Page 115 of Tell Me It’s Right

“That argument was kind of hot, not gonna lie,” mutters Alison. “‘I’m in love with her!’”

I scowl at her imitation of Liam’s voice.

“Puh-lease tell me there was at leastsomefooling around after that,” she continues. “Even if it was only PG-13.”

“It wasn’t PG-13,” I say before I can think better of it.

All four of their jaws drop.

Marti squeals, grabs Trish’s hand, and shakes it.

“Look at that blush!” Carson points at my face.

“Is it true? Can it be?” Alison grabs my cheeks between her thumb and pointer finger and twists my face this way and that. “Are you…awoman?”

“Oh, shut up.” I wave her off, but I can’t help the stupid smile on my face.

“No, no! Don’t shut down on us now!” whines Trish. “I need more. How was it? He looks like he’d be good at it. Did you…?” She makes a clicking sound with the side of her mouth.

“We are at my parents’ house,” I whisper-scream. “You guys are all wildly inappropriate.”

Trish grins. “So that’s a yes.”

Marti lets out a wistful sigh. “I can’t believe you never told us how hot he was. How did you grow up around that and not jump him the second you hit puberty?”

Alison’s grin turns downright diabolical. “Did he talk you through it? Reenact your books for you?”

I slap her on the arm. “Okay, okay. Enough.”

ThankGodI didn’t let Liam come with me for this conversation.

“Nope,” chirps Alison. “This is your punishment for leaving us.”

Carson nods seriously. “We get to give you a hard time for the rest of the day.”

“Orrr you can be generous and share the details with us,” offers Marti, complete with hands folded beneath her chin and batting eyelashes.

I pinch the bridge of my nose with two fingers. “Fine. But that means we’re breaking out the cake for breakfast.”

Driving the girls to the airport a few days later is bittersweet. They stayed another two nights after my birthday, and I slept at my parents’ house to hang out with them. A marathon sleepover like that is no easy feat for my poor introvert heart, even with people I love. But as I park beside the terminal and climb out to help get their suitcases from the truck, my eyes inevitably fill with tears.

“None of that!” Marti waves a hand in front of her face, her own eyes glassy, then pulls me into a hug. “We’ll see each other at Christmas.”

“Whoop!” Alison pumps a fist in the air. “Girls’ trip!”

“Don’t forget.” Trish points at me.

“I won’t. I promise.” I set the last of their suitcases on the curb and all but hold my breath to keep from crying as I give them each one last hug.

“FaceTime date next weekend?” says Trish.

“Absolutely.”

I wave as they head inside, then let the tears fall as I climb into the car. The silence feels so much emptier in their absence.

I hesitate before shifting the car into drive, trying to collect myself. I don’t know why my emotions are going haywire. I’ll miss them, sure, but I think my body is just confused now. Being around them made me feel like I was still in college, and now I have to snap back to reality.

A reality that’s not all bad, but it’s so far from where I want to be. This temporary situation with Leo has already stretched onfor months. If I’m not careful, I might blink and find a lot more time than that has passed.

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