But it did.
Never had two words struck so much fear into her. “I can’t do this,” she moaned into her drink. “I’m a fraud. A complete fraud.”
“Relax!” Georgie picked a cashew out of the snack bowl and flicked it at her across the bar. “I still don’t get it.”
Eva had known Georgie wouldn’t. When she’d texted her for help, Georgie had been eager, but surprised. Eva rarely went out for drinks or partied, not when there was so much work at Eva’s Organics to get done. But she simply didn’t have anyone else to turn to.
Nelson reached over to pat her hand, surprising her. “Sometimes I feel like a fraud, too. You think we all go around feeling mature and in control of every situation, twenty-four seven? Hell no, it doesn’t work that way. Sometimes you just have to fake it until you make it.”
“Sure. I feel that way every time the rent is due,” Georgie said, rubbing Eva’s back consolingly. “But then I go and fill my refrigerator with vodka, fuck my personal trainer, and refuse to make my bed, and I remember being an adult is awesome as well as scary. I don’t have to answer to anyone else anymore. Neither do you, cupcake. So what’s the big deal? If Jack Bennett makes you this nervous, find another guy to fuck. End of stress.”
Eva took a deep breath and counted to three. Then she let it out. “I’m a virgin,” she muttered.
Her two friends leaned in closer, eyes wide. “What?” they asked in unison.
“I’ve never done this before,” she said quietly. “Ever. So I’m pretty sure any man would make me nervous.”
A weird silence ensued. When Eva looked up, she caught their reflection in the mirror behind the bottles of liquor. Eva in the center, flanked by two friends who looked like they’d just seen a unicorn walk into the bar. They were staring at each other over her slumped shoulders, silently prodding the other to speak first.
Eva rolled her eyes, feeling even more self-conscious.
“Well,” Nelson mumbled finally, “we’ve all been there.”
Georgie tossed her hair again and wrinkled her nose. “I think.” Then she laughed. “Yeah. Really. So the fuck what? That’s a good thing to most guys.”
“I don’t know. I guess it’s a good thing, when you’re seventeen,” Eva said. “But when you’re twenty-six, it’s kind of lame, right?”
Nelson said, “Well...” and Georgie paused for a beat too long before uttering an irresolute, “Nah.”
Neither could make eye contact with her. The liars.
A sick feeling began to root in her stomach. She checked her phone. It was five o’clock. Only one hour and she’d be with him. With Jack. And he’d obviously want to you-know-what, which was her idea to begin with. Oh, God. The thought of him doing those things to her made her body quiver with a combination of need and panic.
“And, um, I felt him,” she rambled on. “Sunday night? And he’s really, I mean really big. Like whoa kind of big, so what if we can’t even do it? What if it won’t fit?”
Georgie’s mouth dropped. She whooped. “So, really? He’s big? How big? Like, give me actual measurements.”
Eva scowled at her. “I’m sorry, I left my ruler at home.”
“I mean, sorry if I don’t take your word for it.” She smiled and patted Eva’s hand condescendingly. “But you said it yourself. You’re a virgin. How do you even know what’s big?”
Eva conceded. “Well, the thought of that going between my legs makes me worry about the fate of my other internal organs. Is that a bad sign?”
They all laughed. Nelson said, “Honey. Look. It’s not a big deal. I’ve taken a ton of huge cock and I’m not even biologically built for the job. Your intestines will likely stay in the right place.”
“Right, and if not, it’s a good thing we have such a fantastic medical plan at our company,” Georgie joked, her smile fading as she inspected her friend. “But wow. You’re really scared about this, aren’t you?”
Eva shrugged. She didn’t want to be, no. She wanted to be as free and confident as Georgie. “It’s not just the sex part. I’ve known Jack since I was ten. I’ve always looked up to him. And I trust him. He’s one of the few people I know for sure would never hurt me. I just don’t want this to change things.”
Georgie’s face fell. “Change things? Sorry to break it to you, sweetie, but this’ll definitely change things. How can it not?”
Eva stared at her, confused, wondering what the virgin was missing this time.
“Notwithstanding the fact that you’ve known him most of your life. He’s going to be your first lover. You can’t help but get attached to your first.” Georgie sighed pensively. “Seriously. I’ve put a lot of distance between me and my first, and well...” She tapped the side of her head. “He’s still in here. He was nothing, a nobody, but I still remember his name and his favorite major league baseball team and that he tasted like maple syrup and that he scarred me for life by not calling me the next day when I felt for sure we’d get married and have pretty babies together.”
Georgie’s shoulders slumped and her gaze fell to her lap. She suddenly looked smaller. Nelson and Eva stared at her, hardly able to believe this was the same person.
Finally, Nelson said, “That was the most pathetic story I ever heard. Are those tears?”