Page 13 of Fighting Our Forever

Chapter Nine

Callie

The ride to my place is quiet, too quiet, but I have a lot going on in my head. I thought tonight would turn out much differently, but now things have changed, and I don’t know where my head is at. I thought I’d go along on their “date,” and we’d all figure out fast we aren’t meant for each other, that what we shared was an attraction and nothing more. I was wrong, so freaking wrong!

Instead of sitting at the table we go to the couch where I sit opposite them on the loveseat while we eat and watch Supernatural.

I’m enjoying my loser burger and doing an amazing job of ignoring my sexy guests. In the middle of watching the Winchester boys kick ass and slay demons, my show is paused. “Hey! What’d you do that for?” I shout looking over at the guys for the first time since I turned the show on.

“I thought we could talk.”

“Now?” I whine. I know exactly what’s going to happen in the show since I’ve binge watched the series twice now, but I’m not looking forward to this conversation. Getting up, I grab my trash and walk to the kitchen to throw it away. Seconds later the guys come in and throw theirs away too.

I’m the queen of awkward silence and waiting people out. Looking everywhere but at them, I think of a hundred things I could say to get out of what I know is coming.

Ryan touches my hand, and I about jump out of my skin. “Sorry, shit I’m not good at this stuff.”

“What stuff is that?” Paul asks from my other side.

“Relationship stuff, guy stuff, all the stuff that will and will not be happening tonight. That stuff.”

“That’s a lot of stuff babe.” Ryan jokes. He grabs my hand again lacing our fingers together, at the same time Paul wraps his arm around my waist and nuzzles his face along my neck. Oh my god, I can’t do this. I jump out of their embrace and start pacing in front of them. If they weren’t already losing interest, I bet they are now. No one wants to date a crazy person, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.

“Callie, stop and tell us what is going on.” Paul snaps.

It’s as if a spell is broken and I can think clearly. They want to know why we can’t do this dance, I’ll tell them. “I’m a virgin, okay. I’ve never made it past first base, never had a guy steal second. I don’t even know what the bases are, and who the hell named how far you go with someone sexually after baseball?” They shrug, and I just keep on going. “See, I have no idea what I’m doing with a man, let alone two. You both have this idea in your heads about us being together. Which I mean, sounds pretty freaking hot in an ‘I’ve read that book, and I know what happens in these situations’ sort of thing, but be real. You two could have any woman in Sweet Briar, why would you want me?” Why did I say all that, what the hell was I thinking unloading on them like some, some virgin?

“I’m sorry, you did just say you’re a virgin, right?”

I glare at Paul and cross my arms over my chest. When they both groan I drop my arms rolling my eyes.

“I’m not trying to offend you, but that’s rare for a woman of your age Precious.”

“You make it sound like I’m some old bitty.”

“Most people lose their virginities in high school, and you’ve held onto yours through college and then some. There had to be boyfriends or guys you dated. Have you done anything with a man before?” Ryan asks.

This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. People see it as a bad thing or something to make fun of. What my virginity is, is mine. It’s personal, and no one has a right to pass judgement on what I choose to do with my body, except me, even if they are freaking perfect. “I think it’s time for you two to leave. I won’t be ridiculed in my own home.” I walk to the front door, waiting for them to follow.

“I think you misunderstood what he was saying Calliope. It’s just shocking is all.” Paul tries, but I’m in no mood.

“Well, how many women have you guys been with?”

They look uneasy, and as much as I want to know the answer, I also don’t want to know. Somewhere along the line, my heart claimed them as hers and just thinking they’ve been with other women hurts. Logically I know Ryan and Paul are in their thirties, so they have experience, but I don’t need to know how much.

“If you really want to know, I’ll tell you, but I don’t think that’s something you want rolling around in your head Precious.” Paul finally answers.

I shake my head immediately, knowing it’ll bug the hell out of me. I don’t need to compare myself to them or the women they’ve been with. That’s a road filled with poison. “Do you see now why we’ll never work?”

Ryan and Paul both look at me like I’ve lost my mind. I guess I’ll have to spell this out for them. “We are too different. The last boyfriend I had was in high school. I’ve never had an adult relationship. While I know that’s on me because I’ve been perfectly happy goofing off with Olivia and just figuring life out, I stayed away from the heavy. You’re asking me to jump in feet first to a relationship that isn’t even accepted by society. It’s a lot to take in and commit to when I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“So, what you’re saying is you’re scared?” Ryan asks.

I roll my eyes. “Sure, if that’s what you gathered from everything I said, then yes, I’m scared.”

“And that you need more time to get comfortable with us.” Paul continues.

“Wait… that’s not what I was-”

“Well shoot babyface, if you wanted to hang out with us tomorrow all you had to do was ask.”

“We’ll be here tomorrow morning to pick you up, be ready at six and wear a swimsuit,” Paul says before kissing me on the top of the head and walking outside.

“What the hell are we doing at six in the goddamn morning that I need to be ready for?”

“It’s a surprise. I’ll bring the coffee though, so don’t you worry about it. I know how important it is to you in the mornings.” Ryan says, kissing me on the cheek and then following Paul.

---