Page 105 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Everything okay?’ I ask quietly, because Cal’s turned his attention to Ravi. ‘I hope you’re ignoring Twitter right now?’

Online, some Rebelles have come after Bianca, saying she only wants publicity.

She blushes. ‘I’m not rising to it. We’re good. We’ve only just got back to speaking terms, anyway.’

‘Sensible,’ I say. ‘Don’t listen to the haters.’

‘I won’t. We’ve agreed to keep things a little more on the DL this time round.’

I grit my teeth. ‘I take it you saw the front page of theNew York Posttoday?’

She bites her lip, suppressing a smile, just as Cal comes back to her. ‘Apart from that.’

We follow them into the chill-out suite with Ravi. My heart flips over at the sight of Aidan playing with Xavi in his lap on the sofas. His gaze flits to mine but neither of us reacts. J.B. sits with his arm around Audrey on the other side, his guitar abandoned to one side. Miller is wearing a bomber jacket and has his feet on the table.

Audrey gets up to greet me, giving me a hug.

‘What is this, another Lexi summit?’ Cal laughs.

‘No, Cal, believe it or not, today is not about me, or you in fact,’ I say, moving to one side, walking behind the sofas. Aidan glances my way. I want to be in the best place for covert filming, but guilt gnaws at my insides. That I’m filming without their knowledge will anger him, and I have no idea yet how I’m going to confess to it.

‘Then whatisthis about?’ Miller grumbles, as Cal goes back to whispering with Bianca. ‘Come on, it’s not a show night, I wanna get back to GTA 5 on the Xbox.’

Ravi moves to stand in front of them all, clasping his hands together.

‘We’re here because of me,’ he begins shakily, and a hush descends. ‘I talked to Lexi and there’s something I need to do. There’s something I need to say. Loudly.’

Miller suddenly bolts upright, on the front edge of his seat, listening, in complete contrast to his demeanour moments before.

‘What is it, Rav?’ Cal asks.

I see Audrey take Xavi back from Aidan, then I offer Ravi a supportive nod.

He plays with his hands. ‘So… there’s no simple way of putting this. I’ve known for a long time. But I’ve always been too scared to admit it to myself. I’m… I… I’m gay. I’m attracted to guys. To men. I’m gay. And, yeah… that’s me.’

Ravi exhales shakily. His eyes are hopeful. A stunned silence fills the room. I glance around at surprised faces. Cal blinks. Only Miller is grinning.

Aidan is the first to get to his feet, wrapping Ravi in a bear hug. ‘That’s amazing, Rav,’ he says, and his support for his bandmate makes me melt. ‘I’m proud of you, man.’

Then the boys are all on their feet, joining in the hug and expressing their support. All except Miller, who remains seated, resting his elbows on his knees.

‘Miller, what the hell are you doing?’ Aidan snaps. ‘Get up here and support Rav.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. Miller’s known for a while,’ Ravi blurts, emerging from the huddle. ‘He’s supportive.’

J.B., Aidan and Cal all stare at Ravi in disbelief.

‘Like, whaaat?’ Cal says, laughing. ‘Are you serious?’

‘That’s impossible,’ Aidan says, looking down at Miller.

‘Why is that impossible?’ Miller questions casually, leaning back in his seat.

‘Because you cannot keep a secret aboutanything,’ J.B. says.

‘Well, this I kept to myself,’ Miller states. ‘For about five years.’

‘We got drunk one night, and I told him in the early days,’ Ravi says. ‘But then I got scared and told him he couldn’t tell a soul. To his credit, he hasn’t.’

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