Page 16 of First Time
“Really?”
“Yep, she claims she’s golfing but it’s like a gab session.”
“Sounds like book club,” Scotlyn says. “When I moved in with Christy, she had a weekly book club meeting. I thought, ‘oh, finally, someone I can talk to about books’ but it’s anything but books. It’s a lot of drama. Who is sleeping around on their spouses and so on. Scandalous neighborhood excitement. I know more about Christy’s friends’ lives than I care to admit. But it’s fun and a way to relax.”
“You ladies probably talk about the club.”
“I think only one of her friends is a member, but Christy wouldn’t know what her friends do there. She only handles the male clients. Jared handles all the female clients.”
“I find the concept fascinating.”
“It’s definitely unique.”
“And popular. I saw a commercial for it on TV last night,” I say as the waiter brings our bill and I hand over my credit card.
“You’ll have to let me treat you to something,” Scotlyn says.
“How about a movie tomorrow night since you’ve got plans tonight?”
“That’s perfect.”
After I pay, I walk Scotlyn out, fully aware of the men staring at her. If I had any machismo, I’d hold my head up high and smirk. But these guys would probably laugh if I did so now.
Outside, we hug, and she promises to check in with me tomorrow. I stand there, watching her walk away, wishing I could be more outgoing and not so reserved. It’s frustrating—the way I am with women—and I’m hoping something comes to fruition at the club. If I had a little more confidence in myself, I’d make a move on Scotlyn.
When she’s no longer in view, I turn and head in the opposite direction. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I excitedly take it out, hoping it’s a text from Scotlyn telling me she’s canceled her plans. It’s not.
Christy: Tonight, 9 pm. Are you available?
I look over my shoulder, wondering if I’m being punked. This can’t be real. I type back that I’ll be there and then look at the time. I have seven hours until I’m no longer a virgin.
How does one prepare to lose their virginity?
“Ah, shit.”
SIX
Scotlyn
Ican’t believe what I’m about to do.
Am I seriously about to go into the Dark Room and have my way with a virgin? Why, yes, I am. But why am I nervous? If I was the virgin, I could see why I would be, but I’m the experienced one. Maybe that’s the issue. The guy I’m about to have sex with has never been with a woman. I don’t want to disappoint him. I want him to remember every single detail for the rest of his life. Hell, I am definitely going to remember it.
Heart pounding, I pull into the Society X parking lot and enter through the back door where Jared is waiting on me. It’s almost nine o’clock. I guess you can say I had to give myself a pep talk the whole way here, and that took longer than expected. A part of me wants to back out, but I need to let loose. It’s been so long since I’ve had any kind of carnal fun with a man; my body needs it.
What I really want is to find someone I can connect with. Dating hasn’t been very successful for me. It’s probably because I haven’t really made the time to meet anyone. Seeing Brent again changed that. There was a time when I had a connection with him. In just the small amount of time I’ve spent with him, I felt it again.
I pause mid-step and squeeze my eyes shut. Stop thinking of him! You’re about to go into the Dark Room.
“Scotlyn, you okay?” Jared asks.
Taking a deep breath, I open my eyes and nod. Judging by the look on Jared’s face, he’s fully expecting me to run out the back door.
I blow out a sigh and continue toward him. “I’m fine. Just trying to get my mind in the right place.”
Jared glances over at the exit. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? It’s okay if you don’t.”
“No,” I say, grabbing his wrist. “I need to do this.”