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Her face registered genuine shock.

“This girl broke up with you last year, didn’t she?”

“Thirteen months ago,” I said. “Thirteen months and fourteen days.”

She blinked. “There’s been no one else? Holly’s the only girl you ever dated?”

It was pathetic, me counting the days. Even more pathetic that I’d remained single for this long. I didn’t care, though. For some reason it didn’t matter, telling these things to Claudia.

“We were supposed to get married. Supposed to get—”

“You?” Claudia said incredulously. “Colin, forgive me for being blunt but you’re a total panty-dropper! Heartbreakingly gorgeous!”

Here it comes…

“Your body alone is ridiculous! You could have any girl you wanted, any girl on campus, any time of the night or day!”

She wasn’t saying these things to boost my confidence, or cheer me up, or anything like that. I could tell that she meant them.

“You could be rebounding with half the co-eds on campus right now, and Holly’s the only girl you’ve ever slept with?”

Annnnd…. There it is.

“No,” I said, wincing at the inevitable followup.

Claudia seemed relieved. “Oh, so you had a couple of one night stands?”

I shook my head again slowly. “I mean ‘no’ as in I never slept with her.”

If Claudia was shocked before, now she was utterly astonished. Her mouth dropped open so wide it was scraping the floor.

“You… you never…”

“No,” I confirmed with a shrug. “I never.”

“Y—You’re a virgin?”

She said the word like so many others had said it, half-shock, half-whisper. Still it was loud enough. Too loud.

“Easy,” I murmured. My eyes darted to the open doorway. “The others are still here.”

“T—They don’t know?”

“No.”

Claudia’s expression was almost comical. She was at such a complete loss it was like she didn’t know how to react.

“They’re your roommates,” she said. “Your fraternity brothers. Why wouldn’t you tell them?”

I laughed bitterly. “Are you serious? They’re guys.”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts,” I interjected sternly. “And no telling them either. Promise?”

Her face, as beautiful as it was, was still a complete mask of disbelief. Even so, she had the presence of mind to nod her head.

“No, no,” she assured me. “Of course not.”