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fourteen

Olive

Lane

Hey, Ballerina

Olive

Hi, Hotshot

Did you enjoy the rest of your solo night?

Lane

I certainly did

Watched a movie and just hung out in bed

Olive

What movie?

Lane

Black Swan

Olive

You watched a ballet movie?

Lane

What can I say

Ballet is piquing my interest lately

Olive

I wonder why that is

Lane

Well, see, my daughter takes ballet lessons

Olive

That makes sense

Lane

But she also has a really cute ballet teacher

Olive

Lane!

Lane

Olive!

Olive

You’re such a flirt

Lane

Only speaking the truth, Ballerina

Olive

I don’t know what to say to that

Lane

Just accept the compliment, Liv

I meant what I said

Olive

Okay…

Lane

Sage just got back a little bit ago

She keeps asking about you

Olive

What is she asking?

Lane

When she gets to see “Owive” again

And asking if “Owive” can come to have a “swummer party”

Olive

A slumber party?

Lane

Precisely

Olive

Is that a good idea?

Lane

Why wouldn’t it be?

Sage just wants to spend time with you

Honestly, so do I

Do you have any plans tonight or tomorrow?

Olive

I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon

But that’s it

Lane

So come over tonight, then

I’ll be on my best behavior

Olive

Oh

Maybe

Let me think it over…

Olive

Can you guys talk me down?

Violet

What’s going on, Liv?

Harvey

Is everything okay?

Olive

I don’t know

Lane just asked me to come over tonight

He said Sage wants me to have a slumber party

What the hell do I do?

Harvey

Uh, you go because it’s fucking LANE brOOKS

Violet

The porn star?!

Olive

CAN WE STOP CALLING HIM A PORN STAR PLEASE?!

Harvey

I don’t even want to know

But why are you so nervous about going over?

Olive

I don’t know

I like spending time with him, and that makes me nervous

Violet

Aren’t you friends with those girls now?

Why don’t you grab lunch with them and talk about it?

They obviously know him well

Olive

That’s probably a good idea

Harvey

I still think the only correct option is to go over

Olive

Stop fanboying over my friend, Harv

Olive

I know it’s short notice, but do you girls want to grab lunch?

I’m a bit anxious right now, and I think I need some friends

Rory

I’m always down for lunch

Harlow

Same!

Lucia

My only plans were to finish the smutty book I started

So I’m free

Ella

Josh can hang by himself for a bit

Count me in!

Olive

I’ll see you soon, then

I met the girls at a cafe in Tribeca a little bit ago. So far, they’re easing my anxiety by not talking about why I asked them all to meet. They’re taking my mind off it, and it’s helping.

But I do still need to talk to them.

“So,” I say, sipping my water, “I need some advice.”

“Is everything alright, Liv?” Rory asks.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’m just a little nervous about something.” I take a deep breath and calm myself. “Lane asked me to come over tonight because Sage wants to have a slumber party.”

“Oh my God!” Harlow shrieks. This girl is always so damn happy. “That’s seriously so cute!”

“It’s so sweet that Sage already adores you,” Ella smiles. “I know how important that is to Lane.”

“Right,” I mutter. “That makes sense.”

Lucia eyes me. “Why does it make you nervous to go see Lane and Sage?”

“Because he’s admitted to flirting with me.”

“Ha!” Rory laughs. “We all fucking knew he was flirting.”

“We agreed to be friends, but if he’s flirting with me, what if that’s not what he actually wants? What if he expects something from me tonight?”

Harlow rests her hand on top of mine in reassurance. “We know Lane. He’s asking you to come over because he and his daughter want to see you, not because he’s expecting sex or anything more.”

My nerves and discomfort must be far too apparent because Lucia immediately takes note. “It’s the thought of sex that makes you nervous, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I admit, voice cracking. “Please don’t make a big deal out of it, but I’m a… virgin.”

I hate the way that word feels as it falls from my lips. It’s not mine, but I don’t know what else to say.

“We would never make a big deal of that,” Rory says. “You know that we’re open about our sex lives, but we also believe everybody gets to decide when they’re ready for that. It’s okay if you aren’t ready for sex yet.”

“I’m twenty-three, though,” I sigh. “Isn’t that weird?”

Ella cocks her head to the side. “Why would that be weird? There’s no set age you have to lose your virginity. Honestly, Josh and I were both virgins when we met. I was twenty-one; he was twenty-two.”

Rory smiles softly at me. “Lane won’t expect anything of you, Olive. He has a past, but he’s still a really great guy. He’d never force you into something you’re uncomfortable with.”

“I think I know that,” I admit. “But with him already having a kid, it’s hard not to think about the fact that I haven’t had sex.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Lucia shrugs. “He’s not going to judge you for it, and he won’t care either. You guys are still just getting to know each other anyway.”

“Did you guys all take it slow with your guys?”

They all laugh uneasily, and Harlow is the first to speak up. “Knox and I pretended we were still just friends when we first slept together.”

“I told Cole we were just going to get it out of our systems.”

“I went home with Matt after our first date.”

“Josh and I took each other’s virginities not too long after we met. But you aren’t us, Liv, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. Take all the time you need. Lane won’t rush you into anything, especially when you’re so nervous.”

I let out a deep breath. “Should I go over tonight, then?”

“I think you should,” Rory replies. “You two are friends, and friends spend time together. Plus, you get to see Sage.”

I laugh lightly.

I think they’re right.

I’m overthinking this. Lane and I are friends, and we can spend time together without worrying about falling into his bed.

And now that I’ve talked it all out with the girls, I’m really looking forward to tonight.