I couldn't fathom the idea of talking to my best friend, either, because she'd been the one to encourage me to go for it and I knew that was the wrong move at that time.
Now I had to live with the consequences of my bad choice.
Including the tabloids that probably already had that photo of me and Dr. Bradley at the charity event.
And the things those men said at dinner…
My gut roiled with guilt and embarrassment while my phone buzzed yet again on my nightstand.
Id' been sitting with my head covered with my blanket for the past twenty minutes, too flustered to care who was calling, so when I picked up the phone and saw it was a video call from Amelia, I almost didn't answer.
I dismissed the notifications that my mother had called and Dr. Bradley had messaged and swiped across my screen to answer the call.
The minute her face appeared, she was squealing. "Oh. My. God, Ember! You didn't tell me your boss was so hot!"
I wanted to be giddy with her, believe me, but just the mention of my boss made more shame well up.
All the worst things I could imagine happening played on repeat in my head.
San Diego did a number on my mind and my heart, and I didn't want a repeat in any way.
What happened there was just downright bullying. Brad had no right to do what he did.
But this time, I was walking into it with eyes wide open. I just didn't know how to stop myself.
"Yeah," I said halfheartedly. "He's hot…"
"You sound like crap. Are you sick?" She popped a strawberry slice into her mouth and chewed obnoxiously while I sucked in a breath and propped my phone up on my nightstand so she could see me while I had a mini meltdown.
Because I knew that was coming.
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine, Ember. I know you when you’re fine and this is hot mess city." She waited, but I had no response because she knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.
So I sat there with my chin on my knees which were tucked to my chest in a bear hug. "Oh, my God…" she said in a breathy tone.
"What?" I asked, not turning to look at her.
Whatever epiphany she had, I was sure she was going to make me very aware of it.
I wanted to be back home in my parents' house.
I didn't know why I ever wanted to leave and come here.
Yes, I needed to get away, but I could've just hidden for a while longer, made my way some other place.
"You slept with him, didn't you? Holy…. My God, Ember, I wasn't actually being serious." She sucked in a breath and continued before I could defend myself. "I mean, I was but I wasn't… You know what I mean. Like honestly, your boss? And was it good? I mean a man that old probably has a lot of?—"
"Christ," I breathed a little too loudly, pressing my hands to my face.
"Sorry," she mumbled. The line went quiet for a moment and she sighed softly and said, "I'm here, bestie. What can I do?"
Uncovering my face, I propped my chin on my knee again and then rolled my head to the side until I could see her and a grin stretched my lips until I felt it touch my eyes.
"It was actually pretty incredible," I admitted and forced the shame away. This was my best friend, and I told her everything. So I could afford to be vulnerable with her.
"Eeek! I knew it. Tell me everything." She grabbed another strawberry, and I dived into how it all went down, not sparing any detail except the way his dirty words made it so much hotter.
