“Yeah, I’m gonna go find my turtleneck,” I muttered. I heard Ollie cooing over Kennedy the moment I left the room.
I quickly changed – and put on deodorant, ran a comb through my hair, brushed my teeth, and – what was wrong with me? – spritzed on some aftershave – and came back downstairs in a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt (it was simply too hot for anything else).
Ollie smirked as I entered; he was wearing his traditional light blue shirt and dark blue chinos. His uniform when not wearing one of his endless blue suits. We’d been dating for nearly a month before I saw him in a different colour.
He brought the pan over to the table and placed it in the middle. “Looks good,” I commented as evenly as I could.
“So, going commando, eh?” he said as he sat down opposite me with the biggest grin on his face.
I went as red as the shakshuka. “How did you—”
“I bought you those shorts as well.” Another grin came over his face. “I remember you demonstrating how well they fit. I also remember running behind you several times after you started wearing them and almost drooling at the sight.”
I was a tomato. I was a beetroot.
It was true. I had deliberately worn these shorts without any underwear on when Ollie dragged me out running – officially because it was more comfortable, unofficially because our runs always got shortened on those days and we’d go back to the flat and spend the next hour doing ungodly things to one another.
I’d gotten used to wearing them commando, so I never even thought to put on underwear.
“It wasn’t meant to be indicative of anything,” I said, spooning out some food onto my plate through my embarrassment.
“Never mind, I won’t mention it again.” Ollie was unable to hide his amusement.
I was silent for a moment. “What’s um … you know.” I stumbled for words.
He cleared his throat and turned serious. “Do you want the long or short version?”
“Short.”
“Front page of every newspaper. Number one story on every website. All over Twitter. Your name is everywhere, too.” He checked his watch. “And starting any minute now is an emergency debate in Parliament with MPs standing up to condemn the invasion of privacy and demand an investigation.”
I put my head in my hands.
“Hey, hey,” he said and held his own out. It was what he always did. Laid his hand, palm up on the table, for me to take it in my own time. It was a gesture that used to make me melt.
I put my hand in his and he squeezed it for all he was worth. “Ninety-nine per cent of the coverage is sympathetic. A lot of people think it’s horrible. Yes, they’ve all gone and searched on Twitter for the photos, but in public they’ve condemned it,” he said.
“I expect Guy will have to drop out of the race.”
Ollie nodded. “I can’t see a way he can claw anything back from this. But, like I said, everyone is sympathetic. Owen Jones was onSky Newssaying how bad he felt for him. Owen Jones!”
I rolled my eyes. Owen Jones, one of the UK’s most strident left-wing commentators, was sticking up for my centre-right love interest. “Do I dare open my phone?”
“If you want. Just remember—” He took his own out of his pocket, swiped it to unlock the screen. “Oh, look,someone is being a prick on the internet – you know the solution for that? Swipe, swipe, and back in the pocket,” he said and did just that.
I opened my phone and began to scroll.Tory HQ releases statement in support of candidate,Prime Minister to make statement on Truth2power photos controversy,Guy Frobisher makes statement.
“What’s Guy said?” Ollie gave a pained expression.
“I wouldn’t read that particular statement.”
“What? Why— oh.” Guy’s statement was defending himself – not from having his nudes leaked but from the fact that they featured a man who was awaiting trial for murder.
I had no knowledge of Tarquin’s true nature at the time. He was my friend, and I cared deeply for him. It was my choice to introduce him to members of my family and let them take him into their trust, which he would betray so gravely. I will have to live with that for the rest of my life, I read out loud.
Ollie tried to give a reassuring smile, but none came.
I did the worst part and searched my own name on Twitter.
