I could lie to him. I could tell him that I just don’t feel well from all the beer I drank or that the food I ate at dinner is upsetting my stomach…
But I can’t. I can’t look at my best friend in the eye and lie to him. Not when he’s been so sweet and kind to me.
I have to tell him the truth. I have to tell him why I was so uncomfortable that I walked off in the middle of a drinking game with his friends.
“It’s just…That game we were playing…It made me uncomfortable.”
He exhales sharply and shakes his head. “I knew it. Nick and Leo were being such assholes?—”
“No, Blake. It’s not their fault. It’s all on me. I…” I take a breath. “I’m a virgin.”
Blake’s brow hits his hairline. “Wait, seriously?”
That flirty tension that’s been building between us this entire night disappears in an instant. Blake stares at me, his eyes big, broadcasting his shock like an emergency beacon.
That hot, embarrassed feeling roasts me from the inside out. No more Blake thinking I’m a flirty little vixen. Now he knows exactly how lame and inexperienced I am.
“I’m serious. I’m a virgin. Which explains why I was so painfully awkward trying to play that drinking game with you and Nick and Leo.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
I let out a sad laugh. “Blake, come on. That would have ruined the vibe. ‘Sorry, guys. Can we play something else? I’ve never had sex before. Maybe we can play checkers or Monopoly instead?’ That would have been so pathetic. They would have looked at me like I was a freak.”
“Briar, no. They like you. They wouldn’t have said that.”
I sigh and wipe my nose with the back of my wrist. “I just wanted to play along. Feel normal for once.”
I stare down at my shoes for a long moment, listening to the music blasting from inside the house. When I look up at Blake, he’s gazing down at me, a pitying look on his face.
That lustful look in his eyes earlier tonight when we were being playful and teasing? Long gone.
And that’s when I know: We’ll never be anything other than friends.
Because he’s a hot, popular hockey player who’s been with tons of beautiful women.
And I’m his awkward best friend who’s inexperienced in every way.
He could have any girl he wants. Why would he choose an awkward virgin like me?
I cross my arms over my chest. “Sorry I ruined the night,” I say as I walk back up the porch steps.
“Briar, hang on.”
I can’t bear another pitying look from Blake. I can’t bear more well-meaning words of comfort.
Not after the night we had. Not after getting this close to being more than friends, then blowing it.
I don’t turn around. I don’t answer him.
I walk back in the house, go upstairs, and go to bed.
Chapter 13
Blake
“Dude, that was a hell of a party last night. I woke up in the bathtub with all my clothes on.”
I roll my eyes at Nick’s recap of his night while I brew a pot of coffee.
