“So, Scarlett, what are your interests? Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” asked Minnie.
“Erm, I like surfing, and this might sound sad, but I genuinely like politics. Ihada boyfriend, but we broke up right before my dad died. He passed away last month.” Everything led her back to her dad’s death. Scarlett took a cracker and a piece of yellow cheese off the charcuterie plate and munched on it as she tried not to let her mood get dark.
“Oh wow, a breakup and a death in your family. I’m so sorry,” said Keeley, her eyes full of sympathy.
“Thanks,” said Scarlett. “I’ve barely processed any of it. I’m not sure where to begin, you know?”
And I’ve ruined the chat with my depressing life.
“Have either of you ever been through a big breakup?” she asked, hoping to move the conversation on. “He was my first boyfriend, so I don’t really know what to expect.”
“Getting over a breakup can take ages,” said Minnie. “I read in theEvory Journal of Medicinethat for every orgasm you have with your partner, you should be single for a day before you date again.”
Scarlett stared at her. How was she supposed to react tothat? “Really?”
“Evory Journal of Medicine—? Very funny,” said Keeley,scrunching her nose. “What if you’re a two-a-day kind of girl and you’re together for a year? You’re supposed to live the celibate life for two years?”
Scarlett laughed. “What if I’ve never had an orgasm but my last relationship was three years long? Am I allowed to get a new boyfriend right away?” Her hand flew to her mouth. That was literally the most embarrassing thing she’d ever said out loud.Thank you, alcohol.She glanced at Brayden again, relieved he was too far away to hear.
Minnie chuckled. “Good one, Scarlett. Can you imagine?”
“Wait… I think she’s serious,” said Keeley. “That was way too specific to be a joke. You never had one with your boyfriend? Or you’ve never had one at all?”
“Never had one at all,” mumbled Scarlett, feeling exposed as she stared at her hands in her lap.
“Girl, please tell me that’s not true,” said Minnie, her expression horrified.
Scarlett shrugged. She downed the remainder of her moon cider in one gulp. She hadn’t told a soul about her orgasm problems, and now she’d gotten buzzed and spilled her guts within twenty minutes of meeting Minnie and Keeley. Might as well go all the way. “It’s true.”
“That’s terrible!” Keeley took Scarlett’s hand in hers, giving it a sympathetic squeeze.
Minnie leaned in closer to Scarlett. “All right, my medical training is kicking in. I need to triage you. Have youtriedto get yourself off?”
From his seat by the fire, Brayden stood and took a couple of steps toward them.
“No!” Minnie put her hand up. “Sit down, please, and don’t interrupt until we’re finished.”
“Scar, you all right?” he asked.
She nodded rapidly, smiling at him to let him know sheappreciated him checking on her. “I’m good. We’re just having girl talk.”
“Okay.” After one last lingering glance at Scarlett, Brayden sat and took the hookah pipe from his amused neighbor.
“Answer the question, Scarlett,” said Minnie.
“I’ve tried a few times, and it never goes anywhere.” Scarlett’s face grew hot. “I’ve tried with my fingers a few times, and I’ve tried with a shower head.”Thathad felt good, but the feeling hadn’t escalated anywhere new, and after a few minutes she’d given up.
“Have you tried any sex toys?” asked Minnie.
Scarlett choked out a laugh. She didn’t know anyone who used sex toys.
“What’s funny? I’m dead serious,” said Minnie, incredulous.
“Sorry. No, I haven’t tried any. I’m not against them, but I’ve never come across one.”
“It’s so Soleil, isn’t it?” said Keeley to Minnie. “No offense, Scarlett. It’s just funny—Soleil is technologically advanced, but fuck me, if you aren’t the most emotionally, sexually repressed people in all Hieratia.”
“It’s so Soleil,” Minnie agreed. “I don’t want to paint the entire country with a brush of sexual repression, as generalities aren’t always true, but athree-year relationshipand you had not a single orgasm? What did your boyfriend think about his abject failure?”
