Page 281 of His Virgin Romance Series

“I know you like to complain,” I said. “But you have it good.”

“Excuse me; I do not like to complain.”

“Of course you do,” I said. “Ever since you met Byron you’ve been complaining about him. But you stick it out in the end because you love him and he loves you. Admit it, Leah; you’ve got one of the good ones.”

There was a second of silence, and then I heard a little grunt of acknowledgment. I suppressed my laughter and waited.

“Okay, fine… I suppose as boyfriends go, he is pretty great.”

“He’s amazing,” I said. “Do you know what I would give to have a boyfriend as awesome as Byron?”

“Um, you could easily have what I have if you just put yourself out there a little more,” Leah said immediately, and I instantly regretted going down this particular road.

“I—”

“Don’t even bother to defend yourself, we both know that you’ve avoided intimacy since you developed breasts.”

“Gee thanks,” I said. “That was kind of you.”

“Friendship requires honestly; I’m just being a good friend here,” Leah said. “Tell me, how many guys have you dated since you started college?”

“Uh… a few.”

“Can I have a number?”

“Like three or four,” I said.

“And how many of those dates turned into relationships?” Leah pressed.

I sighed. “One.”

“And how long did that relationship last?”

“It lasted a while,” I said defensively.

“Four months is not a whole heck of a lot.”

“Not when you compare it to two years—”

“You’re going on twenty-two, Zo,” Leah said, cutting me off. “And you’re still a virgin!”

“Because I choose to be.”

“Or because you’re scared?”

“What would I be scared of?” I demanded. “Sex is not really a big deal anymore.”

“But it has always been a big deal to you… hasn’t it?”

She was not wrong. I just wasn’t willing to have this conversation, so I decided to change the subject, and the only thing that popped into my mind was the handsome fireman that had invaded my thoughts in the last few days.

“Guess what?” I said.

“What?”

“I met this really hot guy at Seth’s station,” I said. “I was dropping off some cupcakes for the boys, and he was there at the front of the station.”

“Really?” Leah asked, immediately interested. “How hot are we talking… on a scale of one to ten?”

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