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“Christine?” I say, hearing the question in my voice.

“My best friend,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice even though he doesn’t look at me. “She’s single.”

So not a girlfriend. He picks up the frame of the two of them and angles it toward me, pointing at her.

“That’s her. I could introduce you.”

My gaze slides to her face. “Unless she’s into one-night stands, I’m probably not her type,” I tell him honestly.

“One-night stands?” His nose scrunches up. “How do you do…that…with someone you don’t know?”

“Are you judging me?” I smile.

He shakes his head hard. “No. I’m just curious. It sounds boring. You know. Like not having any kind of feelings for the person.”

I laugh. “I have feelings for them.”

His eyebrows raise, and he turns toward me. “Then why is it a one-night stand?”

I have to think about it. “Because a relationship would take time I don’t have. I have to focus on my future. And everyone has needs. The people I sleep with understand.”

“Everyone has needs?” he repeats it, but it sounds like a question.

“Uh, yeah. Don’t you?” Sue me. Curiosity has won out. My homework is forgotten as I shift on my bed to face him.

His face goes red. “I…I mean…of course I masturbate.”

“Yeah, I’m sure everyone does. But like…with another person.”

“I’ve never…” He flushes a deeper shade of red. “I’m a virgin. I’ve never even kissed someone before.”

My eyes dip to his lips. That’s a crime. Those lips have never touched anyone else?

I drag my gaze back up before I pop a boner. “That’s not—I mean. That’s fine. Normal even. Plenty of people⁠—”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Make it sound like a good thing so I don’t feel weird.” He picks at the corner of his notebook. “I know it’s not typical. I just…haven’t wanted to. With anyone. It never seemed worth it. And now…” He swallows hard, and I watch his Adam's apple bob. “Now, it might be too late.”

“Too late?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how to do anything, and I’m sure that someone would expect at least some knowledge. Right?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

He stares down at his open notebook like it might be able to save him. The idea arrives fully formed, the same way a play does when the lane opens during a game. He needs practice with someone that won’t judge his skill. I need to not fail Rodgers.

Friends help friends. Right? At least that’s what I tell myself before I open my mouth to suggest it.

“Okay. What if we trade?”

Quinn blinks at me, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Trade?”

I tap my open book. “You already know this class. I don’t. I honestly bombed the Scantron the first day. You help me with the text and the parts that I don’t understand. And I…” I rub the back of my neck. My face is on fire. “I can show you the beginning foreplay stuff. So when you’re ready, you know at least some of what you’re doing.”

He stares at me.