Page 133 of Just for the Plot

“He has friends, doesn’t he?”

Nolan shakes his head. “Nah, he’s always been a loner. He just needs some fucking love on his dick. He never goes out after games, he never—”

“Maybe he has a girl at home that no one knows about. Also, why do we care?”

“You’re the one who asked.”

“I didn’t ask anything.”

“Whatever, dude, I’m getting bored. Why are we out here?”

“Jesus,” I mutter. He’s almost as bad as OC. “You were asking why I was smiling.”

“Right.” He takes the toothpick out of his mouth and flicks it into a trash can before pulling a green Lifesaver from his pocket. Does he just collect free items from the hostess stand when leaving restaurants? Is an Andes mint next? “So, did you bang her?” He props one foot up against the wall behind him and crosses his arms.

“No. But I did do something else.”

“And that is…” He motions with his hand for me to continue.

“I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. I don’t want to invade her privacy like that.”

“For fuck’s sake, I’m your therapist; you can tell me.”

“You’re not my therapist.”

“Your sex therapist.”

“Also no.”

“Fine, I’m the asshole who helped you get to where you are now, and if you don’t fucking tell me, I’m going to find a way to get her number and text her myself.”

Even though I know he wouldn’t do that, I know that he could, so I quietly lean in and say, “We were reading books and I fingered her.”

Nolan slowly nods. “Nice.”

Uh, was kind of expecting a grander reaction than that.

“That’s all you have to say? ‘Nice’?”

“I’m not about to be some giddy asshole. Good job fingering her, man. Maybe next time you can use your dick.”

“Are you serious right now? You’ve been a part of this fucking pursuit from the beginning.”

“Was I, though? Didn’t you start liking her at sixteen?”

I drag my hand over my face. “Never mind. Jesus, way to ruin a good thing.”

I start to walk away, but he grabs my shoulder. “What’s next?”

“Huh?”

“With her.” He rolls his eyes dramatically. “What’s next with her?”

“I don’t know.”

“You have to have a plan. You can’t just wing this.”

“I have so far and it seems to be paying off.”