He swallowed. “What’s the third question?”
I cleared my throat. This was the one I really wanted to ask him. “When was the last time you said ‘I love you’?”
“I never have.”
“Never?”
“Nope.”
“Not even to that girl you went out with?”
“Which one? No, not to anyone. Except maybe my grandpa.”
“Oh.” I genuinely hadn’t expected that answer.
“What’s the fourth?” Owen asked.
“What past action or decision would you change if you could?”
“Your turn,” he said.
“According toSeventeen, we’re both supposed to answer all five questions, but okay. I wouldn’t have eaten that second bagof chips. I need to fit into my dress, even though I hate the color Nicole picked for the bridesmaids. Salmon.”
Owen chuckled. “What’s the last one?”
“The last one is an open one—you get to ask whatever you want.”
“Ask.” He tilted his head like he was bracing himself.
I took a deep breath and shot the words out quickly, which was a small triumph in itself—I didn’t stutter. “Will you help me get rid of my virginity?”
The shocked look on his face ...
“I’m nineteen, in college, and I’ve never had a boyfriend and I fear I never will,” I rushed on, getting slightly stuck on ‘college’. “I’m the only one of my friends who’s still a virgin, and I’m always left out on all the jokes and conversations. I already feel like the odd one out. I want to be the odd onein.”
“First of all,” Owen exhaled and looked like he didn’t know where to begin and which way to attack my barrage of words. “Youwillhave boyfriends, I promise. You’re amazing, Rio.”
He shook his head like he was still processing. “Second, I can’t do that! You’re ... you’re Simon’s little sister, and you’re ... we’re friends, right?”
He didn’t sayno. He didn’t say he didn’twantto.
I held onto that. “I’m not his little sister, I’m just somewhat younger. And I’m not that young anymore.”
“Rio ...” Owen breathed out, rubbing a hand over his face. “I still have one question left; an open one, right?”
“Is that your question?”
“No.” He looked straight at me, piercing me with his eyes. “Why me?”
I bit on my bottom lip. Not in a sexy way. In anI’m sorry I’m doing this to youway. “Because we’re friends. Because I trust you. Because you’ve always been great to me. And because you’ll be gone next week and I won’t have to face you.” And despite myself, I added, “And look at you—you’re gorgeous.”
A dry, embarrassed chuckle escaped his lips. “I don’t know, Rio.” He sighed.
“Think about it like this—if this were our third date, you know what happens on a third date.”
“When did we have the first two?” Owen now looked amused. This wasn’t going the way I’d planned.
“Well, that time in the pool, we were alone and talked a lot. Remember?”
