“Let’s party!” she cries, and I can’t help but laugh. This is definitely preferable to actually going out and partying. I’ve always been more of a homebody, and thankfully, so is Kristy. I don’t think I could deal with a best friend who wanted to always go out and get drunk on weekends.
We sit together on my bed and look through a streaming service, trying to decide what movie we should watch. Eventually we settle on a new rom-com that was just released.
“Ah, romance!” Kristy sighs as she opens a bag of sour gummy worms. “I still can’t believe how much romance is in my life. I never thought I’d be going on so many dates!”
“Who are you seeing now?” I ask. “Just one or a few guys?”
She bites enthusiastically into a gummy worm, and I take a handful for myself. Orgo Weight Loss be damned, I think with satisfaction. After all, I’ve found two gorgeous men who like me just the way I am.
“I’m still seeing Nolan,” Kristy says. “And this upperclassman named Jake, who took me on a walk through the park, and then we had a picnic with a bottle of champagne. It was so romantic. And this other guy named Lucas, who says he wants to see me again but just got out of a four-year relationship, so I’m not sure that it’s the best idea. And then that asshole Brett was the one who stood me up tonight, so like, fuck him, I guess.”
I nod, trying my best to be present and listen. I’ve been so distracted lately by my own budding romance that I haven’t been the best friend to Kristy. I’m determined to do better.
“Which one do you like the most, besides Brett the Asshole?” I ask.
She laughs. “I don’t want to choose!” she proclaims. “They’re all so hot, built, and nice too. And I have to be honest – the sex has been great with all of them.”
“Oh my God, have you been having sex in our room when I’m not around?” I ask in mock horror.
Kristy giggles. “Um, no. We usually do it at their place.” She suddenly looks a little crestfallen. “I’m honestly upset that I’m not getting any tonight, though.”
I giggle.
“It’s fine though! I mean, you’re having sexy times with a bunch of guys, which is so awesome. Can I just say how proud I am of you?”
My friend giggles as well.
“I know, right? But I have to admit that my lady parts sometimes get sore from so much usage, and it’s the worst when you can’t remember who you’re with. I almost called Jake Lucas, and Lucas Jake the other night. Good thing it was a scream so I was able to modify it to ‘Jayyyy-Lucas!’”
I keel over with laughter, holding my stomach because it almost hurts.
“I’m sorry,” I say, offering her a bag of chocolates, which she accepts. “But it sounds like fun at least.”
Kristy nods but then sighs.
“I just want one of these guys to actually want to be my boyfriend though,” she says. “Like, I’m loving dating around, but one of them has to commit eventually, right?”
“One of them definitely will soon,” I assure her. “You’re a catch!”
She laughs. “Well, thanks. We’ll see.” Then, she nudges me playfully. “C’mon, Violet. I’m sure you’ve been having sex in here while I’m not around.”
I shake my head and say “nope” very truthfully. I definitely haven’t had sex in our room. I don’t think Scott, Mike, and I would all fit in my twin extra-long bed, anyways.
A blush colors my face, and Kristy notices it immediately. “What’s that?” she asks, poking my cheek.
Uh-oh. “Nothing!” I protest. “I just… I’m, uh, embarrassed that I haven’t hooked up with anyone lately.”
“Nah,” Kristy says, eating another gummy worm. “You wouldn’t blush because of that. C’mon, Vi. I know you better than that. Who have you been banging?”
On the outside, I’m opening a bag of chocolates with fierce concentration. On the inside, I’m panicking. If I were considering being open, I’d do it with Kristy. Still, I’m not sure that I’m ready to let the juicy details spill. She’s in my class with me, after all. Mike and Scott are her professors too!
Maybe I should make up a story about hooking up with someone else. Maybe I should deny everything. Or maybe I should tell her the truth and finally, finally voice the deep, dark secret that’s been with me for weeks.
Making up my mind, I rip open the bag of chocolates and unwrap a caramel-filled one. “So I actually did recently do the dirty,” I mention, popping a chocolate in my mouth as nonchalantly as possible.
Kristy’s eyes widen and she pumps her fist into the air victoriously. “I knew it!” she cries. “With whom? Is it someone I know?”
This caramel is much chewier than I anticipated, so I get another extra few seconds to plan what I’m going to say. “You do know them,” I say. “But I didn’t know them when we first hooked up.”