“Then what the hell are you doing?” Drew demanded. “Hell, man, you know what she’s been through. You’re her friend. You’re Arlo’s friend. You’re supposed to be one of the safe people in her life.”

If that was supposed to make him feel shitty, it worked. Not that Tucker needed to be told any of it. All those reasons were why he’d resisted his attraction to Della for so long, and he couldn’t deny that he worried about what their relationship would be like when Della felt confident enough to discard her…training wheels.

Fuck. He was her training wheels.

But she was a grown-ass woman who finally had agency over her life, and she’d made it very plain what she wanted and who she wanted it with. “Della wants someone to teach her…”

Even trying to describe what they were doing without coming across as taking complete advantage of a woman far less experienced than him was exceptionally difficult. Tucker could barely look at Drew.

“She wants to learn about…sexual stuff and sexy times and the…variety of…intimate things men and women can do together.”

God, this conversation was a solid ten out of ten on the awkward-as-fuck meter. It was almost as bad as the conversation his mother had tried to have with him about wet dreams when he was twelve. If the words natural nocturnal bodily function slipped out of his mouth, he was in serious trouble.

Drew gaped at him like he’d grown a horn on his head. “And what? You volunteered as tribute?”

“No…she asked me. We’ve been seeing a lot of each other with the driving lessons and the wingman stuff, and Tinder is such a cesspool. She wanted to fast-track her experience with someone she trusted. She wants to…learn the ropes before putting herself out there again. It’s not a permanent thing. It’s just short-term. Until she’s confident in herself and her…prowess.”

“And you said yes?” He shook his head. “You are a fucking idiot.”

“Actually, I said no. A lot. But then…damn it, I said yes. She kept pushing, and I said yes, okay? Because I know I can deliver what she needs while being mindful of what she’s been through. I’m not some douche-jerk who’s going to stand her up or send her a dick pic or who’s only interested in one thing. I’m showing her all the ways a man should treat a woman, and I know I’m not going to hurt her in the process.”

Drew shook his head. “Why do you think she asked you?”

Tucker picked up his beer and took several deep swallows. “I don’t know,” he said as he put it down, avoiding Drew’s eyes altogether. But even as he point-blank lied, her words from that rainy night at Arlo’s came back.