Page 67 of A Slice of Love

“They know? They know what? I’m lost. I—”

Jonas raises his brows, and everything clicks into place.

They know about us, about that weekend.

“Oh,” I whisper, and Jonas nods.

“Oh,” he says.

What I don’t understand is how that’s even possible. I was careful. There was no trace of him left. I cleaned up. It was like nobody was ever there.

“H-How?” I cross my arms over my chest, shielding myself against their obvious disappointment. “How d-did you know?”

“Our notebook,” Jonas tells me.

“I didn’t read the entire thing,” my father speaks up. “But enough to surmise that you were madly in love with this boy.”

“Enough to see what he was doing to you,” my mother interjects.

“Doing to me? He wasn’tdoinganything to me.”

“He was leading you on just like my high school boyfriend did me, trying to change you. We had to protect you.”

“Leading me on… Change me…” I laugh, but there’s no humor in my voice. “Heaven forbid I step one toe out of line, that I’m not mommy’s perfect princess or daddy’s little angel. I am not a robot. I’m not a puppet you can manipulate, not yours to mold into whatever it is you want me to be. I am a person with my own aspirations, my own goals, my ownlife.” I stomp my foot. “I make my own choices.Idecide what school I go to.Idecide what my career is.Idecide who I give my virginity to and when.Idecide who I fall in love with. It ismylife, dammit!”

Slamming my eyes closed, I heave in a full breath for the first time in what feels like years, finally telling my parentsexactlywhat I feel.

When I release it, I’ve never felt more relieved.

“Uh, Frank?” Jonas says tentatively.

“What?”

“I…I don’t think they knew about the virginity part.”

My stomach falls as I peel my eyes open.

My father’s eyes are blazing. My mother is holding her hand to her chest, mouth dropped open.

They wanted me to wait until my wedding night, and not for religious reasons as many might assume with my father being a pastor.

No, my mother always told me how she regretted having sex with a man she wasn’t going to marry. It was drilled into my head for years and years.

I gulp. “Oh, well, surprise…I’m not a virgin anymore.”

They’re hurt. They’re angry.

But I’m hurt and angry too.

We stand there, squared off. It’s me and Jonas against them.

He leans down, lips ghosting over my ear. “So, now the whole town definitely knows we banged.”

I glance around for the first time, noticing we’ve managed to attract a rather large group of fairgoers.

Laughter bubbles out of me and keeps coming and coming until it eventually turns into sobs.

I look hysterical right now.

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