Page 12 of When the Smoke Clears

He slid off the stool. “Don’t worry. I’ll get your drink so they don’t send the cops after you.” He deposited cash onto the bar.

I wrinkled my nose. “I was going to do that when I came back.”

Will rested his hand on my lower back, mouth close to my ear. “Our seats will be taken in two seconds. Why come back?”

I barely heard him because I couldn’t focus on anything but his big hand on my back. We wormed our way through the packed bar, and as we approached Victoria and Tyler, I took a quick step to the side so they wouldn’t see him touching me.

“We’re going for a walk,” I yelled over the deafening noise that vibrated so much I could feel it like teeth chattering.

Victoria eyed Will and then me before leaning closer, hand by her ear.

“We’re going for a walk,” I repeated.

She pulled away and grinned, eyebrows raised. Then she leaned in again. “Good choice. Will is trustworthy. Make sure he wears a condom.”

My head reared back. Was she serious? My gaze shot to Will, but he was busy laughing about something with Tyler.

“You can’t be a virgin doctor, Everleigh. I’m sorry. You just can’t,” Victoria yelled in my ear, and I turned red because she said virgin so loudly.

Surely my father would have thought I could absolutely be a virgin doctor, as any good dad did. As for my mom, well, I think she wanted a normal daughter who went to prom and discussed girl drama after school. Instead, she got the daughter who provided essays on the psychological effects of girl drama, teenagers, and social media. And, for the win, a comparison between Isaac Newton’s and John Locke’s theories on the age of reason.

Maya had a drawer in my bathroom with a box of condoms. And sometimes I caught her checking the drawer, only to frown when she discovered the unbroken seal on the box.

I imagined every day she sent my mom a text that said: Still a virgin.

“Can you take her home?” Victoria asked Will, squeezing his arm to get his attention.

I could get a cab or take a bus. There was no need for an escort. I’d just met the guy. Had I ruled out serial killer? Of course not.

Will glanced at me as if silently asking if I was okay with him taking me home and potentially dismembering me while whistling something catchy like the Nationwide insurance jingle. Maybe not. As a fireman, he was probably more of a homicidal pyromaniac. But I appreciated his checking with me. It made him even sexier, if that was possible.

Again, I felt a blush settle into my cheeks and perspiration in my pits as I shrugged and nodded.

“Sure thing,” Will said, satisfied with my consent, despite not really being old enough to consent to anything in California.

Tyler eyed us and then gave Will a smile. Was it a foregone conclusion that I would have sex with him? He returned his hand to my lower back and guided me out the door, dropping his hand to his side as we fell in step walking down the hill toward blocks of restaurants.

“Do you live here?” I asked, getting to know the man who would take my virginity or my life.

“Nah. I live in Missoula, Montana. I’ll be starting a new job at the fire department next month. I’m just here for the wedding. I’ve been hiking in Yosemite.”

“By yourself?”

“Part of the time. My dad joined me for two weeks.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. But the idea of camping alone in the bear-infested wilderness felt like a huge deal to me. “My dad is a park ranger, so I’ve spent a lot of my life in the wilderness.”

“Were you born in California?” I asked.

“No. Kalispell. It’s south of—”

“I know where Kalispell is.” I laughed. “It’s basic geography.”

“Basic geography?” Will shot me a quick sideways glance.

I adjusted my purse strap. “It’s on a map.”

He chuckled, shaking his head, then he slid his hand around my waist to pull me closer while we squeezed past a group of cackling women standing in the middle of the sidewalk. I liked how tiny and protected I felt tucked under his arm.

“That’s more than basic geography. I bet most people who don’t live here in the West have never heard of Kalispell,” he said, releasing me after we passed the women.