“Wait!” Sophie interjects. “You haven’t given us an update about…” She draws it out, unsure if she should say it aloud or not. Actually, I’ve only told her and now Maddie will freak out when I explain the Jenna situation.
“I asked if we could talk more about it tonight,” I say after sharing the news with Maddie who, in fact, lost her shit. “I don’t know how he’s so sure, but he asked me to trust him so…”
“If they were casually hooking up, maybe he thinks she was sleeping with other guys too?” Sophie looks at me with a pitiful expression.
“I might be a virgin and all, but even I know you can get pregnant after one time,” Maddie chimes in, and her confused tone makes me laugh. “I mean, right?”
I purse my lips and nod. “There’s always a chance even using protection, so unless they did it while…” The thought is so gross, I can’t continue.
“While what?” Maddie pushes.
Sophie catches onto what I was about to say and grimaces. “Ew.” She laughs. “Though I’m sure it happens.”
“Can you two fill me in please? You’re making me feel clueless.” Maddie pouts.
I lean in toward her and lower my voice. “Unless they had sex while she was…you know…on her period.”
We pull apart from each other, and she twists her lips. “People do that? Please tell me you’re messing with me because—”
“Wish I was, but nope. You normally can’t get pregnant during that time of the month, but hell, stranger things have happened,” I tell her.
“That’s disgusting!” She half laughs, half cringes.
“Yeah well, imagine how our talk is going to go tonight.” I sigh. “Not that I’m going to press him on specifics because it’s not my business, but we decided to wait until after the trip to discuss it so we could focus on being newlyweds.”
“It is too your business,” Sophie disagrees. “You two are in a weird ‘non-relationship’ relationship.”
“No,” I argue. “We’re just friends, Soph.”
“A friend you want to see naked,” Maddie adds with a taunting grin, and I’m seconds away from slapping it off her smug face.
“Joke’s on you because I’ve already seen him naked,” I blurt out, then immediately cover my mouth. Shit.
“What?” they exclaim.
I look at the imaginary watch on my wrist and start shuffling out of the booth. “Oh look, it’s getting late. I have to unpack and do laundry still.”
“Not so fast.” Maddie grabs my arm, pulling me back. “Spill the tea.”
I slouch back in the seat, and they’re staring at me. “It was an accident. I walked in on him just as he was getting out of the shower.”
“And you didn’t faint?” Maddie snickers.
“I was so embarrassed!” I hiss, my cheeks heat at the memory. “I turned around immediately.”
They both chuckle, and I mutter at them to shut up. “Can we drop it now? I need to be able to look at him tonight.”
“Were things weird when you got back last night?” Sophie asks.
“No, but…” I stop myself, realizing it’s too late, and they’re going to press me on it anyway. “We slept in my old bed at Mom and Dad’s, and when we were in our own rooms last night, I missed him.” I shrug, knowing they’re going to give me so much shit. “Well, I missed having a body next to me,” I quickly add.
“And?” Sophie raises a brow.
“I asked him to lay with me. So he did, and we fell asleep snuggling.”
“Aww…” Maddie singsongs. “So now you’re what? Sleeping buddies?”
My head drops, and I groan. “I don’t know. It sucks sleeping alone when you’re so used to having someone next to you.” Though if I’m being honest with myself, it was much more than that. I didn’t just miss that feeling, I missed him. The realization makes my head spin and my heart sink.
“What happened to boundaries, Lennon?” Sophie gives me a pointed look.
“Pretty sure they’re non-existent at this point.” I chew my lower lip, thinking about how things have quickly changed. Watching Friends and eating dinner together every night isn’t going to be something we can just fall back into. Not after our trip.
They both give me concerned looks.
“Do you want me to be truthful about all this?” I ask them. My heart flutters, knowing I can’t keep this from my sisters. I trust them with my life, and I hate keeping secrets from them. The only thing I have to lose is my heart, though I’m convinced I already have.
They nod and smile, leaning forward, waiting for me to speak.
“I’m scared of falling for Hunter, and opening myself and my heart to him. I’m also afraid of losing him and everything we have right now. Hunter has been my rock, my best friend, and I’m not sure I could really handle him not being in my life if we didn’t work out.” My heart is erratic as I pour out my truths.