“What really makes me insane about finding out about his cheating ass today, of all days, was that my present to him, besides the stupid watch band, was I was going to give it up. For real.”

This time when Lolly started crying again, Anna totally understood.

“Oh god, Anna, I’m such a disaster.”

Anna shook her head and put her arm around Lolly’s shoulders. “You’re not a disaster. You just fell in love with one.”

Lolly nodded sadly. “It’s true. I love him. I love him so much.”

Anna nodded and told Lolly that was why she was in so much pain. So now the only question to answer was: did Lolly love Steven enough to forgive him? Because if she did love him enough, then it was time to talk to him to see if they could work past this.

“Was it my fault? For withholding sex? Is this why he cheated on me?”

“No!” Anna spoke sharply this time. It was the only time she’d raised her voice the whole evening. “Never put the blame on yourself, Lolls. You loved him and wanted to wait and that’s your choice. In fact, I admire you for it. Sometimes I think I should have waited longer myself. Alexander didn’t pressure me, but when I knew he was going away to college I felt like I needed to do it. Before he left, you know?”

“I get that. I probably would have done the same thing. But it’s all good, right? You’ve been together for so long and you love each other, so after a while it makes sense to just go for it, right? Is it as awesome as they say? My friend Miley says it’s better than a shoe sale at Bergdorf’s.”

Anna gave a short laugh and started turning off all the lamps in the bedroom. She wouldn’t have minded confiding in Lolly, but Anna never really talked to her friends about her sex life. Alexander thought that sex was something to be kept private, and she tried to respect that, even if she didn’t totally agree with him.

“Right now the only thing you need to think about is whether or not you can forgive him. Because if you can, then you two can work it out, and who knows, maybe your relationship will be better for it. Sleep on it. Right here and now. I just got the alert that we have a snow day tomorrow, so you and Steven have all day to talk … if you decide that’s what you want.”

Lolly nodded and admitted she was sleepy; she was exhausted from all the drama and could no longer think clearly.

“Plus, Steven deserves to twist in the wind for a little while longer,” Anna said with a smile.