Chapter 23

It was getting late when Otávio showed up at the house, all casual, saying he had no idea about Pedro. Obviously he did, but we played along like we believed him so it wouldn't be too obvious. My mom was still rushing around getting ready, and I swear I'd never seen her so dolled up. I had no clue what kind of show she was going to with my aunt, but it must've been a big deal 'cause she was going all out. But whatever, let her have her fun—she needed it.

We had to keep up the act. If Mariana jumped Otávio right away, my mom would flip. So he hung out in the living room watching the game on TV with Mariana's dad, and we headed up to my room.

As soon as we shut the door, I got straight to the point.

"Mariana, you're a virgin—are you sure you wanna do it with Otávio?"

She shrugged, flopping back onto the bed.

"Ah, I don't wanna die a virgin."

I laughed at how unromantic she was. So typical Mariana, practical even when it came to losing her cherry.

"You got a condom?"

"I got two. You got any more?"

I went to my closet and pulled out a little pack.

"Got some from school. But I plan on using 'em..."

She raised an eyebrow, staring at me.

"Plan on? Changed your mind?"

I went quiet for a second. Hell, I didn't even know. I sighed, tossing the condoms back in the closet.

"I don't know, but if I do it, I gotta have 'em, right?"

Mariana laughed, then her face lit up with surprise.

"Now it hits me... We're both losing our virginity on the same day and time, cousin!"

We stared at each other for a second, and out of nowhere, we started celebrating like a couple of idiots. It was like we'd won a prize—we jumped around laughing like it was some big achievement.

Finally, we collapsed onto the bed, catching our breath.

"Okay, now let's set up the table for Uno," I said.

She laughed, knowing that was the biggest lie of the night. That game was never happening.

My mom was finally ready, and before she left, she gave this whole lecture. She rattled off an endless list of rules and warnings, talking about my responsibility, telling me to check the house, not do anything stupid, and out of nowhere, she threw in a "don't do drugs!" My uncle, Mariana's dad, just chuckled at her over-the-top stuff, nodding like it was all necessary.

"Okay, Mom, go already before the show's over!" I grumbled, pushing her out the door.

The second she went through the gate and disappeared, the switch flipped. Mariana and Otávio, who had been on their best behavior up till then, threw themselves at each other without even trying to hide it. I didn't even have time to process. When I looked again, they were making out right in front of me, in the living room.

And it wasn't some lame peck. It was a hot kiss, a real one, the kind that makes noise. The fucking kind of kiss where you could almost taste the heat in the air. Mariana was in Otávio's lap, legs wrapped around him, body pressed tight. And grinding in a way that, oh my God! I glanced to the side and did what anyone with a shred of self-respect would do: grabbed my phone and called Pedro.

If Mariana was gonna ditch me for my room and leave me high and dry, I was already gearing up for Plan B. But even with the phone to my ear, my eyes stayed glued to the full-on action in my living room.

She had her hand shoved up under his shirt, scratching his stomach slow, that naughty little caress women do when they're already picturing where that hand's headed next. Otávio, meanwhile, was going for her tits, planting kisses on the sliver of skin peeking out from her top, sliding down real slow like he wanted to push the fabric aside with his mouth.

And me? I was getting hot just watching.

The worst part was she probably didn't even realize how hard she was rubbing her pussy against his dick. Like, right there in the open. She rolled her hips slow, pushing forward, pressing without a hint of shame. And all I could think was: "Mariana, girl, the boy's about to lose it!"

Half an hour passed and nothing. Mariana shot me this look like "What now? Can I go fuck?" and I just got up and headed to the kitchen. She, smart as she was, followed right after.

In there, we had to switch up the plans.

"And him, nothing?" I asked, hands on my hips.

"Nothing! He won't pick up this damn thing. I've been calling since early and nada! Called his house, him, his dad—no one knows where the hell this guy's at!"

"That's weird..."

That's when the phone rang.

"It's HIM!" Mariana almost yelled.

I looked at my phone hopefully and put it on speaker.

"Hey, girlie, you good? Got back early from my trip, thought I'd swing by and see you."

"Hey, handsome, all good?"

Mariana stared at me in shock, mouth hanging open like a fish out of water, totally lost. Even she didn't know what to do. A new option had just dropped right in my lap.

"Your mom wouldn't mind if you grabbed pizza with me?"

"She left—she went to the show with my uncle and won't be back till tomorrow. She's probably not even picking up her phone..."

Mariana's eyes went wide and she whispered so loud it was like a muffled scream:

"You idiot, he wants to come here!"

I covered the phone's mic and held back a laugh.

"Handsome, hold on a sec..."

I hit mute and turned to Mariana.

"Oh, Pedro's not coming anyway!"

"But what if he does? You gonna give your ass to one and your pussy to the other, you jackass?"

I burst out laughing.

"You trying to talk me into it?"

"Fuck... if Pedro shows up, he's gonna be pissed. And the bus guy'll find out you got something going with Pedro!"

That's when I got an idea.

I unmuted the phone and, with the fakest, most convincing voice ever, I said:

"So... I could invite you over, but I got a cousin, you know? We used to hook up and the poor guy's still got hopes with me. If he sees you here, he'll be super bummed."

I muted again and looked at Mariana, grinning like I'd won.

"If Pedro shows, I won't answer the door."

Mariana rolled her eyes, totally pissed.

"Then he'll call your mom, dumbass."

My face fell instantly.

"Oh, yeah..."

She crossed her arms.

"And Otávio'll tell Pedro you were screwing someone else."

Holy shit, now I was screwed.

I unmuted the phone again.

"Sorry, my cousin's here yapping along, and she's an idiot, poor thing."

Mariana smacked the side of my tit so hard I saw stars.

"So can I come by? Just to give you some kisses and head out. If your cousin's there, I'll bounce."

"But it has to be quick! If my mom finds out about some strange guy here... Half hour, okay?"

"Sounds good, I'll be there in ten."

"Ten minutes?!"

"Yeah, I'm real close!"

"I'll be waiting, bye."

Mariana looked at me with eyes bugging out, doubting this would work. Hell, I didn't believe it either. My heart was pounding—I honestly had no idea what could go down and I was super nervous about the whole mess. Basically, I'd set up with two guys at the same time.

This was gonna blow up.

But I had a plan.

I turned to Mariana, grabbing her shoulders like I was giving military orders.

"Mariana, listen up, 'cause Otávio can't know. When the doorbell rings, I'll grab the guy and take him to a corner, and you hole up with Otávio in the room and don't come out."

"What if Pedro shows up?!"

"Tell him I got tired of waiting and went to the neighbor's! He hates her, so he'll get mad and text me. Then I loop back, ditch the guy, and meet him, got it?"

Mariana crossed her arms, shaking her head, totally not buying it.

"You must be losing your mind, girl..."

And yeah. It was the plan that had disaster written all over it.