Page 63 of Perfect

“Nah, he’s a fucking nutter at times but we’ve known each other too long to fall out over a chick.”

“I see, and what chick are we talking about?” Natalie fished with eyes so narrow they had reduced to slits.

There was a pause and I felt like they were talking about something way above my head.

Nathan cleared his throat awkwardly before replying.

“Harlow of course.” Pointing his beer bottle at me with an ‘aren’t you a lucky girl’ nod, like I’d just won a fucking Brit award.

OMG, I was mortified that he just came out with it. His reply was strange considering I hadn’t actually felt that type of vibe coming from him at all. Maybe slightly at the party when he was drunk.

I laughed it off.

“So, I’m a chick now, great.”

Kyle cracked a sexist joke which cleared the air and everyone laughed. I had to force myself of course, it wasn’t actuallythat funny.

“Another round here, then onto The Brewers Tap?” Tom piped up, necking his beer.

Yup, he was certainly trying to play the cool guy. I felt a bit sorry for him.

After another string of bars, everyone was starting to feel the effects of the booze and I decided I needed to pace myself. Especially considering my father was due to pick me up. He’d probably never trust me again if I passed out in the car on the way home.

After around an hour in the next pub, I popped to the loo.

“You look amazing in that dress. You’re so tiny and cute,” Natalie said, appearing beside me and meeting my gaze in the mirrored glass above the sinks. Condescending cow. She too was redoing her lips. Her comment was so patronising and my palms itched.

I didn’t smile but returned her compliment, I wasn’t a total bitch of course.

“I love that top.” My voice still sounded insincere.

She started fluffing her hair.

“So, Nate reckons something is going on. You know, with you and Connor.”

I paused as I ran the lip gloss over my lips, which were suddenly quite dry.

“Really?” I replied, attempting to feign innocence.

“Yeah, especially after he went crazy on your ass?”

I gave her a half-arsed reply, which she didn’t buy. “I hadn’t thought about it. He said I wasn’t to go to Nate’s and I think I pissed him off by doing the opposite.”

Her next words almost made my head explode.

“I love controlling men. Did it turn you on? He’s so fucking fit and that body,”

I put my lipstick away and broke eye contact.

“Yes, he’s good-looking.” My reply sounded so wooden and as I raised my eyes back to her annoying reflection, her grin widened. I wanted to smack her in the face.

She tilted her head and considered me thoughtfully.

“You can be open with me you know if you’ve done stuff. Maybe we could compare notes?”

Again, another exploding head moment occurred. What the actual fuck?

“What do you mean?” I shot out, a frown creasing my face. I turned to face her; my mind spinning with questions.

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