Page 23 of The Second Dance
“I guess.” She laughs. “She more or less told me herself.”
“What the fuck is asexual?” Ben asks.
Whitney attempts to look serious, but there’s a gleeful look in her eye. “It means you’re not attracted to anyone.”
I do not like this girl. Isn’t she supposed to be Andy’s best friend? Why the hell would she be sharing this with us?
Ben squints at Whitney. “Nobody’s completely asexual.”
“Andy is.” Whitney says. “She’s always been that way. Ever since high school. I always just thought she was shy, but I guess she just wasn’t interested.”
Skyler and I exchange looks. He’s frowning. Clearly, he isn’t comfortable with this kind of talk, either.
“Let’s move on.” I say.
“Hang on.” Tyson holds up his hand. “I have a theory. Andy just hasn’t met the right guy yet.”
Ben laughs. “And you think you’re that guy?”
Tyson shrugs. “I could be.”
Ben rolls his eyes. “I’d bet you five hundred bucks you’re not.”
“I’ll take that bet.” Tyson says.
Whitney’s eyes are bopping back and forth like she’s watching a tennis match. She’s got a little pout on her lips. Clearly, this isn’t the way she pictured this conversation going. I suspect she wanted to trash Andy, take her down a peg. But all she’s managed to do is increase Andy’s allure.
“Think she’s a virgin?” Tyson asks.
Ben smirks. “We know she’s not.”
Everyone turns to look at me.
“What’d you do, Bo?” Tyson asks, laughing. “Did you ruin that poor girl for every other man?”
“More like he turned her off sex for good.” Ben says.
It’s an effort not to punch Ben in the mouth. He’s the one that stole my date, Maddie, on prom night. That’s the reason I was sitting outside the dance hall by myself when Andy came tearing out.
If not for Ben, I wouldn’t know jack shit about Andy Reed. His actions forced us together in the first place.
“I’m pretty sure he was the first and last.” Whitney says, attempting to regain control of the conversation.
We all turn to look at her.
“The last? That was…” Ben does the math. “Ten years ago.”
That’s not the part that’s got me frozen like a fence post. Did she say first?
That can’t be right, can it?
It was dark that night, but she would have told me, wouldn’t she?
I feel a hot, panicky feeling spread across my shoulders. Was it her first time? I’m trying to remember details I might have missed. Was I gentle? I hope so. I can’t remember.
And then my eyes land on Whitney.
“That’s enough,Whit.” I snap, using Andy’s nickname for her. She winces, but I really don’t care if her feelings are hurt.