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“Like what?” he huffed.

“Like I betrayed you.”

“Iambetrayed,” he growled. “You don’t get to keep juicy news like that from me. I should have known about this first thing on Sunday morning.”

“Jesus, Gibs—” Stepping around him, I grabbed my towel off the floor and stalked back to the changing area. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So, youhadsex with her?” he asked, following after me. “Come on, Johnny. Tell me.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I snapped, flustered.

“Did you penetrate her with your penis?” he demanded. “Because if you did, then that’s exactly what it was like.”

“Fine, we had sex,” I choked out. “Happy now?”

“Lad!” He grinned widely. “I’m so proud of you.”

“No—” I pointed an accusing finger at him. “Don’t be proud of me for being a reckless eejit.”

“I am so proud of you, buddy,” he countered. “This is the proudest I’ve ever been of you.”

Exhaling wearily, I sank down on the bench next to my locker. “I don’t know what happened to me.”

“I do,” Gibsie snorted as he toweled himself off. “You got naked with a fucking fabulous looking girl and banged your brains out.” Tossing his towel on the bench, he slipped on a pair of jocks and laughed. “No wonder you don’t want to go on tour anymore. You got the taste ofmoreoff little Shannon, didn’t ya?” He waggled his brows. “And now you’re starving.”

“Gibs,” I hissed, cringing. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Wait—” He eyed me suspiciously. “Did you wrap it up?”

“Yes,” I bit out.

“With the condoms I made you buy?”

I nodded.

He grinned. “Did you silently thank me?”

“Listen to me, fucker, I’m older than you,” I growled. “I was scoring with girls while you were still waiting for your voice to break.”

“I caught up, though, didn’t I?” he shot back, unaffected. “And you’re welcome.”

“I bought you your first box of condoms,” I hissed. “So enough of the you’re-welcome comments because I’ve had your back plenty of times.”

“Fair point.” He chuckled, clearly amused by my misfortune. “So, how wasit?”

“A complete disaster,” I admitted as I toweled myself off and threw on my school uniform. “It was her first time, Gibs, and my ma walked in on us when I was just getting going.”

“Ah, Jesus.” Gibsie groaned, pressing his hand to his mouth. “Tell me you’re joking?”

“I wish I was, lad,” I muttered, pulling on my pants.

“Did she kill you?” he asked, wincing in sympathy.

“Worse,” I grumbled. “She took Shannon into the kitchen forthe talk.”

“Oh my fucking god,” he wailed. “This is just…ugh.” He shook his head and gaped at me. “Your dick can’t catch a break.”

“Nope.” Pulling on my jumper, I closed my locker and shrugged. “It’s cursed.”

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