Page 122
“What?! That’s complete bollocks—no pun intended.” He seethed. “What a lying, manipulative asshole!”
“But how was I supposed to know? I asked Sunita and Fi afterward, but they had no idea. And I couldn’t look it up on the internet in case Sam or my parents opened the search history.”
“You could…delete it.”
Evie half-laughed. “I know that now!”
“I’m teasing.”
“I know a lot of things now.” She scratched her chin. “Anyway, I worried non-stop. What if he told his mates I was frigid? Or dumped me? I didn’t want to be the girl everyone gossiped about, so gave in on our third date. Gave him a quickie hand job.”
My assumption outside the stockroom was right. Nick felt sick.
“A few dates and lots of pestering later, I gave him my first blow job—or at least I tried to. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t enjoy it…”
The asshole bullied her. Nick brushed her bangs from her eyes. “Evie, trust me on this. Stuart had no right to pressure you when you weren’t ready. You owed him nothing. You were young and vulnerable. He was older and took advantage. That’s never okay, no matter the circumstances.” His phone buzzed again.
Evie’s eyes darted over Nick’s shoulder toward the noise. “I guess, but I can’t pretend I’m totally innocent. Most of the time I was a willing participant. I wanted to have sex.”
“And why shouldn’t you? It’s completely normal and natural to want it.”
“I know, it’s just…” She bowed her head. “I wanted to wait till I was sure how I felt about him. I only did it ’cause I didn’t want him to dump me—which he did anyway.”
Nick stroked her temple. “Regardless of whether or not you wanted it, that still didn’t give him license to bully or force you. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
Her expression brightened. “One good thing came of it, though—I now realize sex is amazing with someone you love.”
“It is!” Nick kissed her nose.
“Have you ever felt pressured?” she asked.
“Yeah. Playing Jake certainly didn’t help. Everyone thought I was at it. Even my brothers.”
“They didn’t know?”
“Hell no. Tarquin lost his virginity at fourteen. Rupert’s been with Fi since, well, forever. I’m the oldest—I should’ve been giving them advice, not the other way around.
“And my PR made things a helluva lot worse. She booked me for late-night talk shows and lad-mag interviews, all of which cater to an older, male demographic, so you can imagine their questions: Where did you lose your virginity? What’s your favorite position? Ever had a threesome? I had to lie or get caught out.”
“That’s awful.”
Nick nodded. “I hated every unbearable second. Suddenly, all the bad stuff about being famous started canceling out the good.”
“You mentioned that at music camp but didn’t get into specifics.”
Did I? Nick fought to remember but nothing materialized. “I would’ve been in the thick of it back then. But like you said last night about Angry Eyes, it’s ancient history. Live, learn, and move on.”
“I like moving on with you,” said Evie.
“Yeah, me too. You’re so lovely and gorgeous—have the cutest innie belly button.” She giggled as Nick leaned in for a kiss. “So, there’s something I’ve been thinking about. Next September when I’m done uni and you’re preparing to head back for year two, how ’bout we move in together?”
“What? In London?”
“The very same!”
Evie gasped.
“I know I’m kinda jumping the gun. I still have to graduate from Salford and you just accepted your place at Goldsmiths yesterday, but waddaya say? Wanna get a flat and play house in a year’s time?”
