"I know," Bridget said in a small voice.

"Look, just think about it for a while. Maybe you should come over for dinner on Friday--it would help if you got to know the guy before he, um, did the deed. If you like him, and if you're really certain that you want to do it, you can do it that very night--or some other time, if you prefer."

"Thanks. I'll mull it over."

When Friday afternoon rolled around, Bridget seemed unusually excited; in fact, she was close to hyperventilating.

"I think I want to!" she burst out when Hilary returned to the room from the library.

"Oh, yeah?" Hilary said,...