Page 46 of Be My First

I pick up my water and drink half the glass. When I set it down, I say, “Juno, it’s a bad idea. What happens after? How long would we be able to keep it a secret? I have far more to lose from this than you.”

She sinks down in her seat, looking defeated. “I’d like to just live in the moment.”

I laugh loudly. “Because you are twenty-two, and you should. I’m not.”

“You’re not that old,” she mumbles.

I’m really not, but compared to her, I’m...well, I’m in a completely different stage of life.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. She doesn’t make eye contact.

When the server comes back with our food, she smiles brightly at him and says, “What’s your name?”

“Leo.”

She leans forward and rests her arms on the table. It pushes her cleavage up – nearly spilling out of her sundress. Leo is noticing.

“Leo. That’s a great Italian name.”

“What’s your name?” He’s fallen in love. I’ve literally watched it in front of my eyes. I get it, dude. The same thing happened to me. I just lean back in my chair and cross my arms.

“Juno.”

His mouth curves up. “Oh, like the goddess?”

“Goddess?” she says, looking up at him through her lashes.

His face lights up. “Queen of the gods.”

She sits up a little straighter. “Queen of all the gods?”

He nods. “Goddess of love and family.”

“That’s nice,” she says.

He laughs. “She wasn’t. No offense. She’s a bit of a...”

He stops himself and turns red.

“Oh she was a bitch,” Juno says. “Interesting.”

“Powerful though,” he responds.

“Can women be powerful without being called a bitch?” she asks.

He’s not sure how to answer so I clear my throat, and he remembers I’m here.

“I hope your food is enjoyable,” he says before leaving.

She leans forward after he’s gone. “Is it my imagination or did he just call me a bitch?”

She digs her fork into her salad.

Without looking up from my plate, I say, “He didn’t. He was too busy checking out your breasts.”

She scoffs and says, “So were you.”

She’s not wrong.

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