The line is silent for a beat, all three sets of eyes on me and, of course, it’s Grace who speaks up first.
“Okay, so when you say, ‘fooling around,’ what do you mean by that?”
“Oh, come on, Grace. They were totally banging,” Georgia blurts out before asking me, “Did this start before or after the roofie incident?”
“After,” I say. “But my feelings for him started way before.”
It took me close to two weeks before I finally found the courage to tell them about the party and Graham saving me. Iwas embarrassed that I let myself get into that kind of situation in the first place, but I also didn’t want them to find out from somebody else, because who knows how many people saw Graham leave with me that night.
Pondering that for a moment, Grace says, “Oh wow, this makes so much sense.”
“It does?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
“Yeah, Graham was so secretive around that time—mine and his sophomore year, right?” I nod. “Okay, yeah, I remember having a hunch he was seeing someone, but he’d never tell me who when I asked.”
“You always harassed Graham about his own personal business.” Gemma chuckles. “He would get so mad at you.”
“Well, he never told me anything.” Grace scoffs. Then, as if something clicks in her mind, she blurts out, “Holy shit, you were his first, weren’t you?”
“What?” I hiss, my face flaming. “Why do you say that?”
“Graham never had girlfriends in high school, until Megan,” she states. “And I never really thought much of it until one night in the summer when we were both home from college. Fletcher was at the house visiting too. Somehow, Graham and I ended up getting drunk and hung out with him. Looking back now, that’s weird, because Graham couldn’t stand him, but anyway, Fletcher was giving him shit because he assumed Graham was a virgin when he met Megan and how he was probably going to marry”—using air quotes, Grace continues in a deep voice—“the only pussy he’s ever had.”
“God, Fletcher was such a douchebag back then,” Georgia says, making all of us laugh.
“No, but he really was,” I say. “Howthatguy is the same man who is quite literally obsessed with you and would worship the ground you walk on is beyond me.”
“Girl, I don’t know,” she murmurs. “But he sure did shape up nicely, though, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but shut up and let me finish.” Grace huffs. “As I was saying, Fletcher kept giving him shit, and drunk Graham finally got sick of it and admitted that Megan wasn’t his first. But of course, when I asked who it was, he refused to tell me.”
“You’re so freaking nosy, Grace.” I chuckle. “God, I love you.”
“It was you, right?” she asks, proving my point.
I chew the inside of my cheek and shrug. “I never asked, but I always kind of had a feeling.”
“Okay, well, I think you’re not nosy enough.” She snorts. “How could you not ask? Weren’t you dying to know?”
“Well, yeah,” I reply with a laugh. “But communication wasn’t exactly my strong suit. Back then, our relationship, or whatever you’d call it, was a whole lotta miscommunication and tiptoeing around feelings.”
“Alright, well, I hate to cut this short, but I have to get back to work; otherwise, I’ll be here all night,” Georgia says. “But I’ll see y’all this weekend for the boys’ baseball game, right?”
“Yup, it’s the big game for Sutton and Beau,” Gemma replies beside me, referring to her and Grace’s sons. “If they win this one, they get to go to the playoffs.”
“We’ll be there with bells,” I say.
After they hang up, Gemma glances over at me as she stands. “I’m making us lunch,” she announces.”
“Gem, you don’t have to do that. I’m fully capable of making us food.”
“No way.” She snorts. “Graham will have my head if he knew I let you do that.”
Rolling my eyes, I grumble.I’m not even on bedrest.I hate feeling like everyone has to wait on me hand and foot. Although, admittedly, Gemma is a far better cook than I am, so whatever she throws together will, no doubt, hit the spot.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and when I flip it over, I notice it’s a text from Georgia.
Georgia: This makes me so excited. There’s nobody I could think of that’s better for my brother than you. Sorry I had to jump off the phone so quick, but I’ll call you tonight. Love you so big!!
