Page 6 of The All-Inclusive

That’s true. “I thought I was used to the secretive nature of being married to a Navy SEAL.” I wince. “Notmarried. You know what I mean.”

“We do.” Eve’s smile is gentle. “Makes sense he’d have to keep secrets about taking down terrorists and spying on bad guys.”

“I guess.” There’s that word again.

Secrets.

I still don’t get why that word seemed to trigger him.

Swiping my eyes with the tissue, I take a fortifying sip of kombucha. “You know what felt so good about that last night with Trent? I mean,beforehe said he couldn’t marry me.”

Camille offers another tissue. “What’s that?”

“Coming up with a workaround for premarital sex.” I still think my plan was a good one. “It felt amazing to take charge of my sexuality. To say ‘fuck it’ to letting our parents feel smug and superior for ushering two grown-ass virgins down the aisle like it’s some kind of parental achievement.”

Eve frowns. “I thought you said Trentwasn’ta virgin.”

“Whatever.” Waving a hand to dismiss this small detail, I accidentally signal a waiter. “Gin martini,” I call before lowering my voice to explain more to Eve.

“We agreed we’d never share details of what happened when we were apart during boot camp and BUD/S and pre-deployment training.” I had three years of high school to finish, so Iurged Trent to sow some wild oats. At the end of that stretch, he came home and went straight to church with his mom. We’ve never discussed what happened when we were apart. “We’ve also split up a few times for his longer deployments.”

“That’s right,” Eve says, snapping her fingers. “And after that last one, he came back and proposed.”

“Exactly.” Trent knew from the start that I wanted to wait until marriage. “We always said saving sex for our wedding night would make it special.”

Camille knows all this, and as a sex therapist, she tries not to judge. “Sweetie.” That’s hernot-judgingvoice. “You know I respect your choices one thousand percent. I supported you waiting until marriage, and I support you now that you’re considering flying off to the Caribbean on some deflowering quest.”

I don’t miss her wince at that word choice. “I know ‘deflowering’ is a gross concept.” I get it, I do. “Virginity as a commodity in women feels sexist and old-fashioned and I’m a little embarrassed by the whole thing.”

“Don’t be embarrassed.” That’s Eve with her hand on my arm. “I grew up like you did. It’s hard to shake the notion of what you’resupposedto do.”

That’s exactly how I wound up a twenty-three-year-old virgin. “I thought Trent was the one.” I swallow back tears, along with a sip of the icy martini that magically appears in front of me. “It felt special to wait for each other. But if he doesn’t want me, then it feels like I need to reclaim my sexuality.”

“That actually makes a lot of sense.” Camille considers me. “Just please keep in mind that sex isn’t only about putting a penis in a vagina.”

“Ugh.” I suck down more gin. “Can we please not talk like we’re in eighth grade health class?”

She chuckles and picks up her own drink. “You’re right. My point is that ‘sex’”—she makes air quotes on that one—“runs a huge gamut from oral to anal to digital penetration, or even nopenetration at all. There are so many gender expressions and sexual identities and ways to rub two bodies together.”

“Or three bodies.” Eve smirks over the rim of her glass. “Or four. Or?—”

“I know.” It’s thanks to these friends that I’m even aware there’s so much to explore. “I also know my Aunt Ava’s ‘roommate’ isn’t really her roommate, even if my parents pretend she is.” My dad’s oldest sister has a chilly relationship with the rest of the family, but I adore Ava and her partner. “I wouldn’t call her a virgin, even if she’s never had sex with a man.”

“Exactly.” Camille looks pleased that I get it. She hands me her phone and restarts the app for the Jilted Brides Honeymoon Club. “All I’m saying is you don’t have to jump on the first dick you see when you get there.”

Eve snorts into her glass. “The oral enchantments were some of my favorites. And the happy ending massages…” She trails off with a wink at Camille. “I’ll stop now.”

“It’s fine.” Camille snorts. “I’m fully aware you’ve explored all your sexual fantasies with my brother. And that’s what I’m hoping for for Sara.”

I frown. “You want me to bang Kit?” Eve might have something to say about that.

“I want you toexplore. To discover what you want and how to go after it.” Camille folds her hands on the table. “Don’t rush right to the main event. Give yourself time to find out what truly excites you.”

“I do like the sound of that.” That’s why, if I go, I’ll book more than a week. Maybe ten days or even two weeks.

Lifting my gaze, I look from Eve to Camille. “Okay.”

Eve brightens. “Okay what?”

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