Page 43 of The Accidental Nanny
CHAPTER TWELVE
Gemma
It is late on Saturday night and I’m already on the wine with Fern. We dance to the music on the crowded floor of the nightclub we picked. I can feel eyes on me as I sway back and forth in a seductive manner. It's just a matter of time before someone comes to hit on me.
Until I need a wee…
The pink sequin playsuit might have short sleeves and be cut off at the thigh, but I can't get out of it without Fern’s help. I grab her hand and drag her through the throng of people, making our way to the toilets. I push my way through the queue, not bothered by the other women complaining. Fern is apologising for me, but I don’t care—I refuse to wet myself in public.
“How are you going to get out of this tonight when you want to get undressed?” Fern asks me.
"I can always ask Alex.” I giggle. I’m sure that would be fun. I’d wake Alex up in the early hours of the morning to undress me.
“Oh, yeah? Do you have a thing for him?” she teases, joking about something that isn't even funny.
My thoughts tumble from me. “He’s so sexy in his work attire. And he has this age thing going on. I bet he’d be great in bed, but he rejected me,” I tell her, feeling sorry for myself.
“What?” she asks, surprised.
“Fern, it’s a mess.”
She turns her back on me while I’m on the toilet, waiting until I’m done before helping me zip my awkward outfit back up. The toilets are busy, and it isn't the kind of conversation I want everyone else to hear.
"Come on," I say after I wash my hands.
We make our way to the lounge area, which is quieter and more private. There are sofas around tables here, and the lighting is low and romantic. We pause at the mahogany bar to order some drinks, and then we sit down with our cocktails.
“Spill,” she says. "You can't say something like that and leave me hanging."
“There was a... moment. We kissed, but he stopped. I had my shirt off, but I told him something and…” I blush. I never blush like this with Fern. I'm never embarrassed about anything I tell her. I'm in control. I sip my cocktail, needing courage.
“He’s your boss… Bosses and relationships should never mix,” she says as though it's a matter of fact.
I mean, of course those two don't mix, but just the way she says it makes me suspicious. I sit back, turning my body to look at her, narrowing my eyes and observing her.
“Got something to tell me?” I ask, sipping my cocktail again.
“No,” she says far too quick, making me believe she’s lying.
“Hmmm… I’ve lied. Not to him, you. I’ve lied to you…” I'm confusing myself in my drunken state, rambling on.
“What have you lied about?” She stops me from going on.
“I’m a virgin,” I say just loud enough so she can hear.
She snorts her drink out of her nose, coughing.
“What?”
Fern chokes, her face is turning red—is she dying on me? She grabs a napkin, wiping the drink from around her face and on the table, composing herself. "You're joking."
“I told him. Then he freaked out and now he’s avoided me all week,” I say, feeling even more sorry for myself.
“You're a virgin… no way?” She looks at me, confused. “But you’ve had loads of sex. You told me so.”
“When? I never said those words. I may have led you to believe it…” My face grows hot, so I take a sip of my cocktail before I continue. “I wanted it to be special, and now I’ll be a virgin forever.” I down the rest of my cocktail and signal to the waiter for another. I don't care that I'm getting wasted. Nothing matters anymore anyway.
“Don’t say that. You’re being overdramatic. On the subject of being honest…” She takes a big gulp of her drink first, slamming it down hard enough that I'm surprised the glass doesn't break.
