Page 62 of Heartland

Regret is already tickling the back of my neck as I walk naked into the bathroom. Disposing of the condom, I squint at myself in the shocking light. I see a red-faced guy who doesn’t know what hit him. I guzzle some water and then quickly push back the shower curtain and turn on the water so I can clean myself up.

From sex. With Chastity.

Jesus H. I loved every second of it. No—Icravedit. But already I feel guilty. As if I took a delicate friendship and threw it as carelessly to the floor as I did our clothes.

It doesn’t help that there was a smear of pink on the condom. Just a trace, but still a reminder of Chastity’s inexperience.

Luckily, the water heats quickly. I ease my body under the spray and let out a giant sigh. As the water beats down on my head, I begin to feel more like myself.

It was just epic sex with a friend, I tell myself.Amazing. Surprising. But not life-altering.

It’s funny how recently I’d been worried about akissmessing everything up. Chastity hadn’t liked it that I’d overreacted. She doesn’t like to be babied.

Good thing, because I wasn’t babying her in the bed just now. I gave her just what she asked for. A quick lesson in clawing, desperate sex.

It’s going to be fine, I reassure myself. We’re adults. We can handle this.

Just as I’m finishing up my shower, the bathroom door opens.

“Hey, can I borrow a towel?” I ask as I turn off the taps. I yank the shower curtain open, looking toward the doorway for Chastity.

But it’s not Chastity who’s standing there.

Twenty

Dylan

“Kaitlyn!”I yelp. “You weren't supposed to be home.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know I’ve just made it worse.

“Right,” Kaitlyn spits, fire in her eyes. “If you'd known I was here, you would have fucked Chastity atyourplace, instead. My bed was too small, huh? But hers is just right?”

“Now hang on,” I look around for a bath towel. There's only a tiny hand towel on the bar.

I reach for it but Kaitlyn is faster. She grabs it and holds it to her chest. “I want to hear this.”

Fuck. “We… I…” My brain is empty, from shock, confusion, and a lack of caffeine. “There’s nothing to say. It’s none of your business that we…” The sentence dies, because I'm not about to discuss it. Not that I’d even know what to say. I haven’t processed it myself. Things with Chastity are…

Speak of the devil. I hear Chastity’s bedroom door open, and then her shocked face appears in the bathroom doorway. She tosses me a towel, which I snatch out of the air.

“Let me guess.” Kaitlyn folds her arms in front of her pert little chest. Kaitlyn reminds me of an ice queen sometimes. So pretty, but also cold. And then she opens her mouth again, and it gets worse. “You got drunk, huh? Had a few beers. Got horny. So now Chastity knows what beer goggles are. Did you ever hear that expression?” She turns, directing this question at Chastity. “It means he’ll do anyone when he’s had three or four beers.”

“Hey!” I argue. “That isnotwhat happened here.”

Chastity goes absolutely white and grips the door frame.

Kaitlyn’s not done. “Yousaidshe wasn’t your type. You said she isn’t even attractive! So it must have taken a few drinks for you to end up naked in her bed, right?”

“Kaitlyn,” I holler. “Shut yourmouth.”

“Why? You didn’t shutyours,” she shrieks. “Fuck, Chastity.Take it. Yes!Sound familiar? You said she was like a little sister to you. Is that how you’d treat your little sister?”

Chastity gasps. Her face is now bright red.

“Stop it,” I growl. “You're putting words in my mouth, and you’re just being cruel.” I dry myself off quickly. I have got to get out of this bathtub.

“Am I? Or areyou?I called you out so many times, and you laughed it off. Isawit.”

That slows me down for a second, because unfortunately she has a point.