Austin’s eyes zip back to me; he studies the side of my face. ‘Maxi is a friend.’
‘I don’t give a shit if he’s a llama. What I wanted to know was whether you were getting blackout drunk again, or doing drugs, or whatever other shit you do when you’re in a mood. You have no idea how relieved I am to see you sober right now. Your mum’s been worried sick, and your dad’s gonna have his lectures lined up, too.’
He stabs a finger at me. ‘Don’t you be pissed off at me.I’mthe one who was upset.Ineeded time away. If I want to go to the Gold Coast, I’ll go to the fuckin’ Gold Coast.’
‘Whatever. But the fact that you did that to Evie at the showcase and then took off without apologising for it is deplorable, man.’
His eyes scrunch up. ‘Did what to Evie?’
‘Tell the whole goddamn world who her father is!’
‘And why wouldn’t I?’ he asks as if I’m speaking in tongues. ‘If it wasn’t me, someone else probably would’ve found out and leaked it—obviously Nadiafound it online. Plus, you know it’s brilliant publicity for the movie—forme—if people think I’m dating Hollywood royalty. Everyone loves a celebrity heir. You’re my manager; you should be all for this.’
I lean forward and peer right into his face until he flushes. ‘She didn’t want anyone to know. I should’ve fucking told you that more clearly when you got the text from Nadia.’
Austin blinks fast. ‘Wait. You already knew?’ When I don’t reply, he physically recoils. ‘How many secrets have you and Evie been keeping from me?’
‘This isn’t about you! Or me—this is about Evie. This was her truth to tell if she wanted to. You had no right to do what you did without talking to her first.’
‘So, she did tell you,’ he confirms, looking me up and down. He tuts with irritation and turns to face the wall of potted plants.
‘She didn’t tell me. I figured it out, just like Nadia did. When I mentioned it to Evie, she said she didn’t want anyone to know. So, I dropped it.’
‘You didn’t even tellme?’
Again, he’s focusing on all the ways he’s been wronged, rather than the mistake he made with Evie.
‘Austin. You’re being a selfish—’
‘You’re obsessed with her,’ he spits.
‘I’m not obsess—’
‘Stop lying! I caught you practically humping her like a dog on heat in that stinking hallway. Now you’re acting as if nothing happened. You’re a fuckin’ liar.’
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard it almost bleeds. ‘I’m not a liar.’
‘No?’ He folds his arms at me, clenching his fists so tight that his knuckles whiten. ‘If you’re so honest, then tell me what’s really going on with you and Evie.’
I let out a breath and look away.
He shakes his head. ‘See? You’re a fuckin’—’
‘I slept with her,’ I blurt out. ‘Okay? Is that what you want to know? We fucked. Last night. Over and over.’
And I’d do it again without a moment’s hesitation because it felt like so much more than sex. It felt like joy and honesty and freedom.
Austin stiffens all over. Slowly, his eyes expand, as if they’re adjusting to the scale of this revelation. ‘What did you just say?’
Oh, shit. This is gonna be worse than I thought.
But it’s too late to back out now. ‘Evie and I slept together last night,’ I repeat. ‘After the wrap party. That’s why I didn’t come home.’
He blinks at me, his breaths growing louder and more uneven, but he still doesn’t say a word. Every bit of his skin has turned ashen.
‘I know you said you liked her,’ I say shakily.Even if you’ve got a funny way of showing it.‘And I’m sorry about that. But Evie has told me very clearly that she likesme.And the truth is that I really like her, too. I like her a lot.’
A sheen of tears coats Austin’s eyes.
