Page 36 of I Knew You Were Trouble

I stare at them. The room goes silent. They’re giving nothing away. ‘That is not on the internet,’ I say.

‘Totally is, love,’ Cal replies. ‘Any true fan would know that.’

I grimace. I know he’s from Bondi, which probably has the most famous beach in the world. I don’t think that’s the answer, yet I don’t have any other suggestion.

I let out a dramatic sigh. ‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘Bondi Beach?’

‘Wrong!’ Cal hoots. ‘It was Tamarama. Round the corner.’

‘And he only lasted thirty seconds,’ J.B. adds.

‘Nah, mate… I lasted at least a minute.’

‘I was never going to get that,’ I argue over the ensuing sniggering.

‘Means you gotta get this one right, Lexi,’ Miller says and there is another collective sucking of breath. ‘Or it’sadios.’

I glance across at Aidan, who looks vaguely pleased with himself.

‘You ready, Lex?’ Miller asks.

I nod once.

‘Question ten. What is Aidan McArthur’s favourite sexual position?’

I throw my hands up in the air. ‘Oh, fuck right off, there is no way that is on the internet!’ I exclaim.

‘I’m not done,’ Miller says. ‘Is it A. Cowgirl, B. Reverse Cowgirl, or C. Speed Bump?’

‘It’s an inadmissible question.’

‘The answer is online, love.’ Cal smirks. ‘You just have to know where to look.’

I scowl in Aidan’s direction. He’s revelling in the fact that he knows I don’t know the answer.

‘Choose carefully, Lex,’ Miller hums. ‘One false move, and…’ He kisses his fingers and gives me a mock wave goodbye.

‘I—’ I begin. I look at Aidan, suddenly picturing him in ways I haven’t imagined before and I’m flustered. I try not to blush. My gut instinct says the answer is A. Cowgirl. I can see how a man like that would like to watch a girl ride him. The thought makes my cheeks flush.

I glance to my left. Meredith has her phone out. Suddenly the boys are all shouting her way, stopping her from searching for the answer.

I glance back. Ravi’s eyes are fixed on mine. For a split second, he purposefully glances down. I notice that his right hand lies across his chest, two fingers splayed outwards, the other three tucked away. I look around to see none of the other boys have seen.

I balk. Either I’m blind, or Ravi’s literally handing me the answer.

‘If you need me to put in a call to Silverpix for you,’ Aidan drawls, ‘just let me know. I’d be happy to inform them that you decided you could no longer commit to filming our documentary.’

If I’m right, and Raviisgiving me a signal, then I have to stay. Continue with filming as planned and fulfill Vaughn Herrera’s wishes. But if I go with my gut, and I’m wrong, then my time here could be over, and I’ll have to deal with the consequences.

I look across at the four members of Rebel Heart, waiting with bated breath for my answer. Even after a two-hour concert, in which they sang, danced and back-flipped their way through about fifteen live songs, they still manage to look fresh-faced and handsome. After a couple of weeks, and apart from Aidan, I’ve grown quite fond of them all.

Am I prepared to leave that all behind? Or do I finish what I’ve started? My eyes dart across to Aidan again on my right. He’s looking smug, like he’s expecting me to get this next answer wrong, heralding my departure. He’s so desperate for me to quit this job that a little voice tells me it’s not worth sticking around.

He wishes.

‘I’m going with B. Reverse Cowgirl,’ I say quickly, before I change my mind.

From next to me, I hear Aidan groan, his head going back as both hands slide into his hair.

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