8 Weeks (Time for Love 1)

“How did you guys end up hooking up?” I asked, eager to learn this secret that two of my best friends had managed to keep from us for the last six years.

“Well, you know we all hung out at the prom together, but what you don’t know is that after you guys left to go to your hotel rooms, I realized that Tom was not the guy that I wanted to lose my virginity too. I tried to explain that I wasn’t going to go with him to the hotel, and let him down easy, but he didn’t take it well. Scott was walking by with his date, and saw Tom grab my arm. Before I knew it, he had Tom up against the wall and had his hand around Tom’s throat.”

“What?” Sasha asked, shocked. “You never told us any of this.”

Gaby nodded and continued, “I calmed Scott down enough to get him to let Tom go, but I was pretty shaken up. Scott left his date to take me to his room so that I could calm down. Boy, was she pissed,” Gaby said with a laugh. She had a small smile on her face as her memories took her back to that night.

“It started out innocently enough. We talked and had a few drinks, and I thanked him for helping me out … Apologized for ruining his night. He said I hadn’t, and after a few of those drinks, I began to feel bold. I told him that I’d had a crush on him, and he said that he felt the same. We started kissing, and one thing led to another.”

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, bringing my hand to my lips, my heart filled with emotion. “You lost your virginity to Scott …”

“We both did,” Gaby said, that smile still on her lips. “It was his first time too.”

“What?” Sasha asked. “Scott didn’t have sex until prom? What about all of those girls throughout high school?”

“He said he never went all the way with them. He wanted it to mean something,” Gaby explained.

“That’s so beautiful,” I said softly, my eyes tearing.

“What are you getting so emotional about?” Gaby asked with a laugh.

“The two of you. Two of my best friends. What a beautiful story. I can’t believe you guys kept this from us this whole time. Why didn’t you pursue a relationship after that?” I asked.

“Like I said, we didn’t want to ruin our relationship, or mess up the group. Plus, I was going to culinary school, and he was going away to study business … The timing wasn’t right. Then, it seemed like one of us was always dating someone, so it never worked out.”

“Did you want it to?” Sasha asked.

“Yes,” Gaby admitted sadly. “I never stopped wanting him. That’s why I’m telling you guys this now. I don’t know what to do … Scott is about to make a big mistake and marry that horrible woman.”

Sasha and I nodded in agreement; none of us had an ounce of love for Victoria.

“What do you want to do?” Sasha asked.

“I want to stop him,” Gaby responded.

Chapter 23 – Cal

“I had sex with Shelly,” I said quietly, so only Scott and TJ could hear me. We were in the bleachers at the high school, waiting for Craig’s opening game to start. We’d gotten there early to get good seats, but people were starting to fill in around us, and I didn’t want anyone to overhear my words, least of all my mother, who was sitting in the bleachers above us.

> “That’s great, man,” TJ said with a grin as he took a bite of his loaded hot dog.

Scott made a face at TJ, then turned to me seriously and asked, “How’d that go?”

“It was rough,” I admitted softly. “I mean, the sex was fantastic, but afterwards …”

“What happened?” TJ asked around a mouth full of food.

Scott hit him in the arm and asked, “What happened?”

“Ow,” TJ protested, then took another bite.

“It turned awkward,” I replied. “I wanted to stay, you know … Talk stuff out and sleep over, but she didn’t want me to. She said she couldn’t handle it.”

“What are you complaining about?” TJ asked. “Sex without having to cuddle afterwards … That’s the best.”

Scott hit him again.

“Do that one more time, bro, and I’m hitting back.”