Page 14 of Purity

Her dark brows draw together. “Are you sure you have to tell them? You don’t want to try out my unhealthy method?”

“It’s different for me. You don’t struggle with asserting yourself. You’re not weak and scared like I am.”

She sets her hand on mine and gives it a squeeze. “I don’t know where you got the idea that you’re weak. You’re a softie, but you have a spine of steel. I’ve never seen you back down when you think something is right.”

Warmth washes over me. “That’s maybe the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

She squeezes my hand. “It’s the absolute truth. Alright, let’s get inside. I’m about to pee my pants after all that beer.”

As soon as we walk inside my house, we make our way quietly up the stairs. Just as I’m about to walk into my bedroom, Vanessa’s door opens. She walks out into the hallway and gives both Mari and I an up-and-down look. “Are you drunk?” she asks me.

I frown. “I drove.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, you said you want to be adventurous, and Mari drives drunk all the time.”

I glare at her. “Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“You’re being snotty.” I take a step in her direction. “I was going to invite you to hang out with us in my room so I could give you guys all the details about my conversation with Cole, but I’m not going to if this is how you’re going to act. Is that what you want? Do you want me to keep things between me and Mari from now on?”

Her frown falters, and God help me, she almost looks like she wants to cry. Why does this have to be so hard? Why do two of the three most important people in my life seem like they’re going to crumble if I make a few changes? It doesn’t bode well for when I tell my parents everything.

“No, I don’t want that,” she says, her eyes fixed on the carpet.

My frown softens. “I don’t either.”

She meets my gaze. “Can I still hang out with you guys? I bought some Flaming Hot Cheetos earlier. I can grab them if Mari has the drunken munchies.”

“Ness, you know the key to my heart,” Mari says, “and if you go get me a Dr. Pepper from the pantry, I’ll forgive you for saying I drive drunk all the time.”

Vanessa nods frantically before brushing past us. As soon as she makes it to the staircase, I turn to Mari and shoot her an exasperated smile. “All the time,” I whisper. “You drive drunk all the time.”

She laughs quietly. “I’ve literally never driven drunk once. And how would she know? Is she spying on me?”

I shake my head and walk into my room. Goodness, my baby sister is not taking any of this well.

A couple of minutes later, we’re all sitting on my bed with a bowl of bright-red Cheetos between us.

“Okay, I’ve waited long enough.” Mari grabs a handful from the bowl. “Tell us what happened.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “I had my first kiss.”

“What?” Mari shouts, and I giggle and reach forward to put my hand over her mouth, which sends her into a fit of silent laughter.

“No way!” Vanessa whisper shouts.

“How was it?” Mari asks.

I sigh heavily as a visceral memory floods my senses. Cole’s big, warm hands on my waist and in my hair. That delicious groan that filled my belly with heat. “Magical.”

“I knew it! So does this mean he said yes?”

Her question pulls me out of my daze. “No, sadly. But he did say he would think about it. He was definitely weirded out when I asked him, but I expected that.”

“I told you he wouldn’t say no,” Mari says. “He probably just didn’t want to seem too eager by saying yes right away.”

“Did he tell you how long he needs to think about it?” Vanessa asks.

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