Such a Pretty Face by Annabelle Costa
Chapter 23
I meet Brody at his apartment for our Saturday night date. It’s an implied Saturday night date, meaning we don’t have to ask each other if we’re free on Saturday. It’s just understood that we’ll be spending the evening together. Even if we haven’t yet spent the night together. Or had sex.
But when I come to Brody’s apartment tonight, I’m not as excited as I usually am. Even though I wish it wasn’t the case, the things Camille said got to me. I keep thinking about how Brody was a player back in high school. That he was with all kinds of girls who were so much more attractive than me.
And he might have been in love with my sister.
“So here’s the thing,” Brody says to me as we eat our dinner. “Mike needs to come early tonight. So I thought maybe… like, if you wanted to… maybe after he gets me ready for bed, you could, like, stick around? Not necessarily all night, but just… for a bit.” He raises his eyebrows. “I mean, you’d have to wait a bit after he comes, so I completely understand if you don’t want to do it…”
I look down at my plate of overcooked salmon. I wish Meg were a better cook. “I don’t know…”
“That’s okay,” Brody says. “I understand. It was just an idea. Because we sort of talked about you and me in bed…” He coughs. “But it’s fine. Some other time maybe, okay?”
“Yeah,” I mumble.
Brody is quiet for a minute as we both chew our food. “Is everything okay, Emily?” he finally asks.
I look up and meet his blue eyes. I can see a little furrow between his brows. I should just be honest with him—it’s the right thing to do.
“How many girls have you had sex with?”
His eyes widen. “What?”
“I’m just…” I clear my throat. “Wondering.”
He blinks at me. “Did Cammy say something about me?”
I’m impressed he figured it out—he’s not dumb, that’s for sure. “Sort of. She… she said that you used to brag in high school that you could make it with a girl in two dates.”
His mouth falls open. “She said that?”
“Yes.”
He frowns. “You know, she should talk.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He averts his eyes. “Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“Brody…”
“Fine, you want the truth?” He lets out a breath. “Okay, so one time we were in the locker room after gym, and we got to talking about Cammy, and… well, let me put it this way: five guys took Cammy’s virginity.”
For a moment, I stare at him in surprise. Then I burst out laughing, feeling some of the tension releasing from my neck. That’s awesome. I always knew Camille must have been a slut in high school. “Are you serious?”
Brody nods. “Yeah. That’s how she was. Always acting like she was so good and sweet and perfect, but really, she was just like everyone else. I mean, one time we were at this party, and she took me aside and said, ‘You’re better than this, Brody.’”
Wow. That’s exactly what she said to me at lunch. Maybe she was right—people don’t change. At least, she didn’t.
“Why did she say that to you?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I was kind of messed up in high school, and I’m sure I was doing something dumb. But it’s not like she was some great friend of mine who was so worried about me. She just said it to be patronizing. I don’t like people like that.”
I stare across the table at him. All I can think about right now is that I’ve never felt this close to another person. Not my friends, not my family. Brody is great. But at the same time…
“You never answered my question,” I point out.
“Yeah…” He winces. “I know. Look, I’m not going to lie, Emily. There were a lot of girls. But there’s only been one since I got hurt. All that… it was a long time ago. I have no interest in trying to make it with a girl after two dates. I just… I just want to be with somebody I care about.”
That’s what I wanted to hear. We stare across the table at one another, both of us smiling like idiots. I don’t want to leave this apartment. Ever.
“I’d like to stay,” I say. “I mean, after Mike comes, I’d like to stay with you in bed for a little while longer. If that’s okay.”
“Really?” He looks happy but nervous. “That would be awesome.”
Because I think I love you, is what I want to say. But I don’t say it. I’ve never been in a relationship before, but even I know it’s too soon.