Page 42 of Meet Cute the Virgin

I have to agree. Cleaning is the bane of my existence. One of the biggest fights I’ve ever had was with a duvet cover because it kept mysteriously swallowing the comforter inside.

“I think he has a team.” I plop down next to her, tucking my legs under me. “Like a secret society of butlers who specialize in erasing evidence.”

“Evidence of what? Your pyromaniac tendencies?”

“You were the one who wanted the fire!” I gesture toward it. “I’m shocked Roland didn’t seal it up.”

“You told me to flip the switch.”

“Not twenty-five times.”

“It was four.” She pauses. “Maybe seven.” Teddy glares over at the fireplace. “Ro didn’t have to seal it up. He put a stupid lock on the switch thing that only he and Killian know how to open.”A small growl leaves her. “Guess I’ll just freeze to death!” she shouts in case anyone is close enough to hear.

“I’m sure Killian will come turn it on for you if you ask.”

Teddy’s smile turns into an evil smirk. “Nope, it’s now girl time and I don’t want any interruptions. Spill it.”

I pick at an imaginary string on my sweatpants.

“What—”

“Lily Pad.” She slaps my shoulder with the back of her hand. “I don’t know anything. Not one single detail. Like, are you still holding that V-card, or did he punch it?” She wiggles her brows in true Teddy fashion.

I pull my knees to my chest, my cheeks warming thinking about it. “Yes,” I mumble, dropping my head back, staring at the ornate ceiling. “It was—” I pause, trying to find the right words. “It was everything. And nothing like I imagined.” I groan. “I don’t know how to feel about it all. A lot happened in a short amount of time.”

“Or do you not want to admit how you feel about it?” Teddy pushes back, knowing me well. Most times that’s a blessing, but others it’s a curse.

“I don’t know what happened. One second I’m waking up freaking out that someone is in the room, and the next we’re all hands, mouths, and all the other things. He started it, but I was the one that pushed it into full-on sex.”

I went for his belt buckle, the need to have him inside of me winning out above everything else. All the years of pent-up need and want won out.

“You’re still pissed because there has been a lot of hurt to get to this point.” That’s true. It’s not as though how we came together is normal.

“I should be running. I know this. He broke into my bedroom, Teddy. He watched me for months without meknowing. He followed me here. Any sane person would be calling the police.”

Teddy lets out a small gasp. “Are you sane?” she whispers, like it would be terrible if I were.

“Apparently not.”

“Oh, thank God. I’m glad we cleared that up. So what now?”

“Wanna hear something crazy?”

“Always.” Teddy wiggles over closer.

“He told me he was a virgin too.”

Teddy’s eyes go wide, then she bursts into laughter. “Holy shit.” She falls back against the cushions. “Oh God. Two obsessed stalkers with zero experience finally finding each other. It’s like a terrible romance novel.”

“Hey now.” I grab a throw pillow and hit her with it. “Kettle, pot, bitch.”

“I know, I’m messing with you. It’s my favorite type of romance trope.”

I think about the way he kissed me. Hard, then soft. The way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world. The way he said he’d find me anywhere, and I believe him. He’s proven it.

“He’ll find me,” I say. “If I run, he’ll find me. And part of me...” I swallow because I have to say the next part out loud. If anyone will get it, it’s Teddy. “Part of me loves that. It’s sick, right? Wanting someone to be that obsessed with you?”

“It’s human.” Teddy’s voice is soft. “Wanting to be chosen. Every day. Even when it’s fucked up. I mean, we’ve lost people in our lives, and our families were never big. Now we have these men we know will always show up. There’s comfort in that, and as nutty as it sounds, it’s freeing.”