Page 56 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
She disappeared behind the rustling curtain, and Devin re-emerged a few seconds later. I couldn’t help but notice the smug grin stretched across hisface.
“The doc said I could come back in,” he said in a singsong tone as he plopped back in his plastic chair. “To see mygirlfriend.”
I rolled my eyes as a hot, red flush tinted my cheeks.
“So what did she say?” he asked.
I sighed. “The doctor said I have a condition called endometriosis.”
“What’s that?”
“Long story short, it’s a disease that causes a bunch of reproductive issues. She said I’m going to need surgery.”
“Surgery?” Devin’s eyebrows raised.
“She said it’s minimally invasive. Shouldn’t be a big deal.” I tried to shrug it off, but on the inside my chest was quivering. I hated just stepping foot in hospitals, let alone being cut open in one.
Devin scoffed, as if he didn’t believe me. But his gaze was warm and gentle as he rubbed my shoulder.
“I owe you another big thank you, by the way,” I noted.
“What do you mean?”
“For insisting I come here. If it weren’t for you, I never would’ve gotten a diagnosis.”
“Well…” Devin shrugged. “You would’ve gone to the doctor sooner or later and found out.”
I raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “Devin, Ireallyhate hospitals. But you helped me face my fear tonight. So thank you. I owe you one.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled. “And you don’toweme anything, but I do have one question that I’d like you to answer.”
“What is it?”
He took a long, deep breath, and my body tensed with anticipation.
“These medical issues you’re having…” He paused, raking a hand through his hair. “They’re not related to…you leaving me last week, are they?”
His words were like a punch to the stomach. He knew. There was no point in hiding it anymore.
Something burst within me, like a balloon filled with too much helium, and I exploded into sobs. I could barely breathe as I buried my face in my hands, both hysterical and mortified by my outburst.
“God, Avery…” Devin’s eyes glistened with sympathy, and he wrapped his arms around my trembling body. He pulled me tight against his chest, squeezing me with more force than I’d ever felt from a hug in my life. It crushed my chest and made breathing even harder, but it also sent a wave of warm reassurance through my body. I reciprocated his embrace, pressing my fingers against his scalp and admiring the softness of his jet-black hair.
“Yes,” I sputtered between sobs. “I…I have to…tell…you…something...”
God, I was a mess. My cheeks were crusty with tears, I didn’t even want to know how terrible my puffy red face looked in a mirror.Devin must think I’m a wreck.
He pulled away, and his gaze showed nothing but compassion as he rubbed my thick, curly brown hair with his fingers. He looked at me as if I were the only woman in the world, and it made my brittle heart crack even more.
Because I was about to tell him the truth.
“I can’t have sex.” I blurted it out all at once, like ripping off a bandage. “At least…I’ve never been able to. It’s too painful. The doctor thinks the endometriosis is what’s causing it.”
Devin nodded slowly, taking a few seconds to process the information.
“So you’re a virgin?”
“Yes.”
