I started to clean myself up too. I kept a package of baby wipes under the couch next to the Lube.

Eventually, Alice flushed, returned to the room, and announced, “I think a proper shower is in order." She gathered her clothes and started heading out of the room.

I grabbed my clothes as well and followed after.

“You still haven't explained what you meant about recognizing the mood."

Alice rolled her eyes. "If I have to tell you to do something, it defeats the whole purpose."

“C'mon, you've always been straight with me."

“I AM being straight with you."

"Then give me a straight answer to this question: When ARE we going to have pussy sex?"

“When the mood is RIGHT."

“And how do I know when the mood is right?" We hit the stairs and started ascending. "On the one hand, I'm waiting for you to tell me you're ready. I've spent years not pressuring any of you girls into doing anything you're not ready for, and I swore to myself I'd never do anything you didn't give me explicit permission to do."

"Yes, and I've loved that about you."

“And then we talked about this way back during winter break. You said that it would happen when the mood was right. Maybe we'd be gaming and you'd toss the controllers aside and order me to slam it into you, the way we did just now when you told me to put my dick in your ass.”

Alice snorted. "Yeah, that was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I didn't plan that."

“But you don't regret it either, do you?"

“Not at all. That was AMAZING." Alice stopped at the top of the stairs and reached out a fist.

“Seriously, dude. Amazing."

I chuckled at the absurdity of it all, but I fist-bumped her anyway.

She then continued on to the bathroom, adding, "I NEVER thought I'd be into anal sex. And I get that it's not gonna be a regular ‘main course’ sort of thing. But if we're both in the mood for dessert, you may very well get a repeat sooner or later." She tossed her clothes onto the counter, reached into the shower, and started turning on the hot water.

“So anyways," I continued, “you then said maybe you'd show up in a nice dress and ask me sweetly to take your virginity. The point is: I'm waiting for your cue.”

“I know you are."

“But then there was that video game girls thing on Valentine's. When you parked yourself next to Mari and Naimh, it certainly felt Like an implied invitation to push myself into you. Was it? Was that a cue?"

Alice looked thoughtful.

“What did you think?”

“Straight answers here."

Taking a deep breath, my best friend exhaled slowly. She focused on the water temperature, holding her hand in the shower spray waiting for it to heat up.