“Bit nervous?" I teased.

"You think?"

“What the hell for? It's just Prom.”

“Yeah, well, it's a Little more than that for me."

I looked at him a Little funny. My cool, calm under fire quarterback was really, really on edge. "What are you talking about?"

“Dude, of all people, you should know. Tonight's PROM NIGHT."

“Yeah, so? Tonight, just treat the girl like a princess. Otherwise it's the same as being in school. It's not Like you're going with a stranger. Relax.”

“No, you're not Listening. It's MONICA'S Prom night."

“Okay, okay. Monica's Prom night. Monica's... Holy SHIT." I turned in sudden realization.

"You mean this whole time, you and her? You haven't... uh..."

"No, we haven't. She's been wanting to save herself until her Prom night."

“But... but, you two already... last semester... in my car!"

“Yeah, well, that one she didn't want to count. I mean, obviously, it counted. But unfortunately, that night had more to do with YOU than it did with me. She's wanted to take things slowly and I didn't want to pressure her."

"Good lord, you really ARE in love with her. Mr. Stud Quarterback keeping his dick in his pants."

Nate nodded and whistled. He was absently swinging his arms back and forth, burning off his nervous energy. "She's worth it. And to be honest, my dick hasn't totally stayed in my pants. It's just stayed out of hers or any other girl's. We've got our ways...”

“Hey, no need to explain. I got it. And I take it back."

“Take what back?"

"You do deserve her. Fuck man, you committed to college without having a sexual relationship with her."

“Now you see why I'm nervous?”

“Yeah. I get it. I get it. I would have been too, if I'd been in your place."

“Guess it's a good thing you're NOT in my place," Nate told me.

“Otherwise, I would never have gotten a chance with the girl of my dreams. Did I ever tell you how much I resented you for meeting her first? How we had to stick to The Code? When you two stayed together for ALL of High School I thought I'd never get my shot."

“Everything happens for a reason, including this. Now stop being nervous. You'll be fine."

I was right: Nate shouldn't have worried. In addition to the Limo, we'd both booked hotel rooms for the night. Monica finally had her Prom night, and a good one at that. Ellie confided in me the next day that

Monica was positively glowing when morning came. I couldn't even feel jealous, I was just proud of my boy.