Page 96 of Crush

WTF?

“Random much?” I pointed out with a snort. My best friend had an amazing rack, much bigger than mine and so I didn’t know where she was coming from.

“Luca likes big breasts,” she informed me, her reflection peering at me from across her bedroom.

My nose scrunched, “No. I don’t think you should change a thing, especially not to please a guy. And I thought he dated models.”

“So?”

“Well, models are usually flat-chested,” I stated, looking down at a picture of one in the magazine I was leafing through. The girl was like a stick. “You shouldn’teverchange yourself for a man.”

“You did,” Mia said unhelpfully.

“That’s different. I didn’t know any better,” I replied, fanning my face with my hand. Mia always had the heating on in her room and it was blazing.

Changing the subject at the speed of light was Mia’s speciality, “You don’t have to go home tomorrow you know,” Mia said as she started brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She was sitting with her back to me at her large dressing table and was finishing her nightly routine before painting her nails. It was slotted at one end of her bedroom and was surrounded by lights and recording equipment. It was the place she filmed most of her YouTube videos.

I was on her bed, flipping through an old copy of Vogue. “No, I should go home really. I feel like I’m hiding from my past here like a wuss. I’m also a spineless bitch for missing Max’s birthday party.”

“Hardly a party, it wasdrinksat a crappy bar. And you didn’t miss it, you sent him a card,” Mia pointed out. A card, for his thirtieth, how shit was that? I hadn’t even made it myself. I bought it from the petrol station. Mia’s reminder of that paltry gesture made me feel worse and I knew at that moment that I would make it up to him. I’d seen a stunning TAG watch which I knew he’d love. Although the guy already owned several Rolexes. Maybe I needed to be more original.

I now knew I’d overreacted about the Natalie thing like a silly shrew. The thought that I may have fucked things up with him over something so small played on my mind but I’d stopped myself from messaging him. Men liked the chase remember. Text messages were not the way to deal with my fuck up. I needed to talk to him in person andexplain why I was so insecure. Max still didn’t know the whole story about the kidnapping and what happened with Zander.

During our forbidden relationship Zander had cheated on me, several times. Me being the infatuated sap that I was had always forgiven him. And now I’d let Max in and was scared he’d do the same.

“Luca said he didn’t talk toanyof the women at the drinks tonight. Well, apart from that blonde that his friend is banging.”

“Leonie,” I said. She was the girl from the bathroom the night of the charity ball.

“Yes, the dancer.”

So, she was a dancer. I wondered what type. Mia knew more than me it appeared and then she revealed why. “Luca tried to bang her until Gabe warned him off. Literally cockblocked all his mates. Very telling.”

“And Luca telling you that doesn’t bother you?” If I found out that Max had fancied her, pissed off is too mild of a description as to how I would feel.

“No, we’re open about stuff like that. Besides, it's in the past. He’s mine now.” I liked how possessive Mia sounded as she had been the biggest player I knew in the past. Playing boys at their own game and winning that is.

“Well, I’m not surprised. She’s pretty in a little lost girl way.”

“Anyways. I heard it from Luca that Max’s Natalie wasn’t there either,” Mia said, spinning on her chair to face me.

“Don’t call her Max’s Natalie, that makes me feel worse and anyway how would he know that? Maybe they never met?”

“There were no girls there with, what did you call it? Shit brown hair?”

I groaned, feeling annoyed at how I had overreacted.

Mia tilted her head as she watched me with a sympathetic look, “Why don’t you stay another night, Luca is coming over tomorrow. He’s bringing a stash of weed.”

“You guys are pretty thick,” I said partly to myself whilst readjusting the top of my shorty PJs.

“I suppose so. The guy knows how to go down on a girl, what more could you want? Please stay.”

I smiled, closing the magazine. “No, I’m not into playing gooseberry to you and your carpet-munching man friend. I’m ready to go home now. I need to see Max; tell him about Zander and the creepy flowers.” As expected, Mia’s interrogation had prevailed and I’d told her everything, hence her keeping me there a few more days until things blew over. Whatever ‘things’ were.

My phone vibrated and Mia dropped the brush and dashed over to grab it before I could. “Talk of the devil,” she said, eyeing my phone. I pushed to my feet and snatched it from her, putting my finger to my lips to motion for her to be quiet.

“Hello,” I answered, my heart squeezing in my chest at the thought of Max calling me.

---