Page 29 of Clean Point

‘Tasty?’ I repeated as I pushed myself up from the mat, still arranging the moment as if it was a jigsaw. She took a photo, with Nico and me … in that position. I could see it in my mind’s eye, how close we had been, the momentary connection we had shared in the vulnerable moment. How it would look splashed all over the front pages of a tabloid, paired a stupid click bait headline like ‘Scandalized Scottie gets bent over on a public beach’. I cringed at the thought, my cheeks burning red. Not only for myself, but for Nico. This agreement with ELITE wasn’t supposed to be moments like this, twisted and scandalous.

‘This will get the traction we need online,’ she added, as if it was a done deal.

‘No.’ I shook my head in denial. ‘There’s no way you can post that photo.’

She furrowed her thick brows together in confusion. ‘Why not? It’s perfect. You guys are together, and we can see the brand names perfectly. It’s exactly what we’re after.’

‘This isn’t the kind of photo we agreed to.’ I curled my clammy hands into fists, keeping my voice low as I attempted to keep the conversation private. Behind me, I knew the rest of the class had stopped to watch the drama unfold. Their eyes burned holes into my back.

‘It’s just yoga.’ Sarah shrugged innocently, glancing down again at the photo.

I sucked in a deep breath, running dangerously out of patience as I stood up, my legs feeling anything but strong. ‘Sarah, please delete the photo. I’m not comfortable with it.’

She tilted her head, raised an eyebrow, and with an exasperated sigh, she said, ‘Really? You have a problem with this?’

I knew what she was thinking. This? Never mind the hundreds of photos out there of you in compromising positions. Never mind the fact that you’re a girl who always gets into trouble, lies, and does all the party drugs she can get her hands on. Everything and anything a tabloid or a so-called friend has ever said I’ve done, I knew Sarah believed it.

I felt two inches tall and she looked me up and down, filled with smugness. She held the camera in her hand, revelling in the power she had stolen from me. I was beginning to suspect she’d have me get on my hands and knees to beg.

‘She said delete it,’ Nico said, stepping beside me. There was no room in his tone for argument, the authority of it sending shivers down my spine. I turned to him, eyes dancing along the set line of Nico’s jaw, his gaze locked in an icy fury directed at Sarah.

‘Our contract doesn’t state what we can and can’t take photos of,’ she replied.

‘I don’t care. Delete the photo before I do it for you.’ He stood tall compared to how I felt, unwavering in his authority. I looked from him to Sarah, watching as her lips were pursed together in displeasure.

She lifted the camera, pressing a few buttons. ‘Fine. It’s done.’

Instant relief washed over me, but for Nico, it wasn’t enough.

‘Let me see,’ he pressed, stepping in front of me. ‘I don’t believe you deleted it.’ She attempted to stare him down, debating whether she should stand her ground. With a sigh, she passed him the camera.

Staring over his shoulder, I watched as he expertly pressed the buttons on the camera, navigating to the gallery. I had been stupid enough to believe her, but the picture was still there. And when I saw it, I realized how much worse the scene looked.

Our faces were so close together, our gazes connected. In reality, what was a simple stretch looked like an intimate moment captured between lovers. Or that was how it would look if it ever made its way into anyone else’s hands.

I released a shaky breath as Nico pressed the delete button, the photo disappearing from the memory card. The previous photo flashed up, one from our earlier practice on the court.

His stoney demeanour didn’t crack as he handed back the camera to a pouting Sarah.

‘You should be more careful if you don’t want photos like that,’ Sarah said. ‘Next time, I might not be so obvious.’

My heart was in a panicked frenzy, beating so loudly I could hear it. This place was supposed to be private and safe, but with ELITE’s presence, I was as vulnerable here as I was out there. Maybe more so.

‘Well, the next time, I might not give back the camera at all,’ Nico warned, earning himself another glare from her. Out of retorts, she stormed away and off the beach. Nico’s shoulders didn’t relax until she disappeared from view.

He excused himself from the class, his jaw still set tight as he walked away. I looked around at the others, all eyes still on me. Without a word, I slipped on my sandals and ran after him.

‘I’m pretty sure Jon’s going to have your ass for that,’ I said, as I caught up to his furious speed.

He didn’t look at me, eyes set on the horizon. ‘I don’t care. There was no way she was keeping the photo.’

I wondered for a moment if he had done it for me or for his own self-image. I doubted he wanted to be connected to me in that context. In any context if he was truthful, but here we were, anyway.

‘Thanks for having my back,’ I said. Whatever his reason, it didn’t matter. He was entirely to thank for the picture no longer being in Sarah’s hands. He’d protected me.

Nico stopped and flashed me a look that caught me entirely off guard. His eyes were stormy, jaw set tight as he spoke firmly. ‘Don’t thank me.’

‘I want to.’

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