Page 41 of Sunshine

I shrug, trying to keep the smile on my face. “I guess not.”

“Wait, these were for him?” Lizzie mumbles around another bite.

“Well, yeah, but . . .”

“Uh oh,” David interjects. “Trouble in paradise?”

“No,” I huff out defensively. “He just didn’t want a sugar overload the night before the big game. SomethingIdidn’t think of.” I don’t know why I’m so eager to take the blame for our fumble this morning, but the thought of everyone knowing how much that rejection stung seems unnecessary.

“What’s it like, anyway?” Lizzie asks curiously. “Being with him, I mean.”

“With Jason?”

She throws me a pointed look. “Duh.”

David chuckles. I feel the eyes of all the girls around me as I reach into the Tupperware for another broken piece of a cookie. “It’s . . . really nice,” I say.

Hoa laughs from where she’s lying on the sofa, taking up the whole thing to herself while the rest of us are scattered on the floor. I guess when it’s your house you can do what you want. “Dating Jason Moore isnice?” She looks at me for a long beat, and when I don’t say anything, she says, “It’s just that I’ve heard some of the shit he pulled with Michelle.”

“Yeah, didn’t he leave her stranded at prom?” Lizzie asks.

David’s watching me thoughtfully, and I feel my cheeks burn.

“Yes,” Heidi, another senior,confirms. “Brock and I had to give her a ride home because Jason left in the middle of the dance.”

“Why?” Lizzie asks.

Heidi shrugs. “Found something better,” she says. “Or . . . someone.”

“Jason’s not like that,” I burst out. Heidi just smirks. She’s always been distant toward me and I assumed it was because I was a freshman, but now I realize it’s because she’s friends with Michelle.

“So.” Hoa sits up on the couch. “Have you given himyourcookie?”

Regan chokes from the corner.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You know,” Hoa continues. “Have you guys had sex yet?”

“O-Oh . . .” I stammer. I don’t need a mirror to know the flush has spread to my neck. I look down at the piece of cookie in my hand, wishing I could transport myself out of this situation.

Hoa snorts. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“They’ve only been together for like . . . four months,” Regan chimes in.

“Yeah, but Jason’s a junior. He’s more . . . experienced.” Hoa tilts her head, as if appraising me. “Do youwantto have sex with him?”

“Um, yeah,” I say. “I mean . . . eventually.”

She throws her hands up. “Don’t do it if you aren’t ready. Fuck boys, stay strong on your boundaries. I’m just saying, it’sJason Moore, you know?”

“Don’t be surprised if he ditches you at prom,” Heidi jests. “Michellewasputting out—look what happened to her.”

“Okay guys,” David groans. “Can we please talk aboutsomething other than Jason Moore’s sex life? I think I’m going to puke.” I throw him a look of gratitude as he pops another cookie in his mouth.

The truth is, I know Jason expects our relationship to bloom into something more . . .physical. . . soon. This football season has been enough of a distraction, but after the game tomorrow, the season will be over, and he keeps reminding me he’ll have a lot more time to focus on me. It’s not that I don’t want that kind of attention from him—it thrills me to know he wants me in that way. But I’m not sure I feel ready to take that step yet.

“What do you think the guys are all doing right now?” Lizzie asks as she pops open a diet soda.

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