Page 64 of Branded Hearts

But how can I when he hasn’t spoken to me since that weekend? The thought of messaging him out of the blue makes my stomach churn with nerves.

Imogen’s gaze occasionally lingers on me, her expression unreadable. The thought that she might know something, something about Bradley and I, sends a shiver of nervousness down my spine.I try to shake off the feeling of being under a microscope and join in the conversation. We chat and laugh, and for a moment, I manage to forget about my worries.

Soon enough, we slowly start to sober up, the laughter giving way to tired smiles. By the time we’re ready to leave, the fun chaos of the evening has quieted down. Liv is staying the night, so it’s just Imogen and I saying our goodbyes. She offers to drive me home. We make our way to her blue Volkswagen Polo, and once inside, she puts the car into gear.

“Sorry for putting you on the spot earlier,” Imogen says, breaking the silence.

Nervousness creeps up again. “I don’t know; what do you mean?”

“You know... you, Bradley, hooking you up, our weekend away…” Her words trail off, and my pulse picks up.Weekend away?

I freeze.

“Weekend away? What do you mean?” I ask, downplaying theunease emanating from me.

“You know, that night in the kitchen while we were away. You were talking to Bradley, no?” So she did see us that night. Panic flares up inside me, my heart racing. What else did she see? Does she know everything?

“Uh, well, yeah. We… We were just talking. Nothing happened.” I blurt out, my eyes widening immediately.

“Seemed like you two were cosy that night in the kitchen.”

Shit.

“Mhm. No point trying to fool me, girl. I wasn’t sleepwalking; I saw you both but didn’t want to disturb your… moment.”

I realise I said thatoutloud and notinmy head.

“Oh, God, it’s… I…” Words fail me, and I stutter, at a loss.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not Liv. I don’t care. I’m just pointing out what I saw.” Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, embarrassment flooding through me. Imogen turns to look at me.

“Hey, please. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just… I’m so screwed. I don’t know what’s happening.”

Everything’s such a mess. Bradley and I were supposed to be careful, but now it feels like the whole world is closing in.

“Well, what has happened?” She’s curious but calm, and it only makes me feel more tangled up.

“Nothing!” My hands fly up in frustration. “Well, maybe something. We kissed twice.”

“Twice! Well, I’ll be damned.”

Confiding in Imogen just feels right. God, it feels so good to get this off my chest. I don’t know why, but there’s something comforting about sharing this with her.

“Ugh. I’m so torn, Imogen. It’s just that I’ve crushed on him for as long as I can remember, and now it’s all…”

“Weird?”

“Yeah,” I say as she pulls up out the front of my place.

“Does anyone know about this crush?”

“No. No one. So you can’t say anything, please!” I plead.

“I won’t,” Imogen says, then takes a breath. “But I think you’ll need to tell Olivia soon. Maybe once things between you and Bradley settle or become clear.”

Her words hang heavy in the air.

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