“You mean with the people your sisters set you up with.”
“Those guys, and even when I try to meet people on my own. In high school, I spent more time pining after boys rather than actually trying to talk to them. I didn’t have my first kiss until my sophomore year of college because some boy told me that I had a nice smile, which I now realize was just a line, but at the time, I ate it all the way up. The next thing I knew he was my boyfriend and he ended up being my first everything. And it wasn’t because I was in love with him or anything. I just felt so behind. All of my suite mates were constantly meeting people and hooking up, and I felt like this loser who couldn’t hold her own. Our relationship lasted for about six months until it fizzled out over summer break.”
Sex with her first college boyfriend, Darius, had been underwhelming, to say the least. Maybe Lily spent too long building up the act of losing her virginity in her head. She thought it would be beautiful and romantic, but the moment had lasted for all of two minutes, and it never improved during the months that they’d dated. After Darius, she’d hooked up with a couple more guys in college, and she’d actually had a one-night stand with one of Violet’s less self-obsessed model friends over a year ago, but that had been the last time she’d had sex. She wouldn’t be surprised if there were cobwebs between her legs. Her vibrator deserved a yearly salary.
“I just want to date someone who is interested in what I have to say,” she said. “It would be nice if we had things in common, but that isn’t a deal breaker. It’s mostly important to me that he has good morals, and that he’s kind to me and my sisters and the rest of my family. And I want him to accept me for who I am without wanting me to change. I don’t think that’s asking for a lot.”
Nick had fallen quiet, and Lily realized she might have divulged a bit too much.
“Sorry if that was TMI,” she said.
“It wasn’t.” Nick gently placed his arm on the small of her back as they maneuvered between a group of NYU students and a hot dog cart. She shivered at his touch and felt silly for doing so.
How many times do I have to tell you to get yourself together, ma’am? Stop acting like this around him!
Nick’s brows were pinched together, contemplative. “I had my first kiss when I was seventeen. This girl I worked with at Jack in the Box had just broken up with her boyfriend, so she kissed me in the parking lot to make him jealous. I didn’t lose my virginity until college either.” He paused and glanced away. “I’ve never been in a serious relationship before.”
“Really?” Lily slowed her walk and Nick matched her pace. “Why not? I mean, only if you want to tell me.”
“I just—I don’t know.” He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “My parents are all over the place. They got together in high school back when my dad was a big basketball star, and then he got injured and turned into a different kind of person. I think they turned me off from the idea of being in a relationship. Or of committing myself to someone. It’s not worth the drama.”
Hearing his explanation for why he wanted to stay single broke her heart a little. “Are they still together?” she asked.
“Yeah. They’ll never break up. Hell would freeze over first.” He took a deep breath and then forced a smile, clearly wanting to change the subject. “What about your parents? I’m hoping they’re less messy.”
“I think they have their own levels of mess. My mom can be pretty bossy and my dad resorts to willful ignorance when he doesn’t want to be bothered with important family discussions. But they were college sweethearts. They own a florist shop and everything.”
“Hence your names?”
“Hence our names. Well, actually, it started with my Grandma Rose, who named my mom Dahlia.”
“Your family sounds like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie.”
“It may seem that way, but we’re not.” Lily grinned. Then she thought about what Marcus had told her last weekend. Nick took a while to open up to people, and if she wanted to learn more about him, she’d have to be patient. He’d just revealed something about himself and his family. He trusted her enough to do that. Warming to him even more, she quietly added, “I’m sorry to hear that about your parents. Thank you for sharing with me.”
“Of course.” Nick laughed a little. “I didn’t mean to dump all of that onto you. It just came out. You’re really easy to talk to.”