I eyed her carefully. “So you’ve never been pressured or anything?”
“Truthfully? I’ve only had sex once. And I did it because I wanted to get it over and done with, and the guy seemed more than willing. Maybe not the best way to lose my virginity, but he didn’t pressure me or anything. It was my decision.” She laughed, then grimaced. “Actually, I think he was shocked when I told him I wanted to.”
Yeah, he wasn’t expecting such a killer score.
I studied Melissa’s face. There was no hint of buried secrets. She didn’t appear scared or hurt. I believed her, and once I made that decision, I knew in my bones it was right.
We chatted pleasantly all the way to her car.
“Are you sure you’re okay to drive home?” I asked.
“The nurse gave me permission, so if anything happens, it’s on her, not you,” she said, grinning.
Thank God.
I waved as she pulled away, thinking that Hunter might be cleared.
***
I knew the risk I was taking by talking to Ryan at school. I knew I could lose Cal forever and never see my plan materialize, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I simply couldn’t stay away from Ryan. My body couldn’t. My mind couldn’t. He wanted me, that much was evident, but it was the way he slowed me down, the way he forced me to take a breath that hooked me. He didn’t want to rush into anything, a concept foreign to me. I never had that with Finn. We had sex almost immediately when we started sneaking around. That was really the whole point of our sneaking around. I realized I didn’t want to jump into sex with Ryan. I thought initially I did because of my over-the-top physical attraction, but I found it was a whole lot sexier to wait. And to burn with it.
I sidled over to Ryan’s desk Friday.
“Why haven’t you said ‘hello’ all week?” I asked, pouting.
He grinned. “I thought I’d play hard to get.”
“So all those secret smiles and flirty winks were just a game?” I asked.
“I gave you flirty winks?”
“A ton,” I replied.
He licked his lips. “It wasn’t a game. And I was going to cave today anyway. You beat me to the punch, though.”
“Well, lucky for you I didn’t lose interest,” I teased.
“Hmm. I’m not too worried about that. I have a Playstation and you don’t. Sooner or later, you’d be crawling over to my house begging to play.”
I burst out laughing. “You are soooo cocky.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m not cocky. I just know you, Brooke. And you know me, too. It’s inevitable.”
“What’s inevitable?” I asked, blushing.
He answered with a smile.
“That’s all I get?” I asked.
Ryan sighed. “I wish we didn’t have assigned seats.”
“You’re impossible,” I huffed, and walked to my desk.
I glanced at Cal, who stared at me. I guess he watched the entire exchange. He looked confused and rejected. It was almost comical, like he simply couldn’t understand how a girl would choose another guy over him. I was playing a dangerous game, and I prayed I’d come out the winner.
I smiled at Cal then took my seat. I heard a rustling behind me, and before I knew it, Cal was at my desk.
“You busy tonight?” he asked.
“I’m working,” I replied.
“What about tomorrow night?”
“Um . . .”
“I thought I could take you bowling,” Cal said.
“Bowling?”
“What? Not fun? We could do something else,” he offered.
I glanced at Ryan. He was busy pulling books out of his bag.
“Why are you talking to him?” Cal whispered. “I thought I told you to stay away from him.”
Whoa. Alarm bells. Increased heart rate. Mild panic.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Cal said quickly. “It’s just, that guy’s no good, Brooke. I know you’re friendly and everything. You’re a sweet girl, but that can also make you naïve.”
Fuck you.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Cal said, shaking his head. He was frustrated, knowing he was saying all the wrong things. “I meant that I would feel awful if anything happened to you.”
Would you?
“I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life. You can be friends with whoever you want, but I’m just saying. Some people will only drag you down.”
Lucy sat in the desk beside me, listening to Cal’s words, and I wondered what she was thinking. I thought about her words: “Stay away from him.” What would she think of me if I agreed to go on a date with him? Would that be the last straw? She’d either stop being friendly altogether or confess to me what he’d done to her as a warning. I took a chance developing pringles.
“I guess we could go bowling,” I said.
Cal looked surprised. “Really?”
I nodded. I was afraid Ryan might hear, but the classroom was pretty rowdy, so I doubted it.
“Pick you up tomorrow night at seven?” he asked.
I nodded again. He started towards his desk, and I grabbed his arm.
“I didn’t tell you where I live,” I said.
“Oh, I know where you live,” he replied.