Page 45 of Every Step She Takes
I tried not to squirm.
“Colt may have said he used protection, but women cannot trust men in these matters. We need to take control of our reproductive choices. Are you on the pill? Please be honest with me, Lucy. If you aren’t, I can get something.”
“N-no. I… I’m not on the pill, but we didn’t–” My face scorched. “We were kissing in the hot tub when the photographer showed up.”
“And before that? The other times?”
“There were no other times.”
I braced for her to argue. When she didn’t, I collapsed forward, hands to my face. “I-I can’t believe I… I…”
“Colt is a very attractive man. You wouldn’t be the first girl to have a crush on him. I’m not judging you.” She hesitated and then met my gaze as I peered over my fingers.
“I mean that, Lucy. If anyone’s to blame here, it’s me for thinking the man could keep his damned pants–” She inhaled sharply and looked away. “No, let’s lay the blame where it belongs. I know who did the seducing, and I don’t blame you for having a crush on him.”
“I didn’t. He’s Tiana and Jamie’sdad. He’s old enough to bemydad. I never… I never felt that way about him, and I was careful. I mean…” My cheeks heated again. “I knew he wasn’t going to fall for me. I’m just the tutor. But you hear things, so I was careful. I didn’t want him thinking I liked him and then…”
My face dropped into my hands again as my stomach heaved. “I don’t know how this happened. That sounds bad, but I really don’t. It just… It happened and… and…”
“How much did you have to drink?” she asked, and her voice was softer than I’d ever heard it. “Again, no judgment. It was a party.”
“I had champagne.” I hesitated as I calculated. “Two glasses.”
“Anything else?”
I shook my head.
“Are you sure? I’m not judging here. I know I keep saying that, but I also know that, at your age, I tried it all.” A weak smile. “Booze, boys and bongs, as difficult as that may be to imagine.”
I lifted my head to meet her eyes. “It was two glasses of champagne. Nothing else. I swear it.”
She paused, and I thought she was going to push harder. Instead, she reached for my chin and gently lifted my face as she turned on the interior light. Then she swore, the oath so quiet I barely caught it.
“Did you pour your own drinks, Lucy?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“Who gave them to you?”
“Justice brought me the first, and Colt gave me the second.”
“Justice…” she whispered under her breath.
I realized what she was thinking. “No. He wouldn’t–”
Her cell phone rang, making me jump. She answered it, and as she listened, her face darkened.
“How?” she said. “No, there’s been a mistake. It cannot possibly be–”
A pause.
“Yes, I know how the Internet works,” she snapped, “but this is a tabloid story. What’s the point in putting it online where anyone can see it for free? Who has it?”
She listened and then sniffed. “Never heard of them. Get in touch with someone there, and offer them ten thousand. Let me know when–”
Pause.
“What do you mean they don’t want to talk? They are a tabloid, correct? They want money. Now get on it, and let me know when that photograph is gone.”
