“You slept with him?”
“He paid a lot of money for it, didn't he?” I mumbled.
“Wow. Wow. Wow. Have you told Ella yet?”
“I sent her a text, but I think she’s still sleeping.”
We both remained silent like that for a little while, both lost in our thoughts.
Eventually she asked. “But why you? Did he do it to spite you? Because of what happened years ago?”
“I asked him the same question.”
“And?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “No response. I think, he still resents me for it.”
“Well, if that was the case, he wouldn’t have paid so much money … unless his plan is not to give it to you. Has the money been sent to you? Have you checked your phone for any alerts?”
“I told him not to send it.”
“What?” she shrieked. “Why?”
“How am I going to explain one million pounds in my account? I’ll be flagged down for money laundering or something.”
“Who’s asking you to explain? It was a gift. They’ll just call both parties to confirm it.”
“That was the same thing he said, and it made sense but it wasn’t what I wanted.” I didn’t want her to read into what I truly wanted, so I rose to my feet with my mug in hand. “And what about Mom? I don’t want her finding out I sold my virginity at an auction.”
She came after me. “Freya, why are you dragging this? Call him right now and tell him to send the money. Get this mess over with.”
I focused on making myself another mug of tea while she watched me, surprised at how calm I was. “Freya!" she called, and when I still didn't respond she realized that something was off.
“Freya what’s wrong ... did that bastard hurt you?”
I shook my head and poured the hot water into my mug. My mother would have had a heart attack if she knew I was not properly brewing my tea in a teapot, but she was not here to witness my transgression so ...
“Then what’s the problem?”
I stirred the mix until my mouth could open. “I want to see him again.”
Freya
I pretended to be nonchalant and let Maddie watch me with open-mouthed shock until I couldn’t take it any longer. “You’re going to catch some flies if you don’t close your mouth,” I said. Taking my mug with me, I returned to the living room.
She followed me.
I sat down on the couch and looked up at her.
She had closed her mouth and appeared to be working my words out in her brain. “Are you planning on having a relationship with him?” she demanded.
I responded as honestly as I could, “I don’t know what I can have with him. I have this … this … connection with him. It’s strange, weird and bizarre, but it’s there…alive and beating like a heart. I know he doesn’t feel the same. This morning he was going to walk out without even saying goodbye, but I couldn’t bear the thought. My body actually wanted me to run to him, fall at his feet and beg him not to leave. Of course, my head didn’t let me do anything so ridiculous so it came up with the next best option. If I had not done this, who knows if I’d ever see him again?”
“Wow,” she said. “Freya, you’re one insanely lucky girl. I was expecting some kinky old bastard to buy you, instead you ended up in bed with basically the only guy you've ever even shown an interest in.”
My head snapped up then. “What?”
“And don’t you dare try to deny you’ve been lusting after Brent Lucan for years! You shut up and sit down whenever he comes on TV. Should I remind you of how many magazines you have of him?”
“Okay, now you’re just lying. He isn’t even on magazines much.”
“True, but every one he has been on, you own. It’s actually beyond lucky. It’s incredible. I can't believe he’s the one you slept with. He’s all you wanted. Wait till Ella hears this new … development.”
“For fuck’s sake, Maddie.”
“Oh wow, you’re cursing with the f word now,” she crowed, and began cackling like an old witch. “You’ve tasted the forbidden fruit and become an adult.”
“I’m going to bed,” I said, and rose to my feet.
A few minutes later, I collapsed on her bed.
She jumped right in beside me.
“Maddie, I’m really tired,” I said, hiding my face in her pillow.
“Just tell me one thing before you sleep. Was he good in bed?”
I sighed. I knew she wasn’t going to leave till I did, so I gave her a response. “Yeah, he was good.”
“Just good? No details?”
“When I wake up.”
“Okay, just tell me this. Was he big?”
I felt myself flush. “Yes.”
“Oh, my God. You lucky bitch you. How big?”
“I didn’t take out my tape measure, okay?”
“alright. Ella is going to be so upset, though. You not only scored on the ‘good first time’, you found a man with a donkey cock. Even I’m jealous.” She grinned to show she didn’t mean it. “Go to sleep, then. I’ll make you something to eat for when you get up.” She shut the door.