Page 76 of The First Time

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Joel: You know what it's like. First time is a big deal to most women. They want it to be special, somebody they'll remember.

Piper: Yeah, I bet you make them feel really special.

Joel: Who was yours?

Piper: No comment.

Joel: Hotter than Kit?

Piper: Who's hotter than Kit?

Joel: That hurts. And you're awful at winning favor. That was a perfect setup for you to say "you're the only person hotter than Kit."

Piper: You're better than that.

Joel: That's a start. Keep the compliments coming.

Piper: I'll see what I can find out about Kit and the virgin.

Joel: Yeah. You do that. I'll let you know about the nymphomaniacs.

Ethan and Violet weren't exactly good at waiting until they were sure they were alone to start things.

I'm excited about Violet possibly being around. I'm going to call Ethan and demand details.

But there's something about Joel's texts.

I read them five times.

He can't realize...

There's no evidence.

There's no way Joel could know that Kit was leaving to see me.

But I'm pretty sure he does.

* * *

Ethan refusesto comment on seeing Violet. When I ask, he locks himself in his room.

Mal is more sympathetic. He admits that he convinced Violet to join Dangerous Noise on tour for the next week and a half. She's going to check over some potentially fucked accounting.

She's voluntarily spending her spring break on a bus with Ethan.

It's hard to do anything but get ideas about them getting back together.

About having Vi around again.

When Mal tells me she needs a ride to the venue for the show that kicks off the second half of their tour, I jump at the chance.

* * *

Seeing Violet is sublime.She looks even prettier than she did two years ago. Her once-long strawberry blond hair is now cut in an awesome short, edgy bob.

God, I hope she sticks around. Not just to teach me how she manages such a perfectly blended smoky eye, but to watch trashy TV with me, to cook dinner with me, to give me advice.

I get lost in catching up with her all the way to the venue. As soon as Ethan locks eyes with her, I know this is happening.

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