Firefighter's Virgin

“Then if you ever cared for me at all, can’t you give me this one dinner?” she asked. “Just give me the closure I need.”

It was a reasonable request, and I knew I was being a jerk. I looked over towards the water fountain, but Jason was no longer there. I sighed and nodded silently, accepting her request without grace.

“Thank you.” She nodded. “Where would you like to meet?”

“Maison de Campagne,” I suggested immediately.

Natalie’s eyes went wide for a moment. “The restaurant where we broke up?”

“Yes.” I nodded, hoping that would deter

her a little.

She seemed to breathe deeply, before nodding. “Okay, then,” she said. “Seven o’clock tonight?”

“I guess so.” I nodded in defeat.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Natalie

I stood in front of the mirror, wondering why on earth I was taking so much care with my outfit. It was clear that whoever the anonymous texter was, Chance had nothing to do with him. He had shown absolutely no interest in meeting me tonight and had only agreed because I had guilted him into it.

I wondered why I had pushed so hard. One second, I was convinced this was a sick joke Jason was playing on me, and the next, I was barreling through with it anyway. I didn’t make sense to myself at the moment. I had on a romantic long white dress with thin straps and intricate nude panels on the bodice. I paired the dress with black wedges and kept my hair down. I was still staring at my reflection in the tiny mirror on Missy’s table when she walked in.

She looked flushed and happy, and she still had her graduation robes on. “Wow, you look great.” She nodded at me. “But I thought you were meeting your parents tomorrow for your celebration dinner?”

“I am.” I nodded. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re taking a walk around East Lawn,” she replied. “I’m meeting them at the quad in fifteen minutes for dinner. If you’re meeting your parents tomorrow, then why are you all dressed up?”

I bit my lip. “It’s a long story.”

That grabbed Missy’s attention. She turned around and raised one eyebrow at me. “Do tell.”

“I thought you only had fifteen minutes?”

“They’ll wait,” she said.

“I’m meeting Chance for dinner,” I said.

“What?”

“Yeah…”

“How did that happen?”

“It’s not a date or anything,” I said quickly. “I just sort of asked him out…to talk.”

“About what?”

“Us,” I said. “I told him I needed closure, which I do.”

“And you decided this on a whim?”

“Well…not exactly,” I said, dragging my feet.

Missy frowned. “Nat…?”