“The Virgin Mary must be thinking about giving it up. Who’s the lucky guy?” asks Jamal.
Lucy’s face turns beet red.
Kate, Jamal, and I laugh at her. Lucy is so innocent.
“Leave her alone,” says Kate.
“It depends on who you have sex with, Lucy. No one’s the same. Don’t be in a rush to have sex. Take your time and choose wisely. I was in a rush to experience my first time and it was a disaster. It lasted for about two minutes tops,” I tell Lucy.
Lucy is eating up all the information I give her. I lost my virginity when I was fifteen.
“Okay, all of this shopping has made me hungry. Let’s head to the food court,” says Jamal.
“I want to stop at one more store, you guys go ahead. I’ll be right behind you,” I say.
When we part ways, I continue to my destination. I bought my mom a charm bracelet three years ago for Christmas, and every year I purchase a new charm for her. After making my selection, I leave the store. As I’m walking down the mall, I trip and fall to the floor. Before I can make a move to stand, a strong arm grips me from around my waist, hauling me up. When I turn to see who my rescuer is, we bump heads.
“Fuck,” I say, putting a hand over my forehead, recognizing Jake.
He releases me to pick my bags up from the floor.
“Doing some last-minute Christmas shopping?” he asks as we start walking down the mall.
“Thanks for helping me up.”
“No problem.”
“And yes, I’m getting some last-minute shopping done. And you?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to buy the perfect gifts for my little sisters.”
“Have they talked about wanting anything in particular? The key to buying the perfect gift for someone is listening to their conversations.”
“Now that you mention it, they did talk about a doll with accessories.”
“I told you.”
“So, Maverick and you are together now?”
Well, the subject changed fast.
I look sideways at him. “Something like that.”
He gives a humorless laugh. I guess news of Maverick and I is spreading to other schools, as well.
“You could do so much better. Maverick is fucked up in the head, and he’ll fuck you up, too.”
“What you really mean is that I could do better with you.”
“Yes, what’s wrong with that? I never forgot about you.”
“You didn’t respond when I reached out to you.”
He smiles sheepishly. “Male ego. I was embarrassed I got my ass handed to me in front of you.”
I smile. “Yeah, he did beat your ass.”
“We should go out. No one has to know.”
