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My nose began to sting, the backs of my eyes burned as my vision grew glassy. It was hard as hell, but I gave her all of it. I told her every ugly detail of my upbringing. I told her how desperately I’d wanted to escape that world and start a new life somewhere else, somewhere whereIcontrolled my own destiny. Somewhere where my worth would be acknowledged.
I hated that those terrible words that had been thrown in my face for so long still had such a hold on me. I wanted to be over it, to simply let the callous treatment roll off my back like water off a duck, but I wasn’t there yet. “It’s just really hard to believe what you’re telling me when I’ve heard nothing but the opposite most of my life.”
Lyric’s eyes filled with sadness. For me. Her features were awash with sympathy. “Oh, honey.” She released her chin so she could reach across the table and take my hand in hers. “Those... walking anal fissures!” she said loud enough to draw attention from the people around us. “I hope they all get an incurable STD that hasn’t even been discovered yet, something that oozes and burns simultaneously andnevergoes away. They deserve that and so much worse!”
I’d just taken a sip of my coffee to wash away the acrid taste of shame from my mouth and proceeded to choke. I should have known she’d say something to make me laugh, and I needed to remember to stay away from all beverages whenever she was speaking.
“Dear Lord,” I choked, coughing to try to get the swallow of coffee that had gone down the wrong way out. “You really have an extremely colorful way with words, don’t you?”
“I just tell it how it is.” She smiled proudly at me from across the table as she took another drink of her coffee. Then she plunked the cup down on the table and leaned across it, grabbing both of my hands and clasping them tightly in hers. “And how is it that you were dealt a shitty hand? You had alousy father who dumped you off on even lousier assholes who didn’t see the gift they had been handed. But you picked yourself up and dusted yourself off, babe. You didn’t let those assholes keep you down. You didn’t let all the negativity that had been swirling around you your whole life define what your future would become. You fought for better, and you won. You know who doesn’t do that?”
She waited for me to reply, but my tongue felt thick and heavy, so all I could do was shake my head.
“Worthless people. They let the bad mire them down. They bask in it and let it define them. They lie down and take it, inevitably becoming what they’ve been called all their lives.Worthless. You, my brave, beautiful new friend, are a fighter, and you deserve nothing but wonderful things.” Her fingers clenched tighter around mine. “And anyone who doesn’t see that isn’t worthy ofyou. Plain and simple.”
Her words penetrated that time, working wonders to thaw the ice that had built up around my heart over the past several years. Iwasworthy. And it was high time I remembered that.
Lyric let out a pretty laugh that reminded me of bells. “I see from the look on your face that I’m getting through now.”
I swallowed down the lump of emotion that had swelled up in my throat. “You are. And it might be a little early to tell you this, but I think you may be my favorite person in all the world.”
Her smile was so bright it lit up the entire coffee shop. “Not too soon at all. And the feeling is totally mutual. I’m so glad you walked into my library when you did. I haven’t really had a chance to meet new people, so I think you just might be my best friend.”
My head fell back on a happy laugh. “I’ll wear that title with pride.”
Lyric’s eyes suddenly got big, and she gave my hands a jostle. “I just had thebestidea.”
I raised a questioning brow. “What was that?”
She answered by shooting to her feet and yanking me up with her. “Come on, we need to get changed.”
“Changed for what?” I asked as I jogged to keep up with Lyric’s much longer strides. Like most people in the world, she was much taller, so my legs could barely keep up.
“We’re going out tonight,” she declared with a massive grin. “The best way to get over a man is to get your flirt on with another.”
Panic began dumping into my bloodstream with every beat of my heart. We’d just reached the parking lot when I gave her hand a jerk, forcing her to stop. “Lyric, I don’t know,” I said, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. “I’m not very... well, I don’t have a lot of experience... what I mean is—”
“Spit it out, honey. You can tell me anything.”
I dragged in a breath so big it made my lungs burn, then I blurted out, “I’m a virgin,” as quickly as possible.
Her brow furrowed. “What was that?”
“I’m a virgin!” I repeated, the words coming out much louder than I’d intended. My shoulders jerked up toward my ears as I cast a frantic glance around to make sure no one overheard.
If I’d been expecting a look of shock to cross Lyric’s pretty face—which I had—I would have been waiting in vain. She didn’t look the least bit surprised.
“I figured as much by everything you’ve shared with me,” she said. “That, and your entire body blushes red whenever I ask you about the steamy scenes in the romance books I’ve recommended.” At just the mention of some of those racier scenes, I felt my cheeks begin to heat. “What I don’t get is why you’d whisper it and look all around like you’re embarrassed.”
“Well...” I nibbled on my bottom lip nervously. “Because I am. I mean, I’m a grown woman, and I’ve never... you know.”
“Had sex,” Lyric said without preamble.
I shoved my finger in her face. “Yeah. That.”
With a roll of her eyes, she pushed my hand away. “First of all, there’s nothing to be ashamed of about being a virgin. Or not being a virgin. Whatever the case may be, your sexuality is yours and yours alone, and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed by owning it, no matter what your status is. You’ll have sex when you’re damn well good and ready, and no one can say shit about it.
“Secondly, I didn’t suggest we go out tonight to get you laid. You might not know this, but flirting is alotof fun, but it’s also something most people need practice at. I say we go out tonight, we enjoy a couple drinks, maybe play some pool, and you try out your flirting game on whatever man catches your eye. You’re young and beautiful and have your whole life ahead of you. Let’s go out and show the men of Redemption what they’re lucky enough to have in their own backyard.”
