Page 40 of Stanton Unconditional

“Natasha has never slept with anyone else. She waited for Josh for seven years.” His eyes hold mine as he takes another sip of his beer.

“What the fuck! What never? Not one person?” I frown. Cameron shakes his head.

I close my eyes and put my head back against my chair in regret. “This is all my fault, Cam. I knew Amelie couldn’t be trusted and yet I never warned him. And now he’s lost the girl that actually really loves him.”

“You didn’t know the stupid prick was going to sleep with her.”

“How did that even happen?” I shake my head.

Joshua silences our conversation by swimming to the edge and taking the stairs of the pool. He dries himself and wraps the towel around his waist.

“Anyone want a protein shake?” he asks as he heads to the pool bar.

Cameron frowns at me. “As if. You freak.”

“What’s wrong with protein?” Joshua replies.

“Nothing if you don’t have taste buds,” I mutter.

He makes his shake and flops onto the deck chair next to me. “Don’t you think you’re training a bit much? It can’t be good for you,” I say as I close my eyes and put my head back to feel the sun on my face.

“I tell you what’s not healthy. Being trapped in this fucking house like a stale bottle of piss,” he snaps.

Cameron gives him a sad smile as he reaches over and rubs his hand roughly through Joshua’s hair. “It’ll work out, mate. No use worrying about it, stop stressing.”

“Why don’t you call Tash?” I ask.

“No, I need to see her in person. She will just hang up on me if I call her.”

I smile. “She’s a ballsy little bitch…isn’t she?”

Joshua rolls his eyes as he takes a sip of his drink. “Hmm, much to my detriment.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes and my phone rings. “Adrian Murphy,” I answer

A deep male voice with an Australian accent. “Umm, hello Adrian.”

“Yes.” I frown, who in the hell is this?

“I’m not sure if you remember me. It’s Nicholas Anastas.

We met in a restaurant a couple of months ago.” My eyes widen and I sit up suddenly.

“Oh yes, I remember.” I start waving my hand around in the air at Joshua frantically.

He frowns at me and takes a sip of his shake. “Nicholas Anastas, what a pleasant surprise.”

Joshua’s mouth drops open and he hits Cameron in the stomach. Cameron has his eyes closed and was not expecting the hit, so he doubles over as he groans.

“Natasha Marx gave me your number.”

I look at Joshua. “Oh, Natasha did…right.”

Joshua puts his head in his hands at the mention of her name.

Fuck, what will I say? I stay silent as nerves steal my ability to speak.

“I hope you don’t mind me calling.”