Page 71 of The Dicktionary Club

‘Licked your ditch?’ Katy bellowed, rapidly absorbing the information.

I nudged her to hush her voice as a couple of passersby glanced our way.

‘No .?.?. he sort of .?.?.’ Zola sighed loudly, then looked at us. ‘Rang the devil’s doorbell.’

Katy’s face screwed up. ‘He what?’

‘He poked her off,’ I interpreted.

‘And I came! He made me cum in a fucking piss-stinking lane.’

I was in shock, completely in disbelief. In all the yearsI’d known Zola, she had only ever spoken about Curtis. We’d laughed about her messaging Alvaro, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind that she was truly interested in him. I wondered how much influence the Dicktionary Club had played in this. She would never have been speaking to someone else if it weren’t for our project.

Eventually, I found my words. ‘And I take it you’re questioning what to do? As in, do you want to see Alvaro again? Do you like him, Zo?’

‘No, of course I fucking don’t!’ Zola insisted with a grunt. ‘It was a stupid thing, it was weird, and as soon as I came, I knew instantly that I had made a massive mistake.’

‘Post-nut clarity,’ I announced.

‘What?’ Katy asked, looking from me to Zola and back again.

‘The serial wanker told me that’s why he cums so much. Orgasms allow you to see things more clearly. It’s what helped make him so successful, apparently.’

‘I am ashamed, and I feel fucking awful for Curtis,’ Zola mumbled. ‘I know I moan about him, but we’re engaged, for Christ’s sake.’ Her bottom lip quivered. ‘He moved up here to be with me, and now I’ve done this to him! I don’t know what to do.’

‘I mean, does he need to know, Zo? You’ve made a mistake. You’ve learned your lesson. Is there any point in upsetting him?’ Katy asked, shrugging.

Although Katy made valid points, part of me did think Curtis had a right to know. I mean, I know I would want to be told. I’d have to know every fact and detail to work out how to deal with it.

Zola hunched forward, hugging her legs. ‘But it’s the guilt! That man gave up his spot at university to move to Scotland with me. He gave up his career, his friends, his entire life.’

‘And that was his decision, Zo.’ I gently rubbed her back. ‘You can’t hold the weight of your entire relationship on yourshoulders because he gave up a university place years ago.’

‘Well, what would you do, Ella? Be real with me right now.’

‘Honestly?’ I sighed. ‘Personally, I would have to be honest. Look at how the guilt is making you feel right now. If not for Curtis, do it for yourself, Zo.’

She glanced up at me, then to Katy, and nodded her head.

‘Can you cover for me this afternoon? Say I’m working from Individualise or something?’

‘Wait. Are you telling Curtis right now?’ I asked, hoping she hadn’t made a life-altering decision on a whim.

‘I have to. I know I’ll never get past it if I don’t. He’ll be finished work in an hour,’ Zola said. She stood up from the bench, seeming strangely relieved. ‘Hey, can I stay round one of yours for a few nights? Just in case things get bad?’

I felt my insides crunch up. I loved my friends more than anything, but the idea of their toiletries or clothes and clutter taking over my perfect sanctuary gave me severe anxiety.

‘Of course you can!’ Katy piped up.

Thank fuck for that, I thought.

‘Yeah, of course,’ I added, knowing that I sounded somewhat less enthusiastic.

Zola reached out and hugged us both.

‘I don’t know what I’d do without you,’ she whimpered, then turned. ‘I’ll message you later.’

*

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