Free The Strength to Fall (McKinnon Brothers Book 1) by D.M. Chisolm Page B

took that as an invitation because he leaned in for another kiss.
                  I stopped him and pushed to sit up. I ran my hands through my hair untangling it from the nap. “Uh, Ozias. Are you being honest with me, because I won’t think it’s cute if you’re lying? How could that be? What are you, 25, 26? There’s no way that’s possible.”
                  He sat up next to me and played with the ends of his shirt and in that moment he looked like a boy instead of a man. Was it true? How could it be?
                  “I’m telling you the truth. I told you, I don’t lie well, I’m overly honest and it gets me in trouble most of the time.” He paused looking like he was weighing what to say next. “You’ve just met me so you don’t know how I was as a child. I was always the smallest and the smartest, that’s a bad combo for school. I thought college would be different, I was younger than everyone though, and by then I was used to girls ignoring me—or just making fun of me—and the few friends I had were like me so we just hung out together and played games and stuff.”
    His eyes cut towards me and I just sat there listening. “Look, what I’m trying to say is, um, that I’ve never even been out on a date, not a real one. My mom used to set me up until I begged her to stop. The girls were always daughters of her friends and they would look at me either pitifully or with disgust. Most of them had been thrown out of good private schools or dating guys their parents disapproved, so I was kind of punishment for their actions. It was their parents’ way of saying. ‘You best behave or this is the kind of guy I’m going to make you marry’” He said the last sentence pointing his finger out and using a “dad” type voice. I smiled at how cute he was doing that. He suddenly got up. “Hey, need something to drink because I do if we’re going to have this conversation?” He got up and moved to the kitchen.
                  “Sure. What do you have?”
                  “I have some red wine, not sure what kind. It was a gift. I don’t drink often. I think I may have some whiskey. Honestly, I just need some water but if you want something stronger I can get it.”
              “Water’s fine. I don’t drink much either. I don’t like to feel out of control,” I explained.
                  He looked at me with the silliest grin. “Exactly, me either. My friends don’t get it. I never want to go out because that’s all they want to do. They think it gives them the courage to talk to girls but honestly it makes them act like asses.” He handed me a bottled water and sat back down.
                  I could tell how nervous he was. He was rubbing his neck and bouncing his knee up and down. I placed my hand upon his shaking knee. “Why don’t you just tell me one thing you think I need to know and if you feel comfortable sharing more you can but if not, we’ll just table this conversation for another time.” That seems to calm him a little, but just a little.
                  “Ok, here goes. Adira,” he paused obviously having an internal battle as to what to say. “I…,” he coughed and looked down, “I’m a virgin. Whew! I am so glad that’s out of the way. He wiped his forehead with the palm of his hand. I had already assumed that with the confession of I was his first kiss and no dating, but hearing him say it out loud was still a shock. “Ozias, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, I wish I was. I regret sleeping with my first. I was in a bad time in my life and I just did it to try and forget the pain I was in. Today everyone assumes something’s wrong with you if you’re a virgin even in high school. I think it’s a good thing. You’re waiting for the right one.” I hoped my words helped his nervousness.
                  “Tell that to every