanted to take things slow.”

“By now you’re regretting that decision,” she said, reading it on my face.

“I guess.” I sighed deeply and took another sip of my drink. “We almost hooked up the other night, but I ended up backing out. I don’t know, I guess I got nervous.”

“That’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time.”

“I know.” I bit my lip. “And, well, there’s this other thing…” I trailed off, not sure what to say. Maybe it was a bad idea to tell her about my promise to Jack. That just opened a whole other can of worms.

“What other thing?” she prompted.

“I promised Jack that I wouldn’t have sex until I was twenty. It was part of our agreement when he agreed to let me date Matt.”

Fiona made a disgusted fate. “I don’t see how that’s your brother’s business. Plus, it shouldn’t be up to him who you do or do not date.”

“I know,” I said. She was right, but it was more complicated than that. “It seemed important to him. I don’t know why, but it was just easier to agree. I know you don’t totally understand my relationship with Jack, but he’s the only family I have.”

She toyed with her lip for a moment. “It’s just a little weird, Celeste. Why should he have an invested interest in your virginity?”

“I don’t know.”

“Look, if you’re not ready, then don’t have sex. It’s important that you feel totally comfortable and ready before you do anything, but I also don’t want you to shy away from it just because of a weird promise you made to your brother. If you want to sleep with Matt, then that’s your business.”

“I know,” I said, twirling the liquid in my glass. I watched it swish around, so I didn’t have to look at her. “I know you’re right. I just don’t know what I’m doing.” It felt uncomfortable to admit that to her, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet her eyes.

“No one does the first time,” she reassured me. “If you’re with the right person, you’ll feel comfortable enough to ask questions. Matt’s not going to expect you to know how to do everything.”

“I know.”

“Plus, I’m here. If you have any questions, just ask.”

I threw her a grateful look. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” she said. She must have noticed my obvious discomfort because her eyes strayed to the two DVDs I’d selected. “Now, why don’t we watch one of these?”

I followed her gaze, grateful for the change of subject. “Sounds good to me.”