Page 50 of A Good Book

“Yeah,” I chirped quickly. “I mean, I uh, I did have one. My roommate gave it to me.”

He continued to study me, then he stepped backward. “Gabby,” he exhaled, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head. “If you’re a virgin, I can’t?—”

“No!” I shook my head so many times I was a little dizzy. “I’m not, I just … uh, my roommate will be back any minute.”

I was not a liar before college. In a matter of months, lying became my new pastime.

“I cannot take Sarah’s virginityandyours. No way in hell.” He mirrored my headshaking.

“I’m. Not.”

I’m going to Hell.

Then the door opened behind him, and Olivia stepped inside, saving me. I quickly zipped and buttoned my jeans, and that’s what she focused on before giving me wide eyes and then shifting her attention to Matt.

“Hey, uh, this is Matt. I don’t think the two of you met at his party. Matt, this is my roommate, Olivia.”

“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand.

Olivia’s smile swelled, gaze ping-ponging between us. “You too. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Oh yeah?” Matt smirked, tossing me a look over his shoulder.

I returned a tight grin while feeling the bump on my head.

“Listen, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m just going to go hang out with some other friends for a while.” She walked backwards toward the door.

“Matt was just leaving,” I blurted.

“Yeah. I should bounce. Again, it was nice meeting you, Olivia.” He turned toward me. “Get some ice for your head.”

I nodded.

“I’ll call you.”

Again, I nodded because I didn’t know what to say.

“Night.” He left the room.

As soon as the door shut, Olivia’s jaw dropped. “Gabriella, you little hussy. Here I thought you were upset about Ben, but you skipped dinner for a booty call.”

“A what? No. I totally did not. I didn’t know he’d be waiting outside our door. And I was, Iam, upset about Ben. It’s not what you think.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What I think is Matt was trying to get into your panties.”

I pressed my lips together for a beat. “Okay, I guess it is what you think. Sort of. But I stopped him before you came through the door because I’m …” I couldn’t tell her I was saving myself for marriage.

Why was I embarrassed? That’s not how my parents raised me. Why was I pretending not to be a virgin? Or was I discovering a new version of myself?

“Because you what? Have an aversion to incredibly sexy men? Oh my god, Gabby! He’s so hot. How do you know all the hot guys? BenandMatt?”

Ben …

I continued to feel the bump on my head. “I knew you were on your way back.”

“What happened to your head?”

“I hit it on the top bunk.”

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