I grunted, trying to pull the blankets free, when I felt a tap on my nose. I wiped at it, and lamented the fact that sleep was done. I groggily opened my eyes to see Eloise curled up on my bed next to me.
I yelped and jerked backwards, nearly falling off the bed, my heart pounding. She hogged my blankets and stared at me with a shit-eating grin.
“I’m awake, so spill,” she said.
My heart was beating wildly. I glared at her, rolled over. and squeezed my eyes shut.
“You have this terrible habit of not letting me sleep in on this trip—so no,” I said.
I felt her wiggle closer, her body pressed along my back
I huffed. “You have a personal space issue,” I said, unable to move away.
“Yeah, but you love me anyways.”
“Debatable,” I mumbled into the pillow.
“You love meso much thatyou’re not going to leave me hanging,” she said, poking me.
“Again, debatable. I’m trying to sleep.”
She poked me again, harder, and I hissed out a breath. I ungraciously kicked back and it just made her dig her fingers in. I yelped and tried to squirm away.
“So, did he fuck you? Because there’s no way that man doesn’tfuck.”
My eyes opened, and I stilled—my heart starting a rapid rhythm in my chest.
“The way you just tensed up…I would say yes,” and I could hear the grin in her voice.
I rolled over and glared at my best friend, trying to hide my real feelings behind annoyance.
“He didn’t…we didn’t.”
God, I couldn’t even get the words out. Heat flooded my cheeks, embarrassment filling me, and I knew that I’d failed at blocking my feelings from her. I knew that Eloise wasn’t a virgin—that she’d had sex with both guys and girls. While I’d never asked for the details, she’d happily provide them.
Eloise also knew that Asher and I had never gotten further than making out and some heavy touching. But it had been our plan to celebrate in that way,afterqualifying…or at least I thought it had been. Now I wondered if I was better off, one less thing to be heartbroken over.
We’d waited because I had this fear that it would complicate everything. The anxiety filled my brain with loud voices that constantly made me feel not ready. Asher had never pressured me, but maybe…
“No. Stop it.”
Eloise poked my forehead—hard—snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“Ouch.” I said, rubbing the spot.
“You not sleeping with Asher didn’t push him to Brittney.”
More heat flooded my cheeks, and I shifted uncomfortably under the blankets.
“I’ve known you forever Aimee Bryant. And I know where your head just went. Do. Not. Listen. To. It.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice quiet.
“So, he didn’t fuck you?”
I shook my head.
“He wanted to though, he said as much.”
