16 - Elena

I shrugged. "To be honest, even though we say we're best friends, you don't know me as well as you think you do, Richard," I said, deciding to settle for the excuse he was handing out to me. "It's been months since I got laid last, and I wasn't thinking straight. I wanted it badly, and anyone would've done. That's all there is to this."

He narrowed his eyes at me, looking me over slowly. "Is that what you do sometimes? Get drunk? One-night-stands with strangers?"

I exhaled, pursed my lips, unable to look at him. "So we're going to do this? Seriously? Why do you care so much about what I chose to do with my life? I'm a fucking adult, Richard. I know what I'm doing. I don't need you to lecture me. And you're free to judge me all you want. I don't care."

He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Elena, come on. You know that's not what I'm trying to do here. I just need you to be careful. You can't let just any random man have access to you. What am I even saying, don't even dream of