Page 46 of Paradox
“You’re not that old.”
“Thanks.” Eden downs the rest of his beer and grabs another bottle. “But I'm technically old enough to be your father.”
“Yeah, if you were having sex at fifteen.”
Using the edge of the step to open his seventh bottle, he says, "Like I said, I’m old enough to be your father.”
“Fuck,” I exhale softly.
Eden picks up the potato and hands it to me. “Half, then we swap.”
Taking it, I nod. “So, ah… What you said before. Does that mean—”
“Yes.” Eden picks up the sweet potato and starts peeling back the tough, charred skin. “Tek was getting it too. More than me, if you want the whole story.” This time there’s no mistaking whether it’s a laugh or not when he looks at the expression on my face. “Why are you so shocked? Start eating before I take it off you.”
Pulling back the skin of the baked potato, steam billows up in front of my face. “I guess I just… I've always known he was popular but I've never seen him date anyone.”
“That’s Tek, since—" He catches himself, though I'm not sure why. "Your brother never had to put in any work to get attention. But yeah. He's not the relationship type.”
“Bu… I’m sorry. This is just a lot to get my head around.”
“Why, though? You might not have started as young, but there’s something in the Jeon blood that ladies want… Hey, you know what’s really funny?” he asks with a mouth full of sweet potato, then nudges me so hard I almost topple off the side of the step. “My first was with a girl who was after your brother.Marina—can't remember her last name. He was meant to go to some dance with her but backed out last minute. So she asked me to fuck her to make him jealous.”
“Lovely.” I roll my eyes.
“You’re doing that judgy thing again.”
“Can you hear yourself talking?”
“I thought you said you weren’t a prude?”
“The question still stands.”
He takes another bite, and smirks. “I regret nothing. I didn’t force her to come knocking at my bedroom window. I didn’t force her to do anything at all.” After another bite, Eden snatches the potato out of my hands and replaces it with his half finished one. “She came onto me. You’d have done the same thing—” He cuts himself off when his eyes meet mine, and just looks at me. It's not so different from all the other times he glared at me with utter indifference, except this time, it lasts longer. Several seconds longer. And none of his features twitch with disgust. “Or maybe you wouldn’t have," he laughs. "But you were the one who said I’m a whore for attention.”
“I’d say more whore in general.”
“Oooh.” He covers his mouth with his fist and taps his foot against the side of mine. “Jin with the bangers tonight.”
“You’re an idiot.” I turn my head to hide my smile.
“So who was your first?”
I almost choke on the sweet potato. “Sorry? My what?”
“You’re first fuck.”
“My first,fuck?” I repeat, emphasising the misogyny of it all.
“What was her name?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Maww,” he pouts. “I told you mine.”
“And I didn’t ask.”
“How old were you?”
