Page 32 of The Good Girl (Nashville Neighborhood)

After I’d agreed to be Preston’s ‘perfect student,’ I’d been so sure he was going to kiss me . . . but it didn’t happen. Instead, he dropped my hand, turned on his heel, and strode to the driver’s side of his car. Disappointment sagged my shoulders. It left me with no options, so I walked to the other side, pulled open the door, and climbed in.

He had just finished buckling his seatbelt when I was finally ready to talk about it. “Do you want to know why I’m still a virgin?”

His hand froze, hovering over the button to start the engine, and his expression clouded over. He turned to look at me like he was sure this was a trap. It made sense for him to be skeptical, but the real reason I hadn’t told him before was because I needed us to be alone.

“I’m a virgin,” I said, “because I’m stupid.”

This was the last thing he expected me to say. “What?”

Warmth heated my face, but I was determined to do this. “When I was younger, I made this rule for myself.” I fidgeted with the part of the seatbelt strap that was stretched across my lap. “I don’t know why. Maybe I did it because I wanted to please my parents. They’re really anti-sex, but especially premarital sex.”

They’d probably never understand the full effect their lectures and shaming had on my brother and me. Colin had rebelled immediately, sleeping with as many people as he could.

But me?

I was obedient. I had followed them without question and done my best to respect their wishes.

“So, I made a pact with myself,” I said. “I’d be a good girl in high school. If I was still a virgin when I graduated, then I wouldn’t feel guilty about giving it up after that. I’d be an adult, after all.”

Preston blinked and his voice turned quiet. “That’s not stupid.”

“Well, I did it. I got my diploma,” I placed my hand dramatically on my chest and lifted my chin, affecting a holier-than-thou attitude, “with my virtue intact.”

He didn’t react, and maybe he didn’t know how to.

I sighed and dropped the charade. “So, when I got to college, I thought, ‘I’m ready.’ A few weeks into the semester, I went to a house party with my roommate.”

The muscles in his shoulder tensed, and a worried look filled his deep eyes. Did he sense where the story was headed?

“I met this guy named Mason who seemed cool, and after a few beers, I agreed to go upstairs with him.” The warmth on my face graduated to fire. I understood I hadn’t done anything wrong, but—still. It was embarrassing that I hadn’t been smarter. That I hadn’t realized at the time how I’d put myself in such a vulnerable position. “I wasn’t wanting to have sex.” I lifted my shoulder in a shy shrug. “I thought we’d just fool around. But things . . . I don’t know. He moved fast, and he went super high-pressure when I told him I didn’t want to go any farther.”

Preston didn’t like the sound of that. His jaw tightened and his throat bobbed like he’d had to swallow back the words he wanted to say.

It made me speak faster, wanting to get through it.

“I was tipsy, and I didn’t know him.” All the strength left my voice. “I didn’t want my first time to be like that.”

“No,” he agreed.

“But Mason was impatient, and it got to the point where—for just a moment—I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out of the room until he got what he wanted.” I struggled to say it. “And that . . . scared me.”

The anger in his face shifted and was replaced with something new. It looked a hell of a lot like concern, and it was surprising to see, because he struck me as the type of guy who didn’t think that much about other people.

At least, not unless they were important to him.

Did that mean I was important to him?

“You don’t have to look at me like that,” I said softly. “It all worked out, and it was a while ago. I’m fine.”

He didn’t believe that at all. “Did you tell Colin?”

I made a face. “No. Why would I? I don’t need my brother to protect me, and more importantly, nothing happened.” I adjusted myself in the seat, wishing I could shake off the uncomfortableness lingering in my body. “But after that, I’m more careful, and,” I considered the right word, “selective. That’s why I want it to be you. You’re not some stranger—you’re safe. I know what I’m getting with you.”

He looked dubious. “Is that so?”

“Yeah.” It was meant to sound teasing, but there was truth buried in it. “I’m not afraid of you.” He searched my face like he didn’t believe me, and I felt compelled to show him. “And I can prove it.”

His lips parted. Maybe he was going to ask me how I planned to do that, but I didn’t give him the chance. I had a momentary surge of courage and went with it, leaning over the center console and reached up to pull his face to mine.

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