Page 106 of Goode to Be Bad

“Poppy has a boyfriend?” I asked. “No fucking way. I thought she swore off men forever after the last guy. I was half convinced she’d turn lesbian.”

“I know, right? But yeah, I guess. I don’t know, she’s cagey about it. I guess we’ll meet him at the wedding, though.” A pause, and I knew what was coming. “Are you gonna bring Max?”

I sputtered. “Max? Hell no. He’s a friend. But not the kind of friend you bring to a wedding. It’s never been like that.”

“Didn’t you lose your virginity to him?”

I blushed, swallowed hard. “To Max?” I scoffed. “No.”

Leave it at that, Lexie—please leave it at that.

“Tor?”

“Lex?”

“Are you still a virgin?”

“Shut up.”

“You are!” she squealed. “Oh my god! I thought for sure you’d done it with Max.”

“He wants to,” I muttered, hating this conversation with all my soul. “But I’m not in love with him. I don’t even reallylikehim—not like that. He’s just a friend. And it’s fun messing around. But if and when I give a man my virginity, I want it to mean something. I’ve waited this long, I mean god, I’m almost twenty. Practically an old maid. If it happens now, it’s going to be meaningful.”

“Your first time probably won’t be this magical thing, Tor. I’m not trying to ruin any dreams here, but—”

My face was on fire. “I know, okay? I’m not some little girl daydreaming of Prince Charming, here.”

“Tor, we gotta talk when you get up here.”

“Not about this we don’t.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll drop it. I can see you blushing from here. But…promise me you won’t change your mind on this?” She sounded oddly serious. “Promise me, swear to me, you won’t just give it away to the first hot, charming guy who kisses you just right. Make it worthwhile.Promiseme.”

I was baffled. “You sound like you’re about to cry, Lex.”

“Shut the fuck up and swear.” She was crying, softly, and choking it back, but I could tell she was emotional. And LexNEVERcried.

Weird.

“Yeah, yeah—I promise.”

“Victoria.”

“I swear on Dad’s grave it’ll mean something, okay?” I was shaken by her sudden intensity on this. “Lex, what’s—?”

“Another time. You just keep that promise, sis. That’s what matters, here.” And now she was bright and chipper again. “And…that you get your cute little butt up here for my wedding.”

“My butt is neither small nor cute, I’m afraid,” I said. “So don’t go buying any size zero bridesmaid dress for me, because I done gained a few, Lex.”

“Oh shut up, I saw you six months ago and you’re smaller than me. And no bridesmaid dresses. We’re going informal.”

“Thank fuck.”

She laughed. “I gotta go.”

“Me too. I need breakfast, and to process that my sister is getting married to a famous country singer with his own jet—and figure out how I’m getting to Alaska.”

“Tor—”