V is for Virgin

  “Easy. He knows I love him. Plus, I gave him a dart board with Rico’s face on it for Christmas last year.”

  We both burst into laughter and it almost felt like old times.

  “I owe you an apology, you know,” I said. “I never thought you and Shane would make it. I had to pay Stephanie fifty bucks when you got married.”

  Cara pretended to be insulted. “You bet against me?”

  “I couldn’t help it. You know I have a ridiculous prejudice against rock stars. If it makes you feel any better I’m glad you proved me wrong. You got your dream man. It gives me hope.”

  “So you aren’t seeing anyone?”

  “Not right now. There’ve been one or two, but nothing serious.”

  “He’s out there somewhere, Val.”

  I sighed. “I’m sure he is.”

  We dug into our lunch and after a while I couldn’t hold back the question that was driving me crazy. “So, um, do you ever talk to Kyle?”

  Cara raised an eyebrow, but didn’t call me out on my poorly masked interest. “Not much since the band broke up. Reid’s death hit the guys pretty hard and they all pretty much went their separate ways. It’s like it’s painful for them to be together now.”

  I nodded, not knowing what else to say. The official cause of death had been heart failure. The unofficial report was that a good dose of heroine was the cause of said heart failure. I didn’t want to ask if the rumors were true.

  “So what brings you back to L.A.?” Cara asked, quickly. I was grateful for the broken silence.

  “Actually,” I said. “I’m being interviewed on ‘The Connie Parker Show’. It’s sort of a whatever-happened-to thing. I was pretty surprised when I got the call. I haven’t made a Virgin Val appearance in over two years. Not since the movie aired.”

  “’The Connie Parker Show,’ huh? That’s pretty big time.”

  I laughed. “They probably just want to make sure I’m still a virgin. Do you have time today? Do you want to come?”

  “I’d love to.” Cara hesitated for a minute and then smiled. “You know you’ll always be my girl, V.”

  Stephanie and my parents were already there waiting when Cara and I got to the studio. “Lookie who I found!” Stephanie squealed when she saw me.

  “Robin!”

  “Val!”

  I grabbed my friend up in a tight hug. “It’s been too long!”

  “Eight months at least!”

  “I can tell,” I said eying Robin’s swollen belly.”

  “Due in six weeks,” she said proudly. “Another boy.”

  “Congratulations! How’s the foundation work going?”

  “Same as always. You should stop in before you go back home. Christina’s gone but Darla’s still there and she still brags about you to everyone who comes in.”

  “I’ll have to stop by.”

  “Oh, hey, did you hear the news about Isaac? He got married!”

  I grinned. “I got the invite. She’s really cute. Total baby factory potential.”

  “I hear she makes homemade bread,” Robin joked.

  “So, Isaac took the plunge huh?” Stephanie asked. “I thought he was playing college baseball in Utah or something.”

  “He is,” Robin said. “That’s why it took him so long to find a wife after he got home from his mission.”

  “So long?” I laughed. “He’s only been home for two years.”

  “Hey, that’s a long time in the Mormon world.”

  It was true. Robin got married when she was nineteen and was working on baby number two already. I’d be lucky if I could find a steady boyfriend before I hit thirty.

  After a few more minutes it was time for the show. I swallowed back my nerves as I was directed to the guest couch and forced to face the audience. It’d been a long time since I’d had to be Virgin Val, but there in the front row were my parents, Stephanie, Robin and Cara all smiling proudly at me, so I was able to relax.

  “Welcome!” the talk show Hostess Connie Parker said, settling into a chair next to the couch I sat on. There was a coffee table in front of us with a couple of steaming mugs on it.

  She began the interview by quickly recapping my story. Once the audience was all caught up she grinned and said, “Well you really have to see the video to fully appreciate everything Valerie has created.”

  I groaned inwardly, but smiled good-naturedly as a large screen descended behind us, and played the video that started it all. It had been years, but there I was in all my virgin glory standing on a lunch table. After the crowd laughed and applauded Connie looked at me and said, “So, that was quite the display.”

  “It certainly changed my life.”

  “Can you tell us about how you got from that breakup to starting V is for Virgin?”

  I did.

  Connie nodded along with the story, and after I was done she had a few facts she wanted to share. “Since Valerie started V is for Virgin the number of teenage pregnancies in America has decreased more than twelve percent. Over the last five years the campaign has donated over two million dollars to the Not Everybody’s Doing It Foundation and other affiliations. Valerie also started a new non-profit adoption agency called F is for Families that helps pregnant teens place their babies in good homes. They’ve placed forty-seven children so far.”

  That spawned the whole discussion about my own adoption. I explained the origin of my famous V necklace and my name. I even shared my letter from my birth mom. I’d known this would come up so I’d brought it with me.

  “I made the promise to myself that I’d wait until marriage because I was proud of the decision my own mom made to give me up. It was brave of her, and I’m so grateful that she loved me enough to do the right thing and give me to people who could take care of me.”

  “Have you ever wanted to meet your birth mom?” Connie asked.

  “I’ve thought about it before, but I’ve never tried to search her out. I have the best parents in the world.”

  “Would you like to?”

  “Like to what?” I asked. “Meet my birth mom? I suppose. If she wanted to meet me. It would be kind of nice to be able to show her everything I’ve accomplished, and let her know that I’m grateful for what she did for me.”

  “Well, Valerie, we’ve got a surprise for you. We have found your birth mother. She’s here and she’d very much like to meet you.”

  I gasped. My head whipped around so fast I was pretty sure I’d feel whiplash later. My eyes fell on a tall, skinny, blonde who had tears in her eyes and a smile identical to mine.

  I glanced at my parents. They were both smiling and my mom was crying. They seemed okay with this, so I stood up and met the woman standing in front of me.

  “Valerie Jensen,” Connie said. “Meet Valerie Rogers, your birth mom.”

  “Hello,” Valerie said. Her voice and her hands both shook.

  “Hi,” I choked out. Then, as if compelled from within, I fell forward and pulled the stranger into my arms. She hugged me back, and together we sobbed on national television.

  Once we could get a hold of ourselves we wiped our faces and dropped to the couch still clinging to one another’s hands.

  “Valerie,” Connie asked my birth mom. “Had you ever heard of V is for Virgin before we contacted you?”

  Valerie had to wipe more tears away. “I about had a heart attack when I saw the movie.”

  “So you knew it was me?” I asked.

  “I hoped,” she said. “There was no letter mentioned in the movie, but your name was Valerie and the thing with the V necklace was too much of a coincidence. After I saw the movie I looked you up on the Internet and then I knew for sure.” She reached into the collar of her shirt and pulled out a silver chain with a white gold V hanging off it. “Your necklace was one half of a matching set,” she told me. “I wear it always. I’ve never forgotten about you.”

  I started crying again.

  “I’m so proud of you,” Valerie whispered to me, losing it
all over again too.

  Connie had to try and get us under control once again and did so by saying, “So, Val, you recently graduated from Stanford with a double major in economics and political science, is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment in itself.”

  “Thank you. It’s only a break though. I start my masters program in the fall.”

  “Studying?”

  “Continuing in political science.”

  “So am I seeing congress in your future?” Connie teased.

  I grinned back. “Congress, senate…” I said thoughtfully. “I’m not sure yet. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll have to start a P is for President campaign.”

  The audience cheered loudly, and made us all crack up.

  “I wouldn’t put it past you, Virgin Val, to be the first female president.” Connie laughed.

  “Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” I joked.

  “Okay, Val, I hate to ask, but you know I have to—are you still a virgin?”

  I laughed. “I’m surprised it took you so long. It’s okay. Yes, Connie. I’m still a virgin.”

  “Any special guy in your life?”

  “Not at the moment. I’ve been so busy with school and starting F is for Families that I haven’t had much time to date.”

  “That’s a shame. What ever happened with that one guy? What was his name? Kyle something?”

  A roar of applause rolled toward me. I groaned for the crowd, but internally my heart twisted in on itself.

  “I suppose you can’t interview Virgin Val without bringing up Kyle Hamilton.”

  “I suppose not,” Connie teased. “You’re a good sport, Val. So, do the two of you keep in touch?”

  I shook my head. “He went on the ‘S is for Sex’ tour and I left for Stanford long before he came home. We’d called a truce before he left, but we never spoke again. I’m sure he’s forgotten all about me.”

  “I heard he was pretty serious with someone for a while. Got engaged even.”

  Another twist to my heart. “I heard that too.”

  “Then you heard it was a bad breakup? Broke his heart, she did.”

  I shrugged uncomfortably. “I did hear about that, but from my experience there’s never much truth in those tabloid stories, so who knows? He and I were kind of notorious for not getting along, but I hope it wasn’t as bad as it sounds. I hope he’s well wherever he is.”

  “It’s funny you should say that,” Connie said with a sly smile. “What if I were to tell you that wherever he is, happens to be backstage?”

  My heart exploded into overdrive so suddenly I was afraid it might burst, but somehow I managed a playful sigh. “Then I’d tell you I’m really not all that surprised.”

  Except I’d be lying. I don’t know why the thought of them asking Kyle on the show had never occurred to me. I guess because it’d been so long. I’d always figured I’d never see him again.

  Connie laughed and then shouted, “Come on out here, Kyle!”

  I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until my birth mom squeezed my hand. It was strange, but even though I didn’t know her, having her there supporting me as I faced Kyle again felt right.

  Kyle walked out with that same deadly swagger I remembered from years ago, and blew kisses to the women in the audience who were going crazy from the surprise.

  Just like that, all those feelings I’d felt the night we said goodbye were back. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  Kyle walked over and shook hands with Connie and then pulled me into a huge hug. The answer was cry. I melted into Kyle’s embrace and I had to bite the inside of my cheek in order to keep the tears away.

  After letting me go Kyle shook my birth mom’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you,” he told her. “I have to say thank you for bring my favorite virgin into the world.”

  My birth mom started crying again. I was glad. It made me feel like less of a mental case for my own tears.

  “I don’t know whether to thank you for your part in bringing my daughter back into my life, or smack you for the way you treated her.”

  Kyle laughed. “Well, if I get a choice, I’d prefer the thank you. I’ve been slapped on national television before and it’s not all that fun.”

  Everyone laughed of course, considering I was the one who’d slapped him.

  My mom and I scooted down on the couch so that Kyle could sit nearest to Connie. When he took a seat he put his arm around me and tucked me into his side as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if we were best friends and the last four years had only been four days.

  My stomach fluttered. Nerves. I tried my best to squash them. I wasn’t sure, after so many years, how in the world this was going to go, and the last thing I wanted was to get caught up in the whirlwind that was Kyle Hamilton again.

  Kyle felt me stiffen and planted a quick kiss on the side of my head. “It’s been way too long, Val,” he whispered in my ear.

  My stomach fluttered again. It had been way too long. I shook the feeling away. Just because he was more gorgeous now than he had been four years ago didn’t mean anything had changed. He was still him, and I was still me.

  Connie watched the two of us sitting next to each other. She beamed with pride at being the one to have reunited us. “So, Kyle, Val was just telling us she was sure you’d forgotten all about her. Is that true?”

  “Connie, there are some people that could never be forgotten.”

  “I have to agree.” Connie laughed. “Tell us what you’ve been up to.”

  “Well, I’ve got a solo album coming out soon, but other than that I’ve just been taking it easy. Waiting for the right woman to come along and make an honest man out of me.”

  Kyle squeezed me suggestively.

  Connie smiled.

  The audience swooned.

  I blushed.

  “You’re looking to settle down then, are you?” Connie asked, her bright eyes drifting my direction.

  I could feel Kyle’s eyes on me as he replied, “Something like that.”

  Kyle suddenly reached across his lap with his free hand and grabbed hold of my hand. I watched, incredulous, as he weaved his fingers through mine.

  I started to pull away but then something caught my eye and I gasped. Tied around his wrist was a worn leather bracelet. I’d noticed it when he’d walked out—I’d never seen him wear any jewelry before—but I hadn’t noticed the tiny little A dangling from it.

  “What is this?” I asked, fingering the bracelet in disbelief.

  “You don’t recognize it?” Kyle asked. I could hear the laughter in his voice. “You gave it to me once, a long time ago.”

  I couldn’t believe it. It was the bracelet I’d shoved at him at the festival all those years ago. I didn’t even know he’d taken it that day.

  “Yeah, I recognize it,” I said, looking up at Kyle. The way he smiled down at me disarmed me. I lost my train of thought.

  Kyle smirked. “Eight months, now.”

  At first I didn’t know what he meant. “Eight months, what?”

  Kyle arched one of his eyebrows. “Haven’t you heard? The A stands for abstinence.”

  And then I got it. “You?” I gasped.

  Kyle laughed at my shock and then shrugged. “It was my relationship with Adriana. I loved her, you know? When we broke it off I realized I hadn’t been with anyone else since I’d met her, and that I didn’t want to be with anyone else. The woman ruined me because now I don’t want to sleep with anybody I’m not in love with. Believe me, I tried. When she cheated on me I wanted to sleep with a million girls just to get back at her, but I couldn’t do it.”

  He shifted in his seat like he was uncomfortable. Whether it was because he was talking about his ex fiancée or because he was talking about his feelings I wasn’t sure. Either way I was surprised.

  “I figured since I wasn’t doing it anymore anyway, I might as well wear the
bracelet.”

  I looked up at Kyle with grudging pride. “Good for you, Kyle.”

  Kyle squeezed me tighter and brought his lips to my ear again. “I’ve figured it out, Val.”

  I wanted to ask him what, exactly, he’d figured out, but Connie was already talking again. “Are you going to perform something for us today?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Kyle sat forward and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

  He headed across the room where a stage had been set up. His back up band was ready and waiting for him. As he adjusted the microphone he said, “I’ll be singing the first single off my new album, and in grand Kyle Hamilton tradition, I’ve written it for a certain someone who I couldn’t manage to get out of my head.”

  He laughed at the expression on my face and then winked. “It’s called, ‘Worth Waiting For.’”

  Acknowledgements:

  First and foremost I thank my Father in Heaven for the endless blessings in my life. I owe Him everything.

  Thank you to my amazing husband, Joshua, who’s been more supportive of my writing than I ever could have thought possible. Without him this book, and all my others, would never exist. And thank you to Josh Jr., Jackie, Matthew, and Daniel. (Without whom this book might have been written a lot faster, but my life would be incomplete.)

  Thank you to my beautiful betas Dee Dee—for always making sure there is enough romance in my stories, and Robin—for making sure I don’t go overboard with it! And especially thank you for listening to me drone on forever, even when you haven’t read the stories yet and don’t know what I’m talking about.

  To my editor, Mary L. Holden, thank you for your complete faith in this project. I’m grateful for all of your advice and encouragement.

  And, last but not least, a great big bear hug and a thank you to my gorgeous, talented, amazing, musically gifted, genius of a baby sister. I LOVE YOU CARA! Thank you for helping your lyrically-challenged sister, and writing such an awesome song. “Cryin’ Shame” is perfect and so are you. Miss your face!

  BONUS MATERIAL