Page 35 of I Blame the Rival

Wesley shudders and refocuses his attention on setting up the dorm’s ancient television. Sunday movie nights used to be a tradition growing up, and out of nowhere, Wesley declaredit was finally time to reintroduce the tradition. Trip decided to sit the first one out, and as much as I love her company, I am grateful to have some quality time with my brother and my closest friend.

Grabbing the pile of mismatched blankets from the couch, I drop them onto the floor. Nico steals the closest one and wraps it around me with a grin.

“I need more details about this kiss. Name, number, location. Go.”

I laugh, “His name is Skylar, his number is in my phone, and it happened in an empty football stadium.”

Wesley whips his head in my direction, “What were you doing alone in an empty stadium?”

Nico rolls his eyes, “She was hunting for the most romantic make out setting possible. Need I remind you who followed an innocent freshman into a courtyard first-year?”

“That was different.”

“Ignore him.” Nico wraps his arms around me and picks me up with a shriek, “What’s important is our girl is back out playing the field!”

“Pun intended.” Wesley blows out a breath, “Was he a gentleman at least?”

I bury my face into Nico’s neck and smile, “He was perfectly respectable. Didn’t make a move until I asked him too.”

Nico pulls a face, “He didn’t make the first move?”

My brother shakes his head, “Lacey needs someone with a lot of patience. Someone who won’t expect anything right away.”

The truth of his words slap me in the face, the sting leaving my cheeks flushed pink.

“You don’t have to make me sound like a freak.” I swallow the lump rising in my throat, “Not everyone has sex on the first date, you know. Or the third date for that matter.”

Guilt filters through Wesley's face, his green eyes apologizing to me even before I extract myself from Nico’s arms and walk into the bathroom. I lock the door and lean against it, feeling my chest start to cave in.

A gentle knock hits the door.

“I wasn’t calling you a freak, Lace. I just meant you need someone who isn’t just trying to get into your pants. You’re special, Garden Girl, and you deserve someone who appreciates that about you.”

I hang my head, refusing to acknowledge the broken girl in the mirror, “I am a freak, Wesley. What kind of eighteen-year-old doesn’t want to have sex?”

“Speaking from a brotherly point of view, knowing that my baby sister doesn’t want to have sex is the best news I’ve heard all day.”

I choke out a laugh and he continues, “But that doesn’t make you a freak, Lace. It makes you an intelligent woman who knows her limits.”

“But what kind of guy would be willing to wait?”

What kind of guy would be willing to wait for me?

Wesley sighs, “A decent one. And by the sounds of it, you may have already found him.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I hunch over, wishing that Skylar was here. Not because he’s the boy I kissed but because he’s my friend.

A broken sound escapes me and the bathroom door starts to rattle.

“Lacey? I need you to open this door.”

I freeze, hearing the panic flood his voice. The handle continues to rattle and I hear Nico let out a stream of curses on the other side.

“Mi amor? Come on out so we can talk this through. Don’t lock us out again.”

Again.

The girl in the mirror widens her eyes and I stare at her. It’s the same face I saw the night I took my mother’s sleeping pills, but this time I turn and unlock the door.

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