“Study date?” I make air quotes.
“Nah, this one is all business, which is better for my grades, but not my ego or my business end.”
“You focus too much on your business end,” Mac says.
Brody returns to the table. Enid’s back is to him, and his eyes are wide as he looks around the table and fires the double bird at us.
Enid glances over her shoulder, and he quickly runs his hands through his hair to hide the gesture. “Hey, Enid.”
“Hi, Brody.”
He apologizes when his arm brushes hers as he takes his seat. “What are we talking about?”
“Gage’s overused business end,” Cammie says.
“Like you’re one to talk.” Gage flings a hand in her direction. “Chase wears a permanent I-got-laid grin.”
Chase frowns. “I don’t have a got-laid face.”
“If it makes you feel better, Cammie also has a got-laid face,” Fee says.
“This is super true,” Cammie admits.
I sigh. “One day I’ll have a got-laid face.”
A couple of guys I’ve seen at parties before stop by the table to say hi. Apparently, they’re also going to this hockey party.
“See you there, virgin.” One of them winks at me as they start to walk away.
“Shut your stupid, fucking mouth, dickbag,” Gage snaps, surprising all of us.
He holds up both hands. “It was a joke!”
“How about we start calling you virgin and see how cute you think it is,” Brody says darkly.
“Sorry, man. Sorry.” He bows out, and he and his friend rush off.
“They’re assholes, just ignore them,” Mac says.
“I’m so tired of being completely untouchable or sexualized by douchebags who just want to say they popped a cherry. Is it too much to want someone to want me for the right reasons?”
Again, I feel bad for the way I approached Flip, because he might say the same thing. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never had a girlfriend, though, so maybe not.
“I don’t want my first time to be some drunken accident. I want it to be special, and I want to be in love.”
The table goes silent for a beat at Mac’s admission. I guess I’m not the last virgin standing after all. Mac flirts with the world, but none of us has ever seen him kiss anyone, let alone take someone home, or up to his room when he throws a party.
“I love that,” Cammie says. “I’m really glad Chase was my first.”
“And your last.” He kisses her temple.
“Sometimes I wish my first time had been different,” Enid muses.
“Me too,” Brody blurts. His ears turn red, and he looks absolutely gutted.
I don’t know the whole story, but there was a high school party involving Brody and one of Enid’s friends, and he’s forever regretted it.
The server returns with more plates of food, clearing away some of the empties, and the conversation shifts to holiday plans. It’s like my parents can sense me talking about them, and my phone buzzes with a call from my dad, but I let it go to voicemail. Toronto has a home game tonight. Part of me wanted to attend, but then I’d have to deal with my dad and see Flip. I’m taking my cues from Flip, and he’s messaged a few times about book-related stuff this week—he’s reading one of my recommendations. Things feel closer to normal, but I’m not quite ready to see him in three dimensions yet.
