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“You didn’t have to go through that by yourself. As you have said, it’s all in the past. I think it’s time to tell your boyfriend. He doesn’t really love you if he leaves you because of this. Don’t you think so?” Rexy says positively, and her gaze doesn’t falter. She looks at me like everything is completely normal.

Brandon loves me. I know that for sure.

“Or maybe I’m afraid because I’m ashamed of what we did. I’m ashamed that I’m not good enough for him.”

“That’s a lack of self-confidence coming from you, Alayna,” Dennis remarks. “And you are not that type of person.” He gives me a half-smile.

Rexy hooks her arm around my shoulder. “You know, I was shocked, but it’s okay. You were the victim here.”

I guess it wouldn’t be that bad if I’d be honest. If my friends could be open-minded about my past, Brandon could do the same, right? He always had before. Why would he stop now?

“That’s—” I inhale plenty of air, “—reassuring.”

“We all need a friend sometimes. You can’t keep something lik