"Then don't tell your brother."
"He'd find out, keeping a secret on this campus is like trying to trap the wind,impossible. And you know how protective Leon is...ever since dad left."
The reminder of my father stings like a fresh wound, even though it’d been almost six years since he’d run out on us. Cheated on my dying mum, lied to Leon and I and then just ran instead of facing the hurt he caused.
Dad taught me exactly what kind of promises men keep. I was the idiot who thought Dain was different.
Charlotte hums. "Your mum died, your dad vanished, and Leon didn't even get to grieve before he had to grow up. Of course he's protective. He went from turning eighteen to being the sole guardian of his sixteen year old sister. But if you keep it a secret-"
I nod, "But Justin?" The name doesn't appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, Justin's nice and funny and I'm sure he's attractive too but he's just not my type. Plus, I've known him since I was like eight. He's been best friend with Leon and Charlotte brother Asher since they were children.
Charlotte laughs. "A secret tryst might be good for your twenties, imagine the stories."
"Imagine the rumours." I reply, shaking my head. "Justin can't keep his mouth shut."
"Well, it doesn't have to be Justin." She says before looking down at her phone, "Shit." She pushes from the kitchen island, "I got to get to work."
I just stand there for a moment after she leaves, staring at the empty packet of marshmallows like looking at the ingredients will give me the answers to life's mysteries.
It doesn't. Obviously.
I sigh, rolling my eyes at myself and reach for our cups as I push from the island.
Friends with benefits.
God.
What is wrong with me?
Maybe Charlottes right. Maybe it's practical. Maybe this is what normal twenty-one-year-olds do.
Learn. Practice. Be chill about sex.
Maybe I'm the weird one for spiralling about it like it's a moral crisis.
A noise has my head whipping to the archway.
My entire body locks.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Leon.
My stomach drops so fast it's embarrassing.
How long has he been home?
Did he hear everything?
The part about Dain?
The part about losing my virginity?
The part about wanting someone to teach me?
I freeze, suds sliding down my wrist, heart ricocheting against my ribs so violently I'm convinced whoever's behind me can hear it.
