Page 46 of Without a Doubt

Eva shrugs. “Haven't we established I'm nosey? I don't know, Emerson. I asked without thinking about it first. You don't have to answer.” She stares up at the ceiling and then her eyes close like we can go to sleep now.

I should let this go. In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I turn off the lamp and get comfortable. Why would Eva want to know? What would be the point? I don't want to know how many guys she's been with. I'm not the least bit curious. All I care about is that she's with me and only me.

“I've been with four, including you,” Eva blurts out. “Damn it. I'm sorry. Ignore me.”

I turn onto my side and reach for her hand. “Why do you want to know, Eva?” If she can give me a good reason, then maybe I'll reconsider.

“I don't really, but once I ask, I can't stop being curious about it. Don't answer. Let's go to sleep.” She squeezes my hand and cuddles up against me.

Before I can change my mind, I sigh, “Two, including you.”

Eva's silent for all of three seconds before she breathes, “Wow.”

“Why wow? What's wrong with two?”

“Nothing. That's not how I meant it. I just...wow.”

So, I tell her and her response is wow? What the hell?

“Sorry, Emerson. It made me rea

lize that it means she's probably even more important than I thought.”

“She?” It clicks when she lifts her head to look at me. “You're worried?”

“No, I'm not,” she quickly interrupts, which quite frankly doesn't help her case. “I just didn't realize your blast from the past included the only other person you've been with.” Her gaze drops, hiding those insightful blue beauties from me. “This is why I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry. Please knock me over the head, so I can stop thinking, talking, and sleep instead.”

Grabbing her chin with my thumb and forefinger, I keep her looking at me instead of away. “Eva,” I begin, but she interrupts me again.

“Don't say whatever you're about to say. Please, Emerson.” She looks so sure of herself as she continues, “I'm honestly not worried about anything because I trust you. I wasn't expecting your answer and I wasn't thinking about what it could mean.”

This time, I interrupt her. “It means my girlfriend could be considered more experienced than me. If anyone asks, that's my adjective, okay?” Anything to get off this topic and make her feel better without talking about the person she doesn't want to discuss. The person I don't want to discuss.

Eva laughs, the tension leaving her body. She leans forward and kisses me quickly. “I expect you to teach me a thing or two then.”

“I'll work on it.”

Finally, conversation is over and sleep becomes our priority. Kelly is wedging herself into my relationship with Eva, causing her to worry, and I don't like it. If I have to regret one thing about Eva knowing about Kelly, it's that she is worrying and it's over nothing. I don't want Kelly to become an issue or for Eva to worry I'll leave her for Kelly. The only way to reassure her is to show her I'm serious about her.

THE ONE GOOD thing to come from this weekend is that I settled things with Glen. I let go of my anger before Sunday, but I hadn't let him know yet. Besides, if there was any anger left, it went away when he brought cookies, which were gone by lunch yesterday, from my mother. When we went to Emerson's bedroom, I told him I was sorry for ignoring him all week. I was mad he lied, but I did put him in the middle, too. I promised I wouldn't ask and he didn't have to offer information. I don't want to pit him against his best friend just because we're family.

Glen seemed relieved. He doesn't want to be in the middle either. However, he promised that if he knew something and felt like I needed to know, he'd tell me. Only then would he intervene. We hugged and our spat was officially over.

Then, I had to ruin the entire day by asking how many girls Emerson had slept with. My worries are twice as bad now. He lost his virginity to Kelly. I'm the first girl he's been with since her. Their history scares the hell out of me. I don't know if I should still be worried since it's been a little over a week with no call from Kelly. I do trust Emerson, so what I need to do is stop thinking about her. It's not helping and it's driving me crazy.

Maybe I was crazy to think I could handle this. And by this, I mean Kelly calling, which she isn't doing anymore apparently. I tug a little too hard on one of my curls in frustration. Then I wash my hands because a customer has walked in, hopefully, my last of the night. I'm working every day this week since I'm taking the weekend off to go home. Emerson's schedule is pretty much the same, so I doubt I'll see him much this week.

When I make it back to the dorm, Catherine is just arriving as well.

“What? No Parker tonight?”

“What? No Emerson tonight?” she smarts back. We walk in, drop our bags, and plop onto the beds. “When is our next break? I'm sick of school already.”

“Not until next month for fall break. We need a girls' night soon. Emerson's driving me crazy. Well, this thing with Kelly is.”

Catherine props herself up on her elbows. “She call again?”

“No, but ever since he told me, I've been driving myself crazy. Not to mention, I asked him how many girls he's had sex with and guess what? It's only me and her.”

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