Page 86 of Vengeful Guard

What have I done? Given my innocence away to the first guy who made me feel special? What happens now?

“Oh, my god.” Sophie hugs me tightly. “Congratulations!”

Catalina cheers.

I look at them. “What is all the celebration about?”

“Come on, Paige. You’re on the wrong side of twenty, and you’ve been all but trying to give it away for years. It’s cause for a party!”

Sophie goes downstairs and returns with three wine glasses.

Catalina pours us all a generous glass, finishing off the bottle.

I sip the wine, feeling a little less panicked.

“I guess you’re right. But it’s my brother’s best friend!”

“Your brother’s extremely hot best friend,” Sophie corrects. “And you like him, anyway.”

“What do you mean, I like him?” I frown.

She rolls her eyes. “I know you’ve pretended to hate him for years, but isn't it time to give it up?”

“I did hate him.” I cross my arms over my chest. “He used to call me short stack and make fun of me.”

“That was years ago.” Catalina rolls her eyes. “Things are different now, no?”

“I guess.” Why can’t my friends have my back on this?

“Seriously, Paige, you like him, right? You guys are getting along?”

“Yeah.” I huff. “We have been. He’s...different than I thought he’d be.”

“Forget about all that.” Catalina waves her hands. “What about the sex? What about his?—”

Sophie clamps her hand over Catalina’s mouth. “What we’re saying is if you’d like to share?—”

“It was amazing,” I breathe, as if I’ve been waiting for this moment all day. And I guess I have. Part of me is proud that I bagged someone like Kael Sullivan. “It was the best night of my life.”

I give Catalina and Sophie all the dirty details, and Sophie fans herself while Catalina finishes her wine.

She falls down dramatically on my bed. “That sounds like a perfect night. Almost romantic, really.”

“There was nothing romantic about it.” I frown. “It was just sex. No feelings involved whatsoever.”

“Are you sure about that?” Sophie raises a blonde eyebrow.

I swallow. “I’m sure. We talked about it, and he said never again.” I pause. “Except?—”

“Except?”

“He asked me to not give him any details if I found someone else and did it again.”

Sophie laughs. “So, he’s the jealous type.”

“That’s kind of sexy.” Catalina grins.

“It is.” I groan. “Except, I have no idea how to feel about it.”

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