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I look down into my lap so I don’t have to see the look on their faces for the next part.
“My dad kicked me out of the house a week ago, and I know I should have told you guys, but you both have a lot going on in your lives right now and I didn’t want to add any more to your plates. I’ve been kind of, sort of, been living at the library, and Vincent figured it out, and he pretty much ordered me to come home with him last night because he didn’t want me sleeping there anymore,” I tell them in a rush, ripping it off like a Band-Aid.
I decide to leave out the part about how I was sleeping on the floor, because that will just make them feel even more guilty than I know they do right now.
“And I don’t want you guys to feel bad or feel like you’re shitty friends because you aren’t. You’re the best friends I’ve ever had, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was going on. Please, don’t be mad at me.”
My eyes fill with tears, and I finally lift my head and look back and forth at them. Cindy has tears running down her cheeks, and Ariel looks like someone just kicked her dog.
“Jesus, we suck. I knew something was going on with you, but I thought you were just stressed like the rest of us,” Ariel says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.
“We really do suck, and I’m sorry too, Belle. But we’re going to make it up to you right now. Pack your things. You’re staying with me,” Cindy informs me.
“Fuck that. She doesn’t need to watch you and PJ bang on every available surface of your house. She’s staying with me. I haven’t accepted any of the roommate applications yet, so it’s perfect,” Ariel argues.
The two of them lean forward and start bickering with each other until I finally put two fingers in my mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle.
The both immediately shut up and stare at me in shock.
“Heh, heh, is that how you call Beast to dinner?” Ariel snorts.
“Shut up. He’s not a real beast. I told you, he’s sweet and, you will be surprised to know, a perfect gentleman. And I love you both, but I’m staying here.”
They open their mouths to argue, and I hold up both of my hands in front of their faces.
“No. This is final. Vincent told me I can stay until I make enough money to get my own place, and I’m going to take him up on his offer. And the best part is, I’ve decided to use this opportunity to my advantage. I need experience with men before I can dance at Charming’s and then start booking my own parties, and I now live with a man who can give me that experience and knowledge.”
My friends immediately throw their heads back and laugh.
“Dude, have you seen the size of him? Your first time can’t be with a guy like that. He’d snap you in two, and you’d never want to have sex again,” Ariel chuckles. “He wouldn’t just pop your cherry, he’d make a cherry slush.”
“I didn’t mean that kind of experience! If something happens it happens, but I’m not going to use him for sex! I meant just getting to know more about men and how they think and what they want. And this is the last time I’m going to tell you guys this: I am NOT a damn virgin!” I’m annoyed and throw my hands up in the air. “I had a guy best friend in high school who was as big of a nerd as me, and we made a pact that if we were both virgins by our senior prom, we’d be each other’s dates and, you know . . . do it. So, we did it. In the back of his mom’s Honda Civic. Those cars are not roomy, let me tell you. Anyway, it was awkward and messy and over in about thirty seconds, but it still happened.”
I blow a frustrated breath of air out of the corner of my mouth, fluttering away a long strand of hair that had fallen into my eyes.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry right now. That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard,” Ariel says with a shake of her head.
“At least my first time was with a guy who knew what he was doing and it was quite pleasurable,” Cindy adds.
“Your first time was with the douchebag, babysitter fucker you married who screwed you over and took all your money. How is that in any way pleasurable?” Ariel asks her.
“Okay, fine. And your first time was any better?” Cindy snorts.
“Actually, it was. My first time was on my honeymoon, and he put rose petals on the bed and lit a bunch of candles and made me a mixed tape with a bunch of romantic songs on it.”
