With growing trepidation, I asked, "Did she say anything else?"
"Oh yeah. She told him that he shouldn't be expecting any nookie – her word, not mine – for at least another month, because you're not a sack-jumper."
I cringed. "You mean like, um, a ballsack."
Cassie stared at me. "God, no." She burst out laughing. "Like someone who 'jumps in the sack' on the first date."
My face was burning now with embarrassment. "Oh. Yeah. I knew that. Sorry."
"You should be." She snickered. "Dirty girl."
I wasn't dirty. I was humiliated, and not only because of my stupid mistake. Technically, what April told Joel was accurate, but did shereallyhave to announce it to him in front of an audience?
I didn't know whether to be touched or enraged. I looked to Cassie. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Because I knew you'd be embarrassed." She laughed. "And you're totally blushing by the way."
"I know," I groaned. "I can feel it."
"And," Cassie said, "I figured you'd had enough embarrassment with that whole cowboy thing. And besides, it's not like you could take back her warning." She gave another snicker. "The ball was, after all, out of the sack."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, shut up."
"If it makes you feel any better," Cassie said, "I think April meant to do you a favor."
"Some favor," I muttered.
I'd known April for years. Her heart was in the right place, but sometimes, her methods were a little ham-fisted for my taste. Reluctantly, I asked, "What did Joel say? Washeembarrassed?"
"He didn'tlookembarrassed. And he was still there when you came back, so…" Cassie shrugged. "I figured it would all work out."
I gave it some thought. Was I glad to know? Probably. But Cassie was right. Hearing this on Friday would've been my undoing. "I guess I should thank you for not telling me sooner."
She flashed me a smile. "You're welcome." Suddenly she burst out, "Oh, man, I almost forgot to tell you."
"Oh no." I cringed. "There's something else?"
"Yeah, but you're gonna love this one. Guess who popped in for cookies this morning."
"Who?"
"Terry from the ice cream place."
My shoulders sagged. "And I missed her?"
"Yeah, but don't worry. I got the scoop."
Now, it was my turn to snicker. "The ice cream scoop?"
Cassie looked heavenward. "Forget the ice cream. I meant the scoop about Joel and Angelina. You wanna hear what happened?"
I leaned forward. "YouknowI do."
"Well, the way Terry talks, Angelina practically begged Joel to take her home."
I hesitated. After my stupid ballsack confusion, I wasn't taking any chances. "You mean like give her a ride?"
"Oh, she wanted a ride, alright." Cassie gave me a significant look. "And to be ridden, if you know what I mean."
