The sex itself wasn’t that great—it was awkward and kind of painful, and when it was over, I was glad we’d gotten it out of the way. It was like this huge thing that had been hanging over our heads, and now we could just move on. I was totally sick of the whole “when are we gonna do it?” conversation that had been becoming more and more frequent with us.

I’m not ashamed of it. Sleeping with Corey, I mean. Yeah, I know I avoided the question entirely during our little hot tub sex conversation last night, but I just don’t think it’s anyone else’s business. Especially the millions of Americans who are going to be tuning in to my life every night.

Besides, it got better. The sex, I mean.

“I know you’re not a prude,” Grant says now. “It just doesn’t seem like you would put yourself in that position.”

“Grant, she didn’t want to go alone. She was nervous.”

“I know. But you don’t usually . . .” He trails off before he can say anything that can totally damage our friendship, but I know what he’s thinking. The thing is, I don’t have many friends that are girls. Okay, I have none.

I’m not sure why that is, exactly. My best friend from junior high moved away to Nebraska, and I guess I just never met any new female friends. Grant thinks that subconsciously I’m afraid Corey will leave me for another girl, and so I don’t hang out with any of them in order to limit their access to him. Which is totally ridiculous.

“Oh my God, am I going to be on TV? I mean, not like me or anything, but a little arrow pointing to the phone with my name on it? Is it going to say ‘Grant, Ally’s best friend’? You did tell them I was your best friend, right?” Grant says, steering the conversation back to himself.

“Yes,” I lie, counting on the fact that production will be able to figure it out.

“So what are your parents going to think about this whole strip club debacle?”

“I don’t know,” I say, feeling a nervousness starting in my stomach. I try to push the thought of telling my mom I spent the afternoon with naked girls out of my mind.

“What do you think Corey will say about it?”

“Why would Corey even care?” I ask. “I mean, it’s not like I was stripping or anything.”

“I know, but it’s just, like, the thought of you being in that kind of environment, you know?”