Page 43 of XOXO, Valentina

I bit the inside of my cheek and squeezed my eyes shut. “It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

When I opened my eyes, everyone was staring at me, even Daisy.

“So what’s the problem?” Kennedy asked.

I stared at the wallpaper, wishing the garish pattern would reveal the solution.

“It’s just sex,” Mia said. “It’s not like you’re marrying the guy.”

“You’re allowed to have a life,” Lacey said.

“That’s what Joey said too.”

“This Joey sounds like a smart guy,” Thatcher said.

“Heisa teacher,” I said.

“Gross,” Mia said softly.

“Teachers are not gross,” Kennedy said. “I’m a teacher. Am I supposed to abstain from sex?”

“Good point.”

“It sounds like you need more yoga in your life,” Kennedy said. “It will make you feel so much better.”

“Yoga is your solution for everything,” Thatcher said.

Kennedy pointed at him with a corn chip. “I remember someone having a very good time on the yoga retreat to Aruba a few months ago.”

Thatcher grinned. “That’s because I was the only guy. The women couldn’t get enough of me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve had enough of you.”

“You need more wine,” he said.

“And I need a cigarette,” Mia said. “All this talk about sex is making me feel deprived.”

Kennedy tapped her lip in thought. “His name is Joey?”

“Yeah, why?”

“He’s a little taller than average, dark hair, athletic build?”

I pictured Joey wearing nothing but boxer briefs, and my blood heated. “Yeah, why?”

“He has a tattoo right here?” She pointed to her heart, where Joey had a woman’s name inked on his pectoral muscle.Maria.

Lucky Maria. It was hard to keep the bitterness from my voice. “Yeah.”

“I know him from class. His name isn’t Joey in the computer system, but that’s what everyone calls him.”

“Fernando Morales.” His exotic, sexy-as-sin name rolled off my tongue.

Kennedy nodded. “He comes to my Thursday at six p.m. regularly.” Her eyes widened. “He’s hot.”

I scoffed. “I know.”

“He’s good at yoga, too.” It was high praise coming from Kennedy, who took her yoga as seriously as I took my lost-and-found policy. “He comes with his neighbor and her girlfriend a lot. Gorgeous redhead with long curls.” Kennedy snapped her fingers until she remembered her name. “Kaitlyn!”

---