Page 67 of Lessons in Love

“What do you mean?” Her voice is soft. Unconsciously, I pick at the edges of my nails. Her hand brushes over the back of my shoulders. “Oliver, it’s okay. You can tell me.” And then the dam bursts open.

“She wanted me to do things I didn’t want to do. And then one night we went to this party, and we got drunk. Really drunk. I didn’t even really know what was happening when she dragged me behind a bush.” My eyes prick from unshed tears, and I roughly wipe my hand across my face. “She shoved her hands down my pants, and was…disappointed with what she found,” I say quickly. “I couldn’t get it up. At least that’s what she told everyone.” Glancing at Eden, I rip the band-aid off. “I was too drunk to get her off me.” The words hang in the air for a few moments.

“Oh Oliver,” she sighs, her voice tight. When I look up, I’m surprised to see tears glistening on her face.

“It was a while ago. I’m okay.” I want to comfort her, but then Eden grabs my hand with a fierceness I’m unprepared for.

“But it still happened to you. And it still affects you. I should have ripped her face off when I had the chance.” She rubs her thumb across my knuckles until I look at her. “Did you tell anyone?” I shrug.

“Just Ben. And Michelle. There was nothing I could do against Macie. She was the top dog at our school, and I was just her dorky plaything. I didn’t…I couldn’t say anything.” We’re quiet for a few moments, before Eden presses her hand to my cheek.

“I’m happy you told me, Oliver. It gives me a chance to understand you better.” I cover her hand with mine, and we stay there for a few moments. Something passes between us. Something deeper.

“See? Not my friend. Not my friend at all,” I laugh, which makes her laugh too. She moves her hand to my arm, and I’m comforted by the pressure.

“I could take her on, you know. Put me in a dodge ‘em car and let me at her.”

“I have no doubt about that. No doubt at all.”

20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Eden.

After Oliver’s unexpected revelation, I can’t help myself from looking at him differently. The way the corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles, the warmth of his hand as he passes me another drink. From Macie to his mum to his dad, Oliver has somehow managed to remain the kind of person that he is. The one who looks out for others, the one who looks on the bright side of things.

He must have fought hard for it.

That thought hits me as we set up to play a round of beer pong. I can’t help but to notice the way he deliberately moved everyone’s drink off the table and put them somewhere where they couldn’t be knocked over. The way he wraps a comforting arm around Michelle’s back when she starts getting a bit wobbly on her heels. Oliver is not a product of his experiences. He chose to be like this.

“Eden, are you playing?” Oliver’s soft eyes meet my own as I look up. There’s an orange ping pong ball in between his fingers, and he holds it out to me.

“Oh, no. I’m horrible at this game. Gemma’s the real champion,” I giggle as I try to back away, but I somehow end up against the deck railings, Oliver stalking over to me. There’s a dangerous look in his eyes, and it makes my heart skip a beat. I think back to the last time that we were in this position, the gazebo pressing into his back instead as I kissed him with everything I had.

I silently send a prayer up that Gemma stops socialising and to come find me, but that doesn’t happen.

“Just one game, Eden. Only one. And then I’ll let you go.” His face ends up inches away from mine, eyes slightly glossy from the alcohol he’s been drinking. A smile tugs at the corners of his lips, and I can feel it reflected in my own. “Come on, Eden. I supported you and your dodge ‘em car dreams. Support mine.”

With him so close to me, how could I ever say no? “Okay, fine.”

Oliver smirks as he stands back up straight. I pretend not to notice the way he looks me up and down, hoping that my face doesn’t look as pink as it feels.

Gemma said that this dress would do things to him. I just wasn’t prepared for how my body would heat up every time I felt his eyes on me. There’s an awareness there now, a line that needs to be crossed.

Ben cheers from across the table as we make our way back to the group.

“And this is only because you helped me win the egg hunt,” I comment as I set myself up on the opposite end of the table to Ben and Michelle, grabbing a ping pong ball.

They look like they mean business. Michelle cracks her knuckles and stares me down, so I’m starting to worry about what I’ve gotten myself into. Ben looks like a better adversary. Slightly more flushed than Michelle, he seems more interested in watching her bend over the table than the actual game. Should be an easy match. Right?

“You’ll be fine, Eden. Just get the ball into the cup.” Oliver’s breath is hot against my neck. His hands rest on my hips, guiding me towards the edge of the table. I almost arch back into him involuntarily. How embarrassing. “That’s all it is.”

I line up the shot, take a deep breath, and…

Miss.

Oops.