Page 27 of Prove You Wrong

‘The Bull?’ I repeat slowly.

My brain can’t compute these words and is stalling for time, hoping when she replies it will be a different pub. A pub where I didn’t walk out like a brazen hussy after letting the obnoxiously hot bartender go down on me.

‘You remember the way?’ She fluffs her hair in the mirror, oblivious to my discomfort.

Because I didn’t tell her what happened.

I haven’t told anyone.

I’ve tried not to even think about it.

I’ve buried myself in work and family stuff and done everything I possibly can to distract myself. Because the moment I let myself think about it, my stomach drops, my pulse races and I wonder if I’m having some sort of medical emergency. And because every time I let Nate drift through my thoughts, I lose time thinking, oroverthinking, about everything that happened. ‘Ella!’ She waves her hands in front of my face. ‘It’s left here.’

Shit. There I go again.

I’ve stopped Helena at a junction and we’re just sitting here, the engine idling. Luckily, it’s a quiet road.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’ I think she’s starting to tell I’m a little fazed. ‘I wondered … that guy I met might be there and … well there seemed to be a connection between you and that barman.’ She fidgets and then quickly adds, ‘It’s for charity. I thought you wouldn’t mind.’

‘It’s cool.’ I reach over to squeeze her thigh before grasping the wheel again. ‘It'll be fun.’ I force myself to sound positive for Josie’s sake. She doesn’t know I’ve unexpectedly turned into a vamp.

Josie nods and I sense she’s trying to reassure herself as much as me.

She flicks on the radio and we pass the rest of the journey listening to some old dance classics while I mentally take inventory of my appearance — what I’m wearing.

What's the drill for when you proposition someone, walk out, and then bump into them days later? Are there rules? I’m pretty sure being as attractive as possible is goal number one. And this is probably a goal I have failed.

It shouldn’t matter though. Right? I’m not in the market for anything further. I can’t be. I’ll have to take the bull by the horns and just tell him, “Sorry, it shouldn’t have happened.”

Shit, now I’m thinking about grabbing his horn …

Nope. I shake my head. I’lltell him thanks, it was fun, but that’s the end of it.

And who am I thinking he’d be up for more anyway? A guy like him probably has a different woman every night. I doubt I’ve crossed his mind since then.

We pull into the familiar car park and I kill the engine. I start to grab my bag to get out, but Josie doesn’t move.

‘Everything okay?’ I ask.

‘I lied.’ Her eyes dart to mine and then flick away quickly. The Bull’s outdoor lighting illuminates her features, which are pinched into a worried expression.

‘What?’

‘Well, I didn’t lie. But I didn’t tell you the whole truth.’

‘Go on,’ I urge, intrigued.

‘I’m like, ninety-nine point nine percent sure that guy I met will be there.’

‘Really?’ My tone lets her know I’m not mad in the slightest, but Iamfascinated. I settle back into the seat to listen.

‘So, at the fireworks the other night … ’

‘Yeah … ’

‘I kind of lost track of the group.’

‘And … ’ I draw out the word.

---