Grabbing a red cup, I fill it to the brim. I quickly down all of it, as if doing so will make me disappear.
Then I fill it up again.
“So, you decided to come after all?” Brody kisses the back of my neck and briefly grips my hips. “I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” I turn around and he kisses me deeply.
He clasps my hand, leading me away from the crowd and into the hallway.
“Are you planning to stay the night with me?” he asks, pressing a kiss against my exposed collarbone.
“Yes.”
“Good, because I think I figured out why we’re having communication problems. I also know why you always stop when I’m trying to have sex with you.”
I raise my eyebrow, confused.
“It’s a trust issue, right?”
“No, it’s because you always conveniently forget to bring condoms.”
“We should take some time to address this.”
“Or, you can just remember to bring condoms. Better yet, you can ask me to bring condoms.” I tug at the strap of my purse. “I brought my own this time.”
He laughs and leans closer, whispering in my ear. “I think it would be better if you experienced a threesome for your first time. I think having two people tuned in to your pleasure would relax you.”
WHAT? I can literally hear my vagina threatening to set itself afire if I even consider this.
“You want me to sleep with you and another guy?” I want to believe this is a joke. “Like, for my first time?”
“No,” he says, running his fingers through my hair. “Another girl, someone you trust.”
“Who?”
“Kayla,” he says. “You said you two were getting closer, so…”
“So, what?”
“So, I think that a threesome would be good for all of us.” He presses another kiss against my neck and my flesh crawls.
I’m grateful that we haven’t been together too long, but I’m hating the fact that I’ll have to start over and find someone else.
There’s no way I’ll look at him the same after this.
“What do you say, Penelope?” he whispers. “It’s what I think is best, if you want to continue this relationship. What do you think?”
“I think we’re fucking over.” I push him away—hard, and head to the bathroom.
Slamming the door shut, I let out a frustrated scream and vow to call Kayla and tell her that she was dead wrong about me coming to this party.
I don’t want to wait for her to get here; I just want to go home.
As I’m splashing my face with water, a soft knock comes to the door.
Someone opens it before I can lock it shut.
“Last time I checked—” Hayden steps inside. “You’re not twenty-one years old yet. I don’t think you’re supposed to be drinking at a college party.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Dad. Last time I checked, you’re no longer in college, so you’re not supposed to be here either.”
He looks like he’s about to fire off more sarcasm, but his expression softens. “Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
“Because I’m skipping practice for this terrible party.”
“I can see that.” He smiles. “I’m sure your opponents would be quite pissed to know that you have tons of extra time to spend on dating.”
I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or an insult, so I don’t respond.
I lift the red cup to my lips, but he takes it and hands me a water bottle instead.
“All bullshit aside.” He looks genuine. “What’s wrong, Penelope?”
“I’m not talking to you about this.”
“If you don’t, I’m calling your brother and you can tell him.”
I’m tempted to call his bluff, but he pulls out his cell phone.
Ugh. Traitor. “I was planning to spend the night here when everyone went home, so I could …”
“Give away your virginity?”
“Hang out with my newest boyfriend.”
“You moved on from the last guy pretty fast.”
“Not as fast as you.” I gulped down the water. “Anyway, we’ve been arguing a lot more lately, so I came here so we can make up. But then he said he’d only do it if I gave him a threesome with one of my teammates.”
“Come again?”
“You heard me.” I avoid his gaze and sigh. “Travis hasn’t sent me any money lately, so I can’t pay you for gas right now. Tomorrow?”
“Not so fast.” He tilts my chin up with his fingertips. “Why would he ever have the nerve to ask one of your practice mates to join you in a threesome?”
“Because every guy who watches Kayla Lilith skate for all of five seconds is instantly turned on. He probably thinks we’re close enough friends that we’d want to share him.”
“Penelope, Penelope, Penelope.” He shakes his head. “You don’t see what’s going on here?”
“Yeah. You’re trying to make me feel worse about another breakup.”
“I didn’t make you feel bad about the first one. I only gave you my honest opinion.”
“You said that I have the body of a twelve-year-old girl.”