“Oh...go in. Yeah, I don’t know. You’re the one she’s known longer. She might be more comfortable with you first. But now that I think about it, it would be kinder if I’m first. Your dick is pretty fucking big, man.”

“It’ll fit.”

He laughs. “You ever been with a virgin before?”

Rachel Kellerman flashes across my mind. “Yeah. My first time was my girlfriend’s first time too.” It was awkward, but nice I guess. I mean I came. I’m pretty sure she didn’t. In fact, she cried. But after the crying, after the cuddling, I made sure she had an orgasm too.

“I haven’t been with one.” He actually wrings his hands for a minute. I’ve never seen him wring his hands. It’s very un-Shane like to show nerves in an obvious way. He realizes what he’s doing and stops. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Just go slow. Watch her face. If she’s still got a hymen, it will pinch, but only for a minute. And we’ll make sure she’s wet and ready.”

“Her hymen? You’ve been reading health department pamphlets again? I’ve never heard anyone call it that who wasn’t middle-aged.”

“Cosmo.”

Shane nods and we hear the water from the tub start gurgling down the drain. Bathtime is nearing an end.

“Why wouldn’t she have a hymen if she’s a virgin?” he asks me quietly.

“According to my sources—”

“Magazines for women.”

“Shut it. It thins with time. Sometimes they break with fingers or toys or tampons.”

“You could have stopped at toys. I don’t want to think about tampons.”

I punch his arm. “You live with a woman now. You better get over your squeamish tendencies. I don’t want you crying like a girl every month.”

“Oh, like you’re cool with it.”

I shrug. “My sister made sure everyone in the house knew when Aunt Flo was visiting. After the first time you get sent to the store and bring the wrong size pads back, you just get over it.”

We stop talking about periods when she comes out and stands in my open doorway. Her hair is still piled on her head, and her cheeks are pink from the heat of her bath. She’s holding the towel close to her, and her eyes are big.

“You okay?” I ask, willing my dick to relax in case she changed her mind in the tub. “If you’re not ready—”

“I’m ready.”

“You look real pretty all flushed from your bath, Pen,” Shane says, picking up her hand and kissing it.

“Thanks. But I’m probably flushed because I made myself come in the tub thinking about tonight.”

A beat of silence follows her statement.

“Yep,” Shane says. “She’s ready.”