Page 27 of Amethyst

“So much has changed in the last eight years.” She sighs and takes a drink. “How did you meet Mimi?”

“Online, actually. I wasn’t looking for anything serious. Just a companion to take to business functions. She seemed to be looking for the same. So we hooked up for a few coffee dates, and we hit it off. Things kind of mushroomed from there.”

“Why did you break up, Max?”

I sigh, and then I stand. Time for another drink. This time I pour myself only one finger. It won’t do to get inebriated and then be unable to perform. If this is the one time I can have Jenna, I’m going to make it great for both of us.

I return to the couch and sit.

“Are you going to answer me?”

Right. Her question.

“Like I said. Turned out we wanted different things.”

“Did she end it? Or did you?”

“It was mutual.”

The lie tastes bitter in my mouth, but I can’t lay the truth on Jenna. Not yet. She’s been through too much. Having her best friend profess his unrequited undying love isn’t what she needs right now.

And frankly, I’m not ready to confess anyway. I’m not sure I could take the rejection.

“Before we go any further,” she says, “there’s something I feel I need to tell you.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“This time—with you. It will be my first.”

I stop my jaw from dropping onto the coffee table. This is great news. It means she wasn’t raped on that island.

“You mean…”

“What I mean is”—she clears her throat, takes a sip of bourbon—“it will be the first time with…consent.”

And I’m stabbed. Bleeding out. Bleeding out right here on the couch.

Of course my first thought was too good to be true. I knew it, but I let myself think it anyway.

“God, Jen…”

She shakes her head vehemently. “I know you always thought Lucas and I had sex in high school. We didn’t. He wanted to, which is probably why he cheated on me and got Megan Brooks pregnant. By the way, they’re still together.”

“Oh? You looked him up?”

“No. Mom told me. I’m not sure how she knew, and I didn’t ask. Probably saw it on Facebook or something.”

“Well… Good for them, I guess.”

“Yeah. Their kid is eight now, and they have two more.”

“Okay.”

I don’t really know what else to say. I certainly don’t want to bring up what we were talking about previously.

“I didn’t say that to put any kind of pressure on you, Max. But I’m going to consider this my first time. I need to redefine what the act means. I can’t associate it with violence anymore, or I’ll never do it again.”

“Do you think it’s too soon, Jen?”

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