Deal Breakers (Dealing with Love 1)

We’re a block away from my truck when the sky opens up. We start running through the downpour. Devyn squeals as the drops become heavier and heavier. Suddenly she stops and turns around to face me. She gets this big smile on her face, holds her arms out wide and spins in circles repeatedly. She tilts her face up to the sky as she twirls and laughs.

“What’s so funny?”

“This rain is ridiculous! We’re soaked! I figured there’s no point in running from it so why not enjoy it?” She begins turning in circles again, laughing like a loon. She’s fucking gorgeous.

Without any further thought, I advance upon her and back her into the side of my truck. Surprise has made her laughter fall silent immediately. I can see the wheels turning in her mind trying to process what’s happening. She pulls out of my hold and takes three steps to the side. “Riley, what are you doing?”

Okay, I’m trying not to be a dick here but that’s kind of hard —pun intended—to do when her pink sundress is soaking wet and plastered to her body. The streetlight above is shining brightly so I can clearly see every curve on her body. She’s wearing a lacy bra and I swear to God her nipples are taunting me saying, “Touch me! Suck me! Lick me!”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Riley! Stop staring at my boobs!”

I throw my hands up in frustration. “Tell your boobs to stop staring at my eyes!”

She looks down and notices how transparent her dress is. “Oh my God, I might as well be naked! I can’t believe this is happening right now.” She puts her hand on the passenger door. “Can we please just go?”

I pull my keys out of my pocket and hit the button to unlock the door. She climbs in before I have a chance to open it for her. I walk around to the other side and get behind the wheel. I turn the ignition and crank the heat. She’s holding her hands against the vent as I fumble behind me looking for the sweatshirt I had in the backseat. I finally find it and hold it out towards her.

She grabs it and starts pulling it around her shoulders. After zipping it up to the neck she says, “Thanks.”

“No prob.” I put the truck into gear and pull onto the road. “Devyn, I don’t know what just almost happened back there, but I think we need to talk about it.”

She groans. “Can we please just forget it ever happened?”

I look over towards her and raise my eyebrows. “Really? Is that what you really want?”

She sighs. “Yeah, I do. It was stupid.”

I frown. “Stupid?”

She pushes her wet hair out of her face. “Yeah, completely stupid. I was emotional from earlier, and well, you’re a dude. My dress is totally see-through and you reacted like any straight guy would. It’s no big deal.”

I’m about to point out that I almost kissed her before her dress was clinging to her body but she gives me this pleading look as if she’s begging me to drop it. “You’re probably right. I was thinking with my other head for a second there. Sorry about that. It’s totally no big deal.” I laugh to emphasize the breeziness of my statement.

She laughs with me. “Right.”

DEVYN

I GULP NERVOUSLY. “OKAY, here's the thing. I'm a virgin. And you need to relieve me of that."

Riley sprays beer from his mouth all over the table. "The fuck you say?"

I steel my nerves and grab a napkin to start wiping up the mess he made. "We're graduating next week. I can't move to Portland, officially starting my adult life, without having had sex."

Riley gapes at me, speechless. "How in the hell are you still a virgin? You're twenty-two! More importantly, how the fuck have I not known that when we've been together practically every day for the past four years?"

I sigh, dreading this part of the conversation that I inevitably knew was coming. "Look, I know I'm not your type, but I figured since you've screwed practically every vagina in Eugene since freshman year you wouldn't be so opposed to throwing me a bone. It's not a big deal. I'm not asking you to marry me. Or even date me. I just want one night of sex from someone who knows what they're doing, so I can finally understand what the big deal is. You're the only one I trust, Rye." I grab his hand and look at him pleadingly. "I figured we could do it this weekend when you help me move."

RILEY

I TAKE A LONG pull from my bottle. Then another. And another. I can’t believe what’s happening right now. How can the hottest girl I’ve ever known be a virgin? And what the fuck did she mean she wasn't my type? She's EVERY guy's type. Has she been avoiding mirrors her entire life? She has legs that go on for miles, perfectly rounded tits, and an ass that was made to be grabbed. All of that with the face of an angel. A Victoria’s Secret angel. Even if she didn't look like a supermodel, her personality would win over any guy with half a brain. She's perfectly happy hanging out at The Duck Pond for hours watching a game. She couldn’t care less about shopping, or getting her nails done, or all that other girly shit. She's definitely all woman and sexy as hell, but it's effortless for her.

Okay, so maybe she has no clue that almost every dude at U of O has the hots for her, but never in a million years would I have expected this. I'd be all up in that shit if she hadn't friend-zoned me on the first day we met. Initially, I wasn't going to give up, but the more I got to know her, the more I didn't want to risk our friendship by pushing for more. We had a few near slips over the years, but I managed to keep it in my pants which for me, is a pretty big feat. And now she’s asking me for it? Am I dreaming?

How in the hell is she still a virgin? She's dated guys throughout school. Hasn't she? I think for a minute. Yeah, she has! There’s been at least a handful that I can think of. Then there was that one guy from sophomore year that hung around for a while. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Brian!

"What about Brian?" I ask. "You dated him for like six months."

Devyn rolls her eyes. "Please, Rye, Brian is a walking stereotype! I didn’t see it at the time, but I was totally his cover girlfriend until he was ready to come out of the closet. He broke up with me for someone named Michael, for Christ's sake! And I'm going to their wedding next month! How could you have missed that?"