“Oh, God, Shelley. I’m sorry.” Her throat caught. “I am such a jerk.”
Shelley turned to her in concerned amazement. “Luce? Luce. What is it?”
Lucy shook. “Oh, Shell. I’d so looked forward to tonight. Hoped we might meet. And now, having you here, it’s wonderful.”
Shell put an arm around Lucy as her words began to cascade. “I’ve always been so shy, and on top of that, always ashamed of the attractions I felt, you know. I did find a group on-line where I could talk about it.”
Shell pivoted to hold Lucy’s hands. “Go on. Tell me. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Trust me.”
“Yeah, I’m trying. But here’s something I didn’t even tell them. You’re the first. Last year, there was this junior at my school. Took Chemistry together. I loved the way her nose scrunched when we poured out chlorine
