"So with all that said," I began, holding up my hands, “how is this gonna work? Are you ro-sham-boing for an order or something?"

Sam shook her head. "We're doing this volunteer order, and we're not setting the whole order out in advance. Feelings change. Each of us can opt out if we want. Maybe this whole thing will blow up three days from now. I don't want to set up long-term expectations we won't be able to live up to. So we're doing this one week at a time with whoever wants to go next. If there's a tie, we can ro-sham-bo or something.”

I nodded and looked around all of them. "So have you already decided who's going first?"

“Not yet."

Mari's hand shop up immediately. At the same time, Alice chirped, “I'1L go first!"

Sam smirked and glanced at Belle and Zofi.

“Either of you wanna jump in?"

Both Belle and Zofi shook their heads in the negative.

Sam shrugged and said, “Looks like it's a ro-sham-bo."

“Wait," I put in.

“I'd rather hear why they each want to go first."

“Oh well that's easy," Alice said.

“I just lost my virginity and I'm super horny all the time. These Last few days have SUCKED DONKEY BALLS.

Matty's Girlfriend of the Week gets priority, right? Imma gonna get

LAID."

Everyone laughed at that. But as the laughter died down, Mari mumbled quietly, “I've just been dreaming about being Matty's girlfriend for years. Like Sam said, this whole thing could blow up three days from now. I might never get another chance."

The room went quiet. Belle started hugging Mari again, and a moment later, Alice spoke up to say, “Mari can go first. I can keep my panties on for another few days. Besides, I just realized Mari's the only one who didn't get him after the whole thing with Neevie went down, so she's overdue."

“Really?” The relief on Mari's face was evident.

“Yeah, totally," Alice confirmed. "I'm your friend and you need this more than I do."

“Thank you," Mari said warmly, and she teared up. Alice got off the couch and went to hug her as well, and then Sam joined, and Zofi and

Naimh as well. Lastly, I put my long arms around the group.

Eventually, though, the group hug disengaged. First I and then the girls backed off one at a time, Like peeling Layers of an onion, until only Belle and Mari remained. Mari wiped away the tears from her eyes and looked over at Alice. With a smile, she said, "I can't visit on

Tuesday anyway, so you can still have an Alice Tuesday with him."

Alice grinned. "Works for me."

“Why wait for Tuesday?" Naimh finally spoke up.