Page 66 of Tainted Love
Bea: This isn’t a good thing… It’s a disaster!!!
Maya: Pro’s: 1. He’s sexy as sin and you, my dear pumpkin pie, are a bombshell.
2. He’s the first guy to be more concerned about your pleasure than his own.
3. He’s a fucking rockstar! What more could you want? I don’t see the problem.
Bea: Con’s: HE IS MY STEPBROTHER!!!
My dad and granddad will kill him … me … hell, probably both of us.
Not to mention, if things don’t work out, it will hurt both of our families. I can’t be responsible for that.
Maya: …
The dots appear and disappear twice before reappearing again. My leg bounces nervously as I wait for her reply. I almost fall off the toilet seat when her face flashes up on my screen with a video call. I release a deep breath before answering.
“Where are you?” she asks, scrunching up her nose as she peers into the camera.
“In the bathroom at the fundraiser for the musicconservatory that I told you about,” I reply, trying to speak quietly so I won’t be overheard.
“Bitch, I love you, but you better not be relieving yourself while on the phone to me.”
I roll my eyes at her dramatics. “I’m hiding out before I do something stupid.”
She smirks. “Something stupid like jumping a hot rockstar?”
“Maya,” I groan. “I need your help, not your smartarse commentary.”
“Why can’t I give you both?”
“I’m seriously freaking out here.”
She sighs. “Okay, babe. I’m going to tell you something because I love you. You worry too much about what everyone else wants. What about whatyouwant?” Her words are eerily similar to what Elias has said to me. “I know you want to do what you think will make Daddy Kirk happy, but have you ever thought what would make him happy is you being happy?”
“I’m going to tell Dad when he gets home that I want to study fashion.”
Maya grins. “Well, that’s one positive step forward. I’m proud of you, boo. While you’re at it, you can tell him you’ve fallen in love with the sexy stepbrother that they left you alone with.”
I roll my eyes. “You make it sound so simple.”
She ignores my sarcasm. “Itisthat simple, baby cakes.”
“I don’t even know if Elias feels the same way. It’s all been about sex for him. He’s probably having his fun because he can,” I cover my face with my spare hand as I realise something. “He’s only interested in me because of the challenge of fucking his stepsister.”
“Not possible. Have you seen yourself? You’re a freaking eleven. Babe, from everything you’ve told me, he’d be mad ifhe hasn’t fallen just as hard for you. You’re never going to know if you don’t jump, baby girl.”
I groan. “If it all turns to shit and I end up making a fool of myself and ruining my family?”
“Then I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. You can move back to Italy with me and Matteo. Love you, Boo.”
“Love you.” I blow her a kiss before ending the call. Slipping my phone back into my purse and steel myself. Before I even worry about coming clean to my dad about my feelings for Elias, I need to find out where we stand first.
I let myself out of the stall and move over to the sink to wash my hands and refresh my lip gloss. The toilet next to the one I was in flushes and a gorgeous, dark-haired girl steps out and moves to the basin beside me. She’s wearing the coolest dress—a black leotard with a tulle skirt which falls to sit just above her knees. Heavy eyeliner frames her bright blue eyes.
“I love your dress,” I say, offering her a small smile.
“Thanks.” She draws her hands through her straight shoulder length hair before running her finger under her bottom lip, fixing her bright red lipstick.
