Page 73

Thirty-six
Henley
When I finally walk into the apartment, Ifindthat my stuff has been unpacked and my luggage neatly stored in the closet. There’s a note card propped up against a gift basket filled with wine and cheese, next to a set of car keys.
You didn’t think I was going to
let you take the bus, did you?
Love you,
Jer
My phone rings. Speak of the devil.
“Did it work?” Jeremy says by way of greeting. “Did you do it?”
“Hello to you too,” I grumble, bending down to pull off one of my heels.
“Yeah, yeah—hello—did you do it?” I can hear Gregg in the background—Ohmygod this is so Gossip Girl—and imagine them in pigtails, huddled around the phone like a couple of twelve-year-old girls at a slumber party.
“If you mean did I manage to trick Conner into taking my virginity,” I say, sighing when I release my other foot from its Chanel prison. “Then yes—I did it.”
Que the twelve-year-old slumber party squeals.
“You have to tell us everything.” Gregg’s voice comes through, loud and clear. He must’ve taken the phone from Jeremy. “Was it fantastic?” before I can answer he groans. “Oh, god—was it horrible?”
I want to answer. I want to be as excited and relieved as they are. I want to give them every juicy detail. But I can’t because what I did was wrong. Conner made it perfectly clear that if he’d known who I was, he never would’ve touched me.
Which is why I lied in the first place.
And around and around we go.
“It was the best sex of my life.” Wedging the phone between my ear and my shoulder, I gather my shoes and carry them across the living room while they both laugh at me.
“It’s funny because you’ve never had sex before,” Gregg wheezes between gulps of laughter.
I hear Jeremy sigh—jackass—before taking the phone back. “Seriously, sweetie—was he... nice? Was it what you hoped it would be?”
Was it what I hoped it would be?
No.
But it was what I asked for.
Before I can embarrass myself by bursting into tears, my phone buzzes. Pulling it away from my ear I see a text message from Tess.
Tess: Meet up for
drinks?
She doesn’t say where but she doesn’t have to. I know where she’ll want to go. She’ll want to go to Gilroy’s.
Repositioning the phone, I sigh into the receiver. “Look, I just got in, and I’m beat—can I call you guys back tomorrow?”
“Uh...” Now I can imagine them giving each other scowling, worried looks like a couple of old mother hens but I resist the urge to put their minds at ease. If I tell them I’m going to Conner’s family bar, they’ll text me non-stop for a play by play. “Sure, sweetie. Call us back when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, guys—and Jer,” I say, sinking onto the bed. “Thanks for the car.”
"We love you," Gregg called out. "Be careful."
Too late.
I shoot Tess a quick text.
Me: see you in an hour.