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. Could you maybe, um, not announce it to the whole room? Aw, she s blushing.Stop it, Sam, you re embarrassing her. Me? You re the one who trumpeted it.Poor girl is going to give it up just so we ll stop harassing herabout it.It had occurred to her once or twice.But their ribbing was good-natured, so she tolerated it fairly well,even if she thought her friends Macy especially, although Sam had her moments were a little toooverprotective of her whenever a guy came sniffing around.As if her hymen was a handicap.She wasactually surprised that Sam was so gung-ho for her to initiate anything with Brian. So why are you so happy about this? she asked her friend, when curiosity got the better of her. Honey, I just think it s time. And she should pick someone off the street because it s time? Macy asked in horror. No, you idiot, she should pick someone she likes.And she likes him a lot.You can tell from thatdopey look she s had on her face ever since we started talking about him.She stares at that card as if shewants to frame it.Candace tossed her straw wrapper at Sam. Leave me alone.I might have always liked him, but Idoubt I ll hear from him again.As far as sleeping with him&  She trailed off, unable to complete thesentence.Oh well, it didn t matter.It was so impossible it didn t even bear thinking about.But then whywas she nearly breathless? There s no telling what kind of freaky stuff he s into, Macy said seriously, all joking aside. Really.You don t want your first time to be with someone who scares the hell out of you.Candace dropped her gaze and took a long pull on her drink, uncomfortable under her friendsscrutiny.If Macy only knew some of the fantasies she d entertained about him, she might roll out of herchair in a dead faint. I m sure he ll forgo the freaking ball gag her first time out, Macy, Sam said sardonically. He might.He might even be considerate of where he stabs her as he sacrifices her virgin body to hisdemon gods.Okay, Candace had to laugh out loud at that. Do you have a mental disorder? Sam asked. I mean seriously.You ve gone completely off thereservation. Will you stop encouraging her! Will you stop discouraging her? You re the one trying to scare her.www.samhainpublishing.com 33Cherrie Lynn Okay, if you guys don t stop it, I m seriously leaving.I officially declare the matter closed.Candace downed the last of her icy slush and leaned over to pick up her purse, holding it in her lap like ashield.Both her friends looked crestfallen. Now, are we going to get a movie or what? So you are in fact not calling him, right? I win? Macy asked, collecting her own bag from the oneempty seat at the table. No, you don t win Candace raised her voice to talk over Sam s outrage. You did not win, because I made that decisionthe second he gave me his number.That s why I gave him mine, and as you know, I haven t heard fromhim.You two have been going on and on for nothing. Dammit, Candace, Sam muttered, shaking her head.Candace blinked innocently at her just as thecell phone deep in her purse rang.Tired of the wild jolting of her heart every time her ringtone blared for the past week, she d assignedBrian his own ringer ID.That way there were no more instants of sheer panic when she heard the thing.Now there was only the moment of mild annoyance when the external display showed it was her mothercalling. Great, she muttered.There d be an inquisition later if she didn t answer, so she flipped it open andgreeted her mom as she and her friends stood to leave the shop.Not one for small talk or beating around the bush, Sylvia cut right to the chase. Candy, have youspoken with Deanne?Deanne was her cousin, and Michelle s older sister.Despite being close as sisters to Michelle,Candace rarely spoke to Deanne unless forced to at family functions. Um, no.Should I have? I got off the phone with her a little while ago.She s in a tizzy.One of her bridesmaids has beendismissed and she s desperate for a replacement.I told her you d be glad to stand in for her.Dismissed.Wow.Two weeks before the wedding.And how nice of her mother to volunteer herservices. Does she even want me? She was all for it.I think she d take anyone at this point.Anyone? Sometimes, Candace swore someone had left her abandoned on Sylvia and PhillipAndrews s doorstep when she was an infant. I m bowled over, she muttered. Don t be cute.Tomorrow you ll go to the dress shop with her and see what alterations need to bemade, so they ll have plenty of time to get them done. Okay, yeah, fine.Can she call me up and ask me to do this? Since I m her bridesmaid and all? She has a million things to worry about right now.We don t have time for you to get all in a snit.I msure she ll get in contact with you and tell you what time. Her mother paused for a moment. Where areyou?34 www.samhainpublishing.comRock MeGreat [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]