Autumn placed a plate in front of me with a few pieces of bacon and a small amount of scrambled eggs on it. She returned to the kitchen area and started tidying up.
Her back was to me as she spoke. “Do you want to tell me why you were really outside this morning? I don’t believe your hangover story for one moment.”
The mouthful of eggs turned to pebbles in my mouth. Had Max already said something to her? Did she catch sight of me when she was at his bedroom door earlier? A hundred questions swirled around in my head about what she knew. For all I knew, her knowledge on what had actually happened was zero, unless I told her. And if I was going to be moping around in a strange mood all day, Autumn probably did deserve to know what had happened. Well, at least some of it.
I swallowed hard and dislodged the eggs with another swig of coffee.
“So… you know how Max came home early last night?”
“And you kissed him because we dared you to.” Autumn didn’t turn around. “Before he ran to the bathroom. Honestly, I thought you had better taste.” She giggled.
My face flushed remembering the humiliation all over again. But if I stopped now, I’d never tell her. “I couldn’t sleep, so I got a soda and some painkillers and went to check on Max. I kinda felt guilty for what happened.”
“That was nice of you. I’d have let him suffer.” She turned and winked. “He’d have done exactly the same to me.”
“We got talking and… and he tricked me into staying the night with him.”
If there was a world record for spinning around and fixing your best friend with the most intense glare ever, Autumn would have broken it several thousand times over.
“He did what? You did what?” Her jaw dropped. “I don’t know who I’m madder at right now. How could you let that happen? You know I asked you not to get involved with him.” She smacked her forehead.
“Autumn, we were fourteen when you said that!”
“And I should have said the same to Max,” she huffed. “You and Max…I can’t believe it.” She shook her head so fast it was a wonder she didn’t get whiplash.
“You have to believe me when I say nothing happened between us.” I crossed my fingers under the table, hoping Autumn couldn’t see me. There was no way on earth I could tell her about the kiss now. She’d be fuming at the both of us. And I was fuming enough at Max for the both of us already. “We just… fell asleep together.”
Autumn’s face contorted as she started piecing things together in her mind. “Were you in his room earlier when I knocked?”
There seemed little point in denying it now that everything was out in the open. I nodded. “He tossed me out the window. Obviously, he’s ashamed to be seen with me.”
“He did what?” Incensed though she was, Autumn’s anger appeared to land squarely on her brother now. “Is that why you were outside?”
Feeling like one of those dogs on the back shelves of cars, I nodded again. “Landed with a bit of a thump.” I pulled the robe aside and showed Autumn the purple and red bruise on the outside of my upper right thigh.
She stepped towards me and ran her fingers over the bruise. I winced. It was more painful than I’d expected.
Jodie crashed out of our room, and Autumn and I changed the subject to our outfits for the day. Neither of us were prepared to share the breaking news about what had happened with Max and me. Jodie was the worst at keeping secrets, and the last thing I wanted was to hear about it all day from our friends.
“Won’t be long!” she sing-songed as she went into the bathroom. “Then we can all get ready together. I’m going to need help with my hair.” She slammed the door behind her, and we heard out-of-tune singing along to Taylor Swift. It was a momentary distraction from the elephant in the room.
“I’m pretty sure he only took advantage of my guilt to trick me into staying with him,” I said, when I was sure Jodie wouldn’t be able to hear us.
Autumn sucked in her lips. “I’m sorry my brother’s an ass. And I’m sorry he was an ass to you.” She pulled me up and gathered me into a hug. “You’re my best friend, and you deserve better.” A huge grin lit up her face as she pulled away. “And we’re going to make sure you get better. Come on, let’s go and work some magic. Let’s make him good and jealous.”
Twenty minutes later, I sat at the dressing table in Jodie’s and my room, with Autumn working on my hair. I’d planned on keeping it loose, but she’d swept it into a half-up, half-down style. She created soft tousled curls which cascaded at the back, with a twist at the crown, secured by a jeweled hair clip. I looked like a movie star.
“Wow! Soph, you look incredible,” breathed Jodie, as she came into the room. “Autumn, will you do my hair too?” She unwrapped her dark mane from the towel around her head.
“I can try, but I’m not sure I’m a miracle worker.” She winked at me in the mirror.
“Hey!” Jodie threw her towel at Autumn and hit me square in the back, almost knocking the hair clip from its grip. “Whoops, sorry!” She frowned. “Why’s Sophie getting all the special treatment anyway? I thought we were all doing our own thing?”
I shot Autumn a look, silently begging her not to say anything about Max.
“It’s not special treatment.” Autumn tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, concentrating on my reflection in the mirror. “But come on, Sophie needs to snag
