“Hold on.” The truth started to emerge. “Selena told me she’d seen you and Terry making out at the bonfire before homecoming. Tim and Darren confirmed it. Are you saying they all lied?”
“Hell yes, they all lied! Why didn’t you ask me about him? I would have told you as much.”
Dumbfounded, he barely noticed when she let go of his hands. “Really? You never slept with him? That’s why we broke up.”
“We broke up becauseyouwere seeing Selena on the side.”
“I only went out with her because you were doing Chapman. Wait, wait.” He clutched his head, his whole world turned around. “So you never cheated on me with Terry?”
“No. I didn’t.” She planted her hands on her hips, and dear God, he believed her.
“Holy shit.” He wanted to strangle Selena then toss the remains to Ann for real retribution. “I’m so sorry. I thought…”
“But why?” Her eyes pooled, bewitching, bewildered. “I loved you so much. I was devastated when you broke up with me—forherof all people. You were so cruel about it.”
As if it were yesterday, he remembered the scene in the school lunchroom. “Damn. I thought—”
“If you had asked me about it back then, we could have talked. We always used to tell each other everything. Why didn’t you ask me?”
His face felt hot. “Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?” She took his hand, and his heart raced like crazy.
He was embarrassed to admit it. “Afraid I’d driven you to him. That it was my fault. Hell, Ann. You were the only girl I’d ever been with. Sexually.”
“I know.” She gave him a wan smile.
“I never seemed to last that long, and the guys always talked about how to be better in bed. About how the girls measured us by how we performed.”
“Inever did that.”
“I didn’t think you had. But Terry had a rep for being a real stud, and everyone knew he was into you. Then Selena and a few guys kept talking about him and you. And there was a rumor you were done with me and wanted him instead. I was embarrassed. I thought I was a stud, and it turned out you thought I was a limp dick.”
“I didnot.”
“God, I get it now. I was ashamed and pissed, so I thought I’d embarrass you instead. I had no idea… If I see her again, I’m going to—”
“No. Let it go.” She moved into his arms and hugged him, and he felt like everything might just work out. “All this time I never knew. I mean, we were so happy and the world was ours.” She paused and quieted. “Then you threw me over. I thought you’d been cheating on me.”
He pulled back to stare at her. “Ann, I never looked twice at anyone else. If I hadn’t been more interested in saving my pride, I would have known you would never cheat on me.”
“Certainly not with Terry Chapman.” She grimaced. “He was a pig. One of Selena’s throwaways, I think.”
“That ass. So you never cheated. I was good in bed even back then?” His voice lilted like a question, and he wore a grin so wide he felt the joy to his toes.
“For the record, I never cheated. You were a major stud, but nowhere near as good as you are now.”
“Good. You keep thinking that.” He kissed her, wanting her right now.
She put a hand on his chest and ended the kiss. “And you and Selena…?”
“Are you kidding? I thought I sucked in bed. You think I wanted to sleep with her and have it confirmed? We dated in public to rub your nose in it. And no, I’m not proud I did that, but at least I never fucked her.” He shivered. “Thank God.”
“Well, she is on marriage number three.”
“Four, actually.” He shook his head. “Yep. Karma’s hitting her hard. But I don’t think she’s noticed.”
“Not as hard as Maya’s going to want her hit her when she finds out what she did.”
