I would never think you’re crazy. It’s awesome that you and your boyfriend have been in a relationship long enough to reach this point of trust. That is something to be valued.

The pill, if taken according to the instructions, is 99.9% effective. The numbers say yes, you’ll be fine trying it sans condom. But there is always the chance for complications, so the choice is really up to you and your boyfriend. Talk about the risks vs. rewards, and come to a decision you both can agree on.

Nothing is 100%, and while I’m sure there are plenty of couples who use only one form of birth control, doubling up is always a safer play. The choice is ultimately yours to make, but the numbers are here for you to see.

Whichever you choose, I hope you and your boyfriend take the step together and on the same page.

In the meantime,

Stay Sexy. Stay Healthy.

…

I sat on my bed, sipping my iced green tea for several minutes after the blog had been published. I couldn’t get the concept out of my head—having sex regularly to the point where you wanted nothing between you and your partner.

I mean, holy intense.

But…Dean and I…the feelings I had for him were growing.

Strong.

And that was terrifying enough, but now I couldn’t help but picture Dean and myself in similar situations to whatever my question of the day posed.

I’d fallen into a rhythm and had been posting every day for almost two months now. It was exhausting but so rewarding, and it was almost second nature. I was certain both my parents thought I was contemplating going into their chosen professions from all the questions I asked each of them—either an erotica novelist or a teen psychologist. Funny, I never would’ve thought the two knowledge bases would overlap so much.

But I was beyond grateful they did.

Because some of the answers I could dig up on my own, but the tougher stuff? They’d been a massive help. The key to everything.

A twist in my gut squashed the once-warm fluttering butterflies.

What if there came a time they pushed me on all the questions?

What if they knew what I was doing?

I swallowed down the acid bubbling in my throat.

Despite the cold fear icing my spine, I knew I wouldn’t stop.

Couldn’t stop.

Not when my inbox was overflowing, and there were countless people seeking help or solidarity or simply a safe place to talk.

As long as that was the case, I couldn’t turn my back on them.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Dean

“Tessa Rae Winters,” I chided as I spotted my sister making a beeline for the front door. She stopped short at the sound of her full name.

“Ugh!” She shook out her arms. “Don’t. You sound like Dad.”