Page 61 of Puck My Stepbrother

“Sure.”

He leaned in a little closer and said, “Was it going to be your first time?”

“No.”

Call me crazy, but Jeff’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly when I said that. The word did sound clipped, like I’d choked it out, which probably raised a red flag for him. Yeah, I could’ve imagined his reaction, but I doubted it. I probably came across like a guy who’d never come close to getting laid in his whole life, let alone with a hockey stud like Levi.

But I didn’t have to tell him my life story. He only needed to know that I wasn’t a virgin.

“I don’t have a lot of experience,” I said, “but I do have a little.”

“Enough to say that you’ve done it, but not enough to feel comfortable justdoingit.”

“Yeah, that’s about right. God, I feel so pathetic.”

“No judgment there, Quinn. I’m in the same boat with you.”

“Really?”

“More or less. I have a little experience, but I haven’t jumped into every bed in Buffalo.”

A laugh sputtered out of my mouth. Only Jeff could provide that. Levi had tried cracking jokes, but he’d fallen on his face. Jeff reminded me why I needed to stay the course with someone more like myself.

“There’s no timeline for it,” Jeff said. “I can wait.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I’m not saying I’m inhuman, Quinn. I like sex as much as anyone else. I just figure it’s something you only do when both people are totally ready. It’s not everything, you know.”

Oh my God, I wished Levi could’ve been there to hear that. You know, since he was the guy I’d practically had to peel off my leg since we moved into the house. Only I wouldn’t make that wish. I wanted as much time alone with the true guy of my dreams as possible.

“I can’t tell you how refreshing that is to hear,” I said.

“Really? Why?”

“Because some people would never understand that, even if you drew them a picture.”

Jeff half-smiled, but who cares? I’d thought of Levi again. Doing that constituted flying a little too close to the sun. My focus needed to remain on Jeff and only Jeff.

“I’m not sure if I’m following,” Jeff said.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

The longer I took to say what I really wanted, the greater the danger of Levi intruding on this conversation. It shouldn’t have been a big deal to ask Jeff to be my wedding date. We’d already been dating casually for weeks.

Of course it’s easier said than done,my inner voice said.Because Levi will be there to see you two together. And he’ll feel threatened. You’ll start to squirm, too. Levi might not know he’s the only guy who can get your dick hard, butyouknow it.

I pursed my lips, trying like crazy to strike Levi Dunn from my mind. And yeah, I knew I was doing a terrible job.

“You know how my dad’s getting remarried soon?” I asked.

“Yeah, you’ve been telling me about all the planning you’ve been helping with.”

“Well, it’s coming up real soon. Kind of crazy when you think about it.”

“I know. Both of my parents remarried, and it was a lot of work both times.”

“So I was thinking?—”