Page 84 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“I just want to make sure he’s—”

“Good enough for her? I can see that. You’re doing a very thorough job.”

I sank back in my chair and exhaled a heavy breath. “She said she would give it up to him.” It came out a low murmur and Cole leaned in and whispered, “What?”

“Her V-card. She said she’d give it up to him.”

“Oh shit, she’s—”

“Yeah. I mean, I figured she was still. We made that stupid pact before the tenth grade, remember?”

“Yeah, but it was a joke, right? You didn’t both plan on actually…” I glared at him and his eyes grew to saucers. “Wait, are you saying you’re—”

“All right, keep your fucking voice down.”

“But how is that even possible? You’re… you. And you’ve hooked up with girls.”

“I didn’t say I was the Virgin Mary, asshat. I’ve done stuff. I just haven’t ever… you know.”

Jesus, this was embarrassing. But it was Cole and I needed to talk to someone about this shit.

“So what, you’ve been like waiting for her?”

“No, no. That’s not it at all…” But the second I said the words I knew they were a lie. Because that was it.

It was so fucking it.

I had been waiting for her. I just hadn’t let myself acknowledge it. Because we were friends, and our friendship was complicated, and worth too damn much to let sex confuse it even more.

“What are you going to do?” Cole asked, pity shining in his eyes.

“Nothing. I fucked up. She hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just angry.”

“That’s what worries me.”

I glanced back over at her and Eli. Did she really like him or was she using him to make me jealous? Either way, I’d pushed her into his arms. I’d done that. But I didn’t want her to sleep with him just to hurt me. To prove some point. Not when she’d waited so long for the right person to come along.

And then it hit me, like a wrecking ball, knocking the wind right out of my lungs.

You.

She’s been waiting for you, you fucking idiot.

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