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“I probably won’t,” Paulette admitted, “but that’s just because I can’t even tell when I’m being too much.”
We all gave a laugh at that. “Okay, fair enough,” I said. “We’re two for three. That’s pretty good.”
“That’s only sixty-six percent. That’s a D grade,” Lana said.
“A D-plus,” Paulette argued.
“Now I see why it took you four years to get your credentials,” Lana said.
“No, that’s a secret. You meanie,” Paulette complained.
Another chorus of laughter followed, and the tension about the coming transition melted out of me, replaced with that girls night camaraderie I hadn’t realized I’d so desperately needed.
We moved on to conversations that were a little lighter, a little more fun. Paulette shared a bit about her relationship with Ginger, which was surprisingly worshipful despite Ginger’s cut-and-dried communication style with everyone else. Honestly, some of the things Paulette shared with us that had come out of Ginger’s mouth were enough to make me blush.
Lana wound up sharing way more information about Travis’s genitals than I ever wanted to know. And it was safe to say that I hadn’t wanted to know anything about them at all.
I finally buckled and told the girls about the experience I’d had with Cole when he’d claimed me in the woods in Georgia. They all listened with wide-eyed, rapt attention, and much to my surprise, even Lana was blushing by the end of it.
“Man, now I want sex,” Paulette pouted.
“Same,” Rosie said.
“I mean, that’s easy enough to arrange for you,” Lana said to Rosie. “Ashton’s just downstairs, right?”
“I’m not just gonna have sex with a guy I barely know!” Rosie protested.
“Why?” Lana asked at the same time that Paulette said, “But that’s some of the best sex there is!”
“Guys,” I said, putting my hands up to try and chill them out. “Not everyone is comfortable with just stripping naked for the first guy they find hot.”
“I’m just saying, if you go down there and tell him you’re down to fuck, I don’t think he’s going to say no,” Lana said. “You can get laid, pass out, and if it sucks, you don’t have to talk to him ever again. Not complicated at all.”
Rosie looked to me as if I could confirm or deny this. I shrugged. “Don’t look at me! I’ve only had sex with two people!”
“To be fair, Lana, wasn’t Travis supposed to be a fling?” Paulette asked.
“Listen, Travis was the exception to the rule,” Lana said.
“Look, it’s not even about the commitment or whatever,” Rosie said. “I just don’t even know if I could get comfortable enough to sleep with a guy I just met. I mean, you’re, like, naked and sweaty, and there’s all these sounds and smells…it’s just awkward.”
“That’s fair,” I said, nodding.
“Fiiiine,” Paulette said, throwing herself back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh. “I just want it to be known that I ship it.”
“You’re such a teenager sometimes,” Lana teased.
“It’s my best quality,” Paulette said. “The mouth of an adult, the interests and playfulness of a high schooler.”
“Sure,” Lana said wryly. “Your best quality.”
Once we finished the wine, we all piled together in some sort of wine-drunk puddle. Playing with each other’s hair and giving each other compliments, telling each other how much we appreciated each other. It was so nice, and very much needed, if I was honest. Sometimes, you just needed time with your girls to sort things out emotionally.
I was so grateful for these friends of mine. So glad they’d fallen into my life and decided to stay there with me.
Rosie and Paulette both fell asleep before Lana and me, leaving us talking in hushed tones about this and that while Lana combed her fingers though Paulette’s hair and I gently brushed mine over Rosie’s brow.
“You know, Marley,” she said under her breath, “I really am proud of you.”
