Page 30 of Fracture

How embarrassing.

The whole situation sobers me a bit and I shake my head as I try to comprehend it all. I squeeze the table so hard, my knuckles turn white. “What in the fuck makes you think I’m a virgin? Did Lennox tell you? Was this all part of a plan? Let’s get the virgin laid or some bullshit?”

I set him up with those questions. I want to know what he has to say. I know for a fact Lennox didn’t tell him shit. Because she knows the truth. I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been since I lost it my junior year of high school. But I’m not about to tell him. He wants to assume I’m a virgin, he can fucking keep on believing it.

“Guys, can we have some privacy?” Landon asks.

Big mouth shakes his head. “Fuck no. This is public domain. We have as much right to hang out in the kitchen as you do.”

I point my finger at the jerk being obnoxious. “You’re an asshole.” Then I point at Landon. “And so are you. Fuck this.”

I grab my purse from the table and walk out of the kitchen.

“Ev! Wait!” Landon calls from behind me but I don’t stop. I’ll walk home. I don’t need him. I’ll slip my heels off and walk the beach if I need to.

I ignore the looks from others and keep walking, straight out the front door. I fish my phone out of my bag and use one hand to request an Uber. If I walk home, he’ll only follow me.

Success! Your driver is five minutes away.

“Everleigh! Wait a second. Please.”

My feet are killing me and the last thing I want to do is talk to him. I’d rather walk down the street and flag the Uber down. But I can’t walk another inch in these shoes. So I stop and park my ass right there on the curb. I struggle to unfasten my shoe buckle which only slows me down.

Sure enough, Landon drops to a squat next to me. “Ev, let me drive you home.”

“No.” I snap.

“You can’t walk home in those shoes.”

“Don’t worry about me.” I finish with one shoe and start on the other. “Leave me alone.”

“I was going to tell you, it just hadn’t come up yet.”

“Really? You think I buy that for one second? You knew the theme before you asked me. You purposely sought me out and asked me as your date. Who told you I was a virgin?”

“No one told me. It’s just kind of…” He looks away as his voice trails off.

“What? It’s just kind of what?”

“Known around campus.” He winces.

He won’t look at me and I want to scream.

I dont give a fuck who thinks I'm a virgin, but the thing is it's no ones business. Especially that fucker Landon. Who the fuck does he think he is to one lie to me and two think he knows me?

“Known around campus? Ha! That’s a good one.” Tears fill my eyes but I will them away.

He doesn’t say anything and my blood boils.

“Explain what you mean. Known around campus by who? The whole campus or just your stupid fraternity?”

He shrugs and still doesn’t look at me. Fuck this.

I finish with the buckle and slip both shoes off. I get to my feet and stand in front of him so he has to look at me. Or at least look through me.

And that’s exactly what he does- the ass still can’t make eye contact. “You know…” My voice trembles, my tears ready to spill over. “I really thought maybe you asked me because we’re friends. I know we’re not close or anything, but to bring me here under false pretenses, to lure me in with materialistic bullshit, and to embarrass me in front of your entire fraternity? Friends don’t do those things to each other. I was wrong. Way fucking wrong. I should’ve trusted what I’ve known all along- you’re a dick. Believe me, I won’t make the same mistake again.”

I hear the car pull up behind me. Perfect timing. Without giving him a chance to respond, I turn and get into the Uber, glad this night is finally over.

---