Falling For Your Antics (Editing)

Chapter 25- Everything is Not What it Seems

It was approaching the end of January when Rowan and I had a sleepover Saturday night.

"So," she said, hugging one of her purple fluffy pillows, "how are you and Carter?"

"Carter and I are great-"

"No." She held up a hand. "I mean, how are you and Carter."

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "Rowan! We have not done it, thank you very much."

She sighed loudly. "Seriously? I thought you both would have done it by now."

I pondered that thought. "I mean, maybe he just wants to wait until I'm seventeen..."

She shook her head. "Hunny, the legal age in the UK is sixteen. You know that."

I blew a strand of hair out of my face and flopped backwards on the bed.

"Well, how far into a relationship would you say is an appropriate time to do it?"

She chuckled. "You're asking me? I lost my v card to a guy I hooked up with at a party. There is no perfect time, only when you're ready."

I groaned. "Ugh, now you've got me paranoid! What if he is holding off doing it because that's all he wants from me?"

She put her manicured hand on my thigh. "Sweetie, listen to yourself. If he wanted you for sex, you would have known that from the get go. Carter cares about you, he probably just doesn't want to mess anything up."

I smiled at the thought of him. "He told me he loved me, you know."

She bolted upright. "Excuse me?! When did this happen?!"

Shoot. I'd forgotten to tell Rowan all about it!

"Well, he said it to me last month when he came around to my house for dinner, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I remember that."

"Anyway," I played with the necklace he had given me, "he described what he wanted his future to be like, and everything was centred around me- a house together, waking up next to me every morning, a family..."

"Oh my gosh, that is so cute!"

I sat up. "I know right! Anyway, he told me afterwards, and I said it back."

She was dancing around the room, chanting "Branwen opened up to someone other than me!"

"Shut up!" I laughed and threw a pillow at her.

She giggled before joining me on her bed. "That makes sense now, how you both haven't had sex yet."

"How come?" I asked.

"Because, he loves you. And he wants it to be perfect and to not rush into anything. But, giving his reputation- damn, that boy must have some blue balls right now!"

"His former reputation." I corrected her.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She waved me off.

"So, what should I do?" I asked seriously. Rowan was my life long best friend, I trusted her to not only keep this secret but to give me proper advice.

"Well, first of all, you need to ask yourself if you're ready for sex."

I thought about it. "Considering how close Carter and I have come to it, I think I am."

"Think, or know." She wiggled her finger in my face. I laughed.

"I know."