Chapter 7
A few months passed, and suddenly it was June. I’d turned eighteen back on May 15th, and even though it was summer break, I’d signed up for summer school to earn the extra credits I needed to graduate. Not exactly thrilling, but necessary.
Chase and I were still doing well. Better than well, honestly. I still had small doubts tucked away from earlier in our relationship, but I kept pushing them aside. I wanted to enjoy what we had — the newness, the closeness, the way he made me feel seen.
Last month, for my birthday, Chase came with me and some of my family to Las Vegas. We only stayed one night, and no; I didn’t gamble or drink — I wasn’t old enough, and even if I were, it’s not really my thing. Dad trusted us enough to give us our own hotel room. He said we were mature enough to make our own decisions, but to let him know if anything went wrong.
That night, before we went to sleep, things between me and Chase shifted.
We were kissing, slow and warm, and everything felt new and overwhelming in the best way. He was gentle, patient, and the more we touched, the more my nerves tangled with excitement. But underneath all of it was a truth I hadn’t told him yet — one that suddenly felt too big to keep to myself.
I froze.
He noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong, love?” He whispered, brushing his lips against my cheek. “What did you want to tell me?”
I swallowed hard. My mind spun with every fear — that he’d be disappointed, that he’d think I’d lied, that he’d pull away.
“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner,” I said quietly. “But… I’m a virgin. I’ve never done this before. And part of me wanted to with you, but I just wasn’t ready. You’d be my first. I just… I hope you still love me.”
I sat up, hugging my knees, unable to look at him.
He gently lifted my chin, his expression soft. “I wish you had told me earlier, but I understand why you didn’t. And I’m glad you told me now.” His thumb brushed my cheek. “I’m honored to be your first. And I want this to be special for you.”
Relief washed over me so fast it made my eyes sting.
We kissed again — slower this time, more intentional — and everything else unfolded naturally. When things deepened, he whispered that he’d go slow, and I told him I was ready.
The rest of the night blurred into warmth, closeness, and trust.
Afterward, we changed into comfortable clothes and curled under the blankets. He turned toward me.
“How did that feel for you?” he asked softly.
“Amazing,” I said, smiling.
“That makes me happy,” he whispered, kissing my forehead. “I wanted it to be special.”
We fell asleep like that — close, comfortable, and connected in a way we hadn’t been before.
Now it was Friday, June 9th — my last free weekend before summer school started. I wasn’t excited, but at least I’d see some familiar faces. Maybe.
That birthday trip had brought me and Chase closer, and I didn’t have to worry anymore about confessing my virginity. It was done. It was ours. And it was a memory I knew I’d carry with me.
I opened the group chat on Instagram and typed:
Me: I’m not sure if you guys know, but Chase found out I was a virgin on my birthday. He took it well — way better than I expected. He’s the one I lost it to. Sorry if that’s TMI lol.
I hit send, then put my phone down and headed outside to join Jasmine and Cristal in the backyard.
“Hey!” I said as I stepped out. “What are you guys up to?”
“Not much,” Jasmine said. “You?”
“Same. Just wanted to hang out with you two, if that’s okay.”
“Of course,” Cristal said, waving me over. “We were wondering how you’ve been. And how things are going with Chase. You two have been together since April, right?”
“Right,” I said, sitting down with them as the sun warmed the patio.
I took a breath. “I’m doing okay. We’re a lot closer now… after Vegas. I lost my virginity to him that day. He didn’t know until I told him right before.”
Their eyes widened.
“Really?” Jasmine asked. “He didn’t know?”
“No,” I said. “But he took it well. He understood why I waited. I was anxious about telling him.”
“At least he reacted maturely,” Cristal said. “Some guys wouldn’t.”
Jasmine nodded. “Yeah. Other than that, everything else, okay?”
I hesitated. “Between us… I’ve had some doubts. Things I found out on my own. Like how he told me he was talking to another girl before we met. And then… something else.”
Jasmine leaned in. “What did you find out?”
“When I checked his Facebook profile, the picture he posted of us had a comment from some girl. She said he looked good — with a winky face — and asked who I was. She assumed I was just a friend. And he didn’t say anything back.”
Cristal frowned. “Yeah… I’d talk to him about that.”
Jasmine agreed. “If it’s bothering you, you should bring it up.”
“I know,” I said. “Part of me wants him to tell me on his own. But maybe he thinks it’s not a big deal. I don’t know.”
We talked for a while longer before I headed inside to unwind on my laptop.
Later that night, after a shower, I lay in bed and checked the group chat again. After scrolling through their replies, I closed the app and texted Chase:
Me: Hey love, I hope you had a good day today. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow. Let me know. I love you. Good night.
I set my phone down beside me as it charged.
And that’s where my night ended.