Page 24 of My Summer Fling

“When we were kids, Teddy had a best friend. Noah. And because we were so close in age, Noah was sort of also my friend. We spent a lot of time together, hanging out, watching movies, and running round outside.”

She nods again.

“But once I was old enough to see boys as something more than friends, I started to realize that Noah was actually really, really cute. But we were kids, ya know? And when you’re kids and you’re best friendsandyour brother is thrown in the mix, that kind of stuff just never really goes anywhere.”

“Not even as teenagers?” she asks me. “You never told him or hinted or anything? I mean you’re a whole fucking meal, Mills. There’s no way he didn’t notice.”

“He never did. Well, at least I didn’t think he did. There were times, of course, when I thought that he was maybe flirting with me or he realized I was flirting with him … but it never amounted to anything. I wasn’t put off by the fact that he was my brother’s best friend, but sometimes I wonder if it’s the reason he only ever saw me as just some little kid. That was until …”

“Until …?” she prompts.

“I was visiting my brother at college the summer after I graduated high school. He and Noah went to the same one so we were all hanging out, drinking, and just catching up. “

“Oh, goodie. Alcohol is involved. Good choices are always made when alcohol is involved.”

I give her a look and continue.

“Teddy passed out and Noah and I stayed up, chatting and watching a movie. Teddy had gone to bed so we were alone in the living room. Sitting on the couch. Right next to each other.”

“Ooh, my vagina is already fluttering. What happened next?”

I roll my eyes at her and the waiter chooses that exact moment to bring out our food. I let him place everything on the table before I dig into my emotional support taco as I work up the courage to tell her what happened next.

“So, things happened. His hand brushed my thigh. My hand brushed against his. Helookedat me. He kissed me. Then he touched me and touched me some more and before I knew it we were having sex on my brother’s couch.”

“Oh shit.” She giggles before taking a few gulps from her margarita. “Was it good?”

“It was … amazing. I had always heard that your first time sucks,” I mumble, shoving my mouth full of taco.

“Wait, whoa. Millicent. Hold up.” She leans in and whispers. “He took your virginity?”

I nod, grimacing when her jaw almost hits the table.

“Did he know he took your virginity?” she whispers, even though it’s loud enough to feel like the entire fucking restaurant heard her.

“He didn’t at first. Which is totally on me. I guess I should’ve told him. But when he found out?” I sigh. “Woof.”

“What happened, Millie?” Her voice has turned serious now. She’s ready to go into mother mode.

“He freaked out. He got up and walked out. Didn’t say a single word to me, just threw his clothes back on and left the house. I was still naked on the couch when the door shut.”

I swallow hard against the painful memory, fighting the tears that want to come to the surface. That shit hurt, and telling the story again just opened the wound right back up.

“Millie,” she says, grabbing my hand across the table and giving it a squeeze.

“Anyway,” I say, shaking it off and smiling at her. “That’s the backstory that you needed to know for what’s going on with my life right now.”

“And what’s going on with your life right now?” she asks.

“I’m fucking him,” I blurt out. “Again.”

She coughs on her mouthful of food and her eyes go wide.

“I’m sorry, what?” She swallows. “What are you talking about?”

“He came here as a surprise to help me with Teddy’s wedding. He apologized. And Teddy and Beth are all for it, thinking that I need the help. Which, to be fair, it has been kind of nice having him around.”

“Having his dick around, you mean,” she jokes. “How did it go from him coming here to help you to him in your pants? That seems like a pretty big jump after what he did to you. Especially since you are not someone that lets another person walk all over them.”

---