Page 48 of Switch!

“Are you not listening?”

Be pers— “Fuckingtouch it!”

Sarah’s expression becomes grim. Then she grabs her clothes and reaches for the door.

“Wait!” I say, pulling my swim trunks up again.

“Why? Worried you’ll be seen?” She opens the passenger-side door.

I try to grab her arm but she shakes me off. “I’m sorry!”

“So am I,” Sarah says, sounding disgusted.

She’s standing in the parking lot and about to slam the door.

“I- I don’t know what I’m doing!” I stammer. “I’ve never done anything like this before!”

Sarah hesitates, but I don’t kid myself. I’ve bought myself a few seconds and nothing more.

“I’m an idiot,” I blurt while I still have the chance. “I’m so sorry!”

Sarah stares at me. “When you say you’ve never… Are you a virgin?”

My face is burning as I admit the truth. “Yeah.” I grimace, disgusted by my own behavior. “But it’s not a good enough excuse.”

“Has this happened before? A girl getting mad at you because you wouldn’t take no for an answer?”

Yes.

No! I never did anything like this as Travis. The opportunity never presented itself, but I like to think that I wouldn’t have been so stupid. I was today though. Incredibly so. “Please don’t go. I know I’ve ruined everything, but at least let me give you a ride home. I’ll keep my hands to myself. I just want to make sure you get back safely.”

Sarah starts putting her clothes on over the bikini, her expression strained. I can tell she hasn’t decided what to do. I hop out of the truck and get dressed too, hoping that will put her at ease. Then I walk over to her side of the vehicle.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat, holding open the door and gesturing to the interior. “Please. You can trust me. Let me prove it.”

Sarah exhales and climbs inside, but I don’t feel relief. The ride back to the ferry is mostly silent. I can’t think of much to say other than apologizing over and over again. I wish I could explain the full truth to her. Then again, I don’t think it matters. Accepting bad advice doesn’t justify what I’ve done.

“I should have known better,” I say as the truck pulls onto the ferry.

“As long as you’re willing to learn from your mistakes,” Sarah says, sounding uncertain when she adds, “Everyone deserves a second chance.”

This gives me hope, but I don’t celebrate yet. Like last time, we leave the truck and walk to the upper deck, but I don’t dare try to hold her.

“The setting was wrong,” Sarah says. “I’m ready to take things further with you. Or at least I thought I was.”

“We don’t have to have sex at all,” I say quickly. “Ever! I just want to be with you.”

She looks over at me quizzically, humor returning to her voice when she replies. “I hope you don’t mean that.”

I shrug. “If that’s what it takes.”

She shakes her head. “How can you be so sweet and also such a pig?”

I hold up my hands helplessly and make oinking noises.

Sarah laughs, but her face grows serious again. “It’s important to hear the other person, even in the heat of the moment.”

“I should have. You’re right. If anything ever happens between us again, I promise to listen.”