Page 75 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
“What was that?”
“I told one of the nurses I thought she was hot.”
I burst out laughing. “Well…was she?”
“She was like sixty.”
My laughter erupted into hyena cackling as my face flushed red. Devin playfully scowled and ruffled my curly hair.
“I’m just glad you’re less stressed now.” He smiled. “Even if it comes at my expense.”
“You’re the best.” I pressed my lips against his cheek.
Devin chuckled. “I try.”
We sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, as we enjoyed the warmth and stillness of the evening sunset. From our spot on the bench, we had a perfect view of the lake, and I admired the way the melting orange sun cast a pastel glow on the inky water. In the distance, the faint rumbles of barking echoed from the nearby dog park, and a child’s joyful scream cut across the field as he chased a plump, irritated duck.
I was getting used to being with Devin—at least, in a dating sense. The feeling of his lips on mine and the way our fingers interlaced when we held hands were growing more familiar. More comfortable. I was no longer nervous like I was on our first date at the Greek café.
Instead, I felt completely at peace with him. Which is exactly what I’d been searching for through my months of online dating. Warmth. Comfort.
Finally, for the first time in almost a week, my anxiety about my upcoming surgery faded away.
Because at that moment, it was just me and him. Nothing else mattered.
Devin drove me home. I’d told him several times that I was perfectly capable of driving, though I noticed he always picked date spots that were close to my townhouse. But he’d explained that driving was something he enjoyed. He worked nearly sixty hours a week at Critical Games, and most of that time he was on his feet, bouncing from one task to another, surrounded by busy customers and plenty of noise. Being in the car was his one chance to sit down and relax. He could listen to music, focus on the road, and enjoy a brief period of solace.
“Plus.” Devin grinned as we pulled into my driveway. “It gives me more time to talk to you.”
I blushed, rubbing his shoulder. “I enjoy that too.”
“So…” Devin shifted the car into park and leaned back in his seat. “Am I going to see you again before your surgery?”
“Other than the game shop, no,” I sighed. “My parents are driving down from the panhandle on Sunday. They said they’d be here around three, and I’ll probably be entertaining them for the evening. They’ve never been down here before.”
“Really? You’ve lived in Orlando for five years and they’ve never come to visit?”
“Well, to be fair, I keep them at arm’s length,” I replied. “Although this time I don’t have much of a choice.”
Devin gave a long, deep exhale. “I hope it all goes well. I’ll miss you. Text me once you’re out ofsurgery.”
“That may not be a good idea. My texts will be gibberish if I’m high as a kite on anesthesia.”
“Exactly.” Devin’s usual devious grin returned to his face. “I eagerly await your drugged ramblings.”
“Devin…”
“I promise I won’t screenshot them.”
“You brat,” I scoffed, lightly shoving his shoulder. Devin took the opportunity to grab my arm and pull me in for a long, deep kiss.
When I broke the kiss a few seconds later, a sudden ache tugged at my chest. I desperately wanted him there with me when I had my surgery. In fact, I would’ve preferred him there over my parents. But there was a big, ugly elephant in the room, one that Devin and I both knew about but refused to acknowledge.
After only two weeks, I wasn’t ready to introduce my new boyfriend to my parents. But the bigger problem was that I fearedeverintroducing him. It didn’t matter how kind and sweet and wonderful Devin was, because my parents, with their uppity, staunch, traditional attitude, would take one look at his tattoos and piercings and write him off as a Satanic troublemaker.
They would never approve of him.
And it crushed my heart to think about it.
