He laughed. “Anything?”
“Yes.... Um, but...” I bit my lip. “I have something to tell you.”
“You can tell me anything, baby, you know that.”
“Yes, I do, but this is kind of... well, sensitive.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Then rip the Band-Aid off and just tell me.”
“I’m still a virgin.”
“Come again?”
“You’ll be my first,” I said.
“Are you serious?”
“Yep,” I said, with an extra pop on the P.
“What about that guy junior year?”
I narrowed my eyes. “How did you know about Nick?”
He smiled. “You don’t think I didn’t check up on you?”
“Nick wasn’t you,” I said with a sigh. “No one I ever dated was, so nothing ever lasted very long.”
“Well, then, I’m very glad you pulled your head out of your ass so I could blow your mind,” he growled.
“Excuse me?” I hissed.
“You heard me.”
“Are you seriously trying to pick a fight right now?”
He pulled away, dragging his hands through his hair.
“What the hell just happened?” I asked.
“I would have waited,” he rasped.
“What do you mean? Waited for what?”
“If I’d had any fuckin’ clue you were into me, Tate, I would have waited.”
“Oh, right,” I whispered, my heart breaking in two as I suddenly realized how deep I’d hurt him. “Oh my god, Parker, I’m so sorry. I should have—”
“Don’t,” he ordered. “Just give me a minute to process.”
I nodded, crossing my arms while he stared out at the water. I gave him about three minutes before panic set in. “Do you hate me?”
“Jesus, Tate.” He sighed. “Of course I don’t hate you.”
“I wish I could go back and change everything.”
He closed the distance between us, sliding his hand to my neck and tugging me forward. “Don’t go there, Tate. We’re gonna work this out, I just need a second to get over feelin’ like an asshole.”
I gasped. “Why wouldyoufeel like an asshole?”
