"But did you?"
"He's not a fuck buddy."
She bounces on the tips of her toes. "But you found a guy to teach you things?"
I wince. "Kind of."
"It is a guy." Her ponytail slips as she leans closer. "It can be a girl, by the way. I can share you."
"It's a guy."
"Damn." She squints at me. "Who?"
I look away. My stomach drops.
This is it. This is the moment to tell her.
She straightens, narrowing her eyes on me. "Oh,"
And for one horrible second, I think she already knows.
"Ohhh." Her face lights up. "A secret."
I glance back, heart in my throat.
She grins. "Okay, mysterious. I'll allow it. But I expect details eventually."
Relief crashes through me so hard my knees go weak.
"So," she prompts, "how'd this happen?"
I choose my words carefully. "He heard some stuff through the gossip mill. Asked me to tutor him. Said he'd... help me too."
"Transactional sex education." She nods. "Efficient."
"The problem," I blurt, "is that he's really cute."
She gasps dramatically. "Rude."
"I thought I could be impartial," I rush on, "but we kissed and now my heart's doing that stupid thumpy thing and I can't eat and-"
"Oh no," she cuts in, eyes lighting up. "You have a crush."
"No, I-" I stop, mind blanking, eyes widening.
Charlotte nods with a grin, brows raised. "You have a cute little crush."
I groan. "Please don't say it like that."
"You remember Will?" she says immediately.
I grimace. "Unfortunately."
"The date. You didn't eat for a week. He thought you were dieting."
"He left halfway through and said I needed therapy." I mumble dejectedly.
See I have this issue. Crush equals nerves. Nerves equal lack of appetite. Lack of appetite means I cannot eat.
