Page 42 of Twisted Ties
“What happens next?” I ask, wondering if this is her way of asking me if I’m knocked up.
“You say you’re coming back to school, but you can’t seriously be away from your mate, as much as I want you here.”
“We haven’t exactly worked that out.”
“You haven’t talked about it?”
“No.”
“On account of all the banging.” She grins again.
“No, it’s more complicated than that.”
“Hmm, it shouldn’t be, Rhi. You need to talk to him.”
“He’s coming tonight.”
“Is he now!” She waggles her eyebrows. “I’d better make myself scarce.”
“You don’t have to.”
“You’ve only just lost your V-card, Rhi. You are not ready to move onto sex with an audience just yet.” I gape at her and she giggles. “It’s fine. I’m meant to be seeing Trent anyway.”
“And how is that going?” I ask.
“Well …” she says, hooking her arm through mine and filling me in on everything I’ve missed.
I pace in my room,anxiously waiting for Azlan to arrive. Winnie has given me notes on all the lessons I’ve missed this week and it’s clear I’m going to be even further behind than I first realized. Which means I really ought to use this time to concentrate on my work and catch up.
But I can’t. I’m checking my phone every few minutes, eyes flitting to the window every other, and I can’t sit still.
What if he doesn’t come? What if he’s too annoyed with me?
I chew on my nail until it’s bleeding in my mouth. I swear, disappearing under the bunk for Winnie’s first aid kit.
Of course that’s when he arrives, as I’m wriggling out from under the bed, my butt thrust upwards in the air like apig rooting for truffles. I swear a second time, rushing to open the door, aware my hair is a tangle about my head, my skin all flushed and blood running down my thumb.
I blow hair out of my face and hide my hand behind my back.
“Hi,” I try to say casually, even though my heart is thumping at a million miles per hour.
His brow furrows. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say a little too brightly.
He eyes me as he places a box on the floor, a box which snores loudly.
“Your pig. He’s sleeping.”
“Thank you,” I say, lifting my thumb to start chewing on it again.
His eyes flick to my hand and his brow furrows even deeper.
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.” I attempt to hide my hand behind my back again, but he snatches it in his own.
“You have to stop doing this.”
