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Aurora squeezes my hand gently, and we change quickly, going into the bathroom to remove our makeup.
When we’re both in bed, she drags in a lungful of air. “I need to tell you something.”
Her lower lip trembles, her expression lost as if she’s stuck in a memory. “My first time was awful.”
“Yes, it’s supposed to be.”
“I’m not talking about the pain.”
“Oh.” My mouth parts, and silence descends over us.
“He thought I had been with someone else.”
I roll my eyes. “How can men be so stupid?”
“He made me so mad that I said I had.”
“Why would you do that?”
She picks invisible lint from the duvet. “I wanted to hate him, so I didn’t think . . .”
“Then how can you stand him now?” I whisper, confusion lacing every word.
“I never believed we would get past that, but we did.”
“I wouldn’t have,” I say with conviction, but it rings more of doubt.
She places her hand on mine. “What I want to say is, don’t repeat my mistake. Cato will be your first.”
“Never.” It’s exhausting to keep lying to myself, but I don’t have another defense mechanism.
“Stop lying to yourself,” Aurora says, as if reading my mind.
“You mean, I should just give in and enjoy it?”
“Yes.”
I cross my hands over my chest, brow furrowing. “If he touches me, he better be prepared to lose his dick.” I’m such a badass until he touches me.
“You can lie to yourself, but a part of you . . .”
“I’m tired.” I turn on my side, with my back to her, sighing into my pillow. “I just want to be free, Aurora. I thought you wanted the same.”
“I will always be there for you.”
“So, you’ll help me?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Yes.”
I find her hand on top of the duvet and give it a squeeze. “Thank you, bestie. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I fall into a sleep that’s filled with him.
The next morning, I wake up with a slight headache and remnants of a dream involving gray eyes. Not even in sleep can I escape him or have a break from the madness he represents. Infuriating man, stupid connection.
Aurora’s lips twitch in a mischievous grin. “So, you and Cato?”
“Last night never happened.”
