I Knew You Were Trouble

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Despite it being a Sunday, the boys are tied up with rehearsal all day for a performance in Times Square on Good Morning America the following morning. Duncan goes along to film them. Bodhi is dispatched to fetch Cal from Bianca’s apartment. I stay out of the way, taking a walk out into the bustling streets of Manhattan, and I daydream about Aidan the entire journey. He’s the only one who constantly occupies my thoughts. He’s the only one who gives me butterflies and makes my heart pound in his presence. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I feel happy, yet guilt still balloons in my stomach. What I have with him should be something to be proud of. Not something I hide away. It shouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I contemplate whether it’s love that I feel, or whether I’ve got caught up in Rebel Heart hysteria.

By nightfall, I’m impatient to see him. Aidan sends me a message to go to his room at eleven p.m., as the whole band and Ziggy are being dined out by record company executives.

At ten fifty-five, I knock softly on his door.

It opens a millisecond later, Aidan standing in a navy-blue T-shirt and jeans.

He grins, yanking me into his embrace, pushing the door closed behind me and pressing me up against it, imprisoning me, and I love the feel of his hard body pushing against mine. His kisses are hungry, his mouth insistent, and I match his eagerness with my own.

‘I missed you,’ he whispers between kisses.

My hands rest against his shoulders as he trails kisses down my neck. I shudder, thinking back to our journey through Manhattan this morning, so Cal could plead Bianca’s forgiveness. It’s been the longest day.

‘Cal brought Bianca to the dinner,’ Aidan sighs. ‘I mean, just as a friend, you know, but I wished I could have taken you.’

I gaze up at him, running my hands down his T-shirt before sliding my fingers underneath the hem. ‘One day,’ I manage to whisper before he captures my mouth again.

It’s still dark outside when Aidan’s alarm goes at five a.m.

I squint, feeling him shift in the bed before it is silenced and all I can hear is some distant traffic noise. The electric fire has been on low all night. I turn and face him, his profile just visible in the shadows. Unshowered and unshaven, Aidan McArthur is still an Adonis.

My eyes drift shut, memories of last night making my nerve endings tingle.

Reaching out and touching his hair, I stroke his face.

‘What time do you have to leave?’ I ask quietly.

He groans, his voice still thick with sleep. ‘Someone will come knocking on my door in about half an hour.’

My fingers slide to his bicep. ‘Have you got time for another bath?’

He hums a little laugh. ‘I wish I did. I’d want you naked in there with me, like last night.’

I feel a rush of heat between my thighs at the memory of our shared bath. I don’t have long before I need to leave.

I lower my hand, sliding my flat palm down his solid abdomen, my fingertips coming into contact with his shaft. Perhaps because it’s early morning, but he’s already a little hard. Gripping him, I give him a firm stroke, and within seconds he’s filled my hand, accompanied by a low, satisfied groan. I shift a little closer, continue the movement of my hand.

‘You have a busy schedule today,’ I whisper. ‘I probably won’t see you.’

His hands reach for me. ‘I’ve got ten minutes before I have to shower and shave,’ he whispers, rolling me onto my back and trailing lazy kisses over the curve of my shoulder. ‘That’s six hundred seconds. Then it’s the performance followed by back-to-back interviews all day. What are you going to do if you get hit with a sexual urge at lunch and I’m not here to satisfy you?’

My laugh is languid. ‘Then like a big girl, I’ll satisfy myself,’ I say, and his body stiffens at my words.

‘Care to demonstrate?’ he rasps, lowering his mouth to one breast, and on the other teasing out the nipple with his thumb.

I’m on my back. I feel the pressure of his fullness between my legs, where I’m already getting wetter.

‘Would you like me to?’ I ask.

Aidan moves to one side. Reaching over, he switches on the bedside lamp to a low light. Together with the fire, it bathes everything in a sensual glow. He hauls himself up on one elbow, pushing back the covers so he can look down the line of my naked body.

‘Mmm,’ he says.

Watching him, still lying on my back, I slide the tips of two fingers on my right hand into my mouth, sucking on them. Aidan lets out another hum of approval.

I feel a throb of need under his gaze. On the sheets, I draw up my knees towards my chest, parting my thighs, sliding my fingers straight down to my folds and finding the spot that I know can make my body convulse, caressing and circling it.

‘I like you watching me,’ I murmur up at him and Aidan silences me with another wild kiss, only tearing himself away to watch what I am doing with my hand.

‘I don’t think there’s anything better than watching you do this,’ he echoes.

‘I don’t think this is going to take very long,’ I whisper, feeling the tension already building under his famished gaze.

He shudders at my words. ‘Tell me what you’re thinking of,’ he whispers in a low tone. ‘Tell me everything.’

‘You,’ I pant. ‘I’m thinking of us last night, naked on that rug. And in the bath.’

He moans again. ‘I’m inside you,’ Aidan rasps against my mouth but watches down the line of my body as my knuckles move rhythmically up and down from rubbing myself. ‘I’m fucking you hard.’

‘I’m so close already,’ I sigh, my head going back as I increase the speed of my strokes, surprised at how slick my opening has become, and how swiftly my climax has built under his lustful gaze. I arch my back, feeling the delicious sensations beginning to pulse and tingle at the base of my core.

‘Show me,’ he rasps.

I cry out as I come, feeling my channel ripple and tremor, the waves of pleasure spreading upwards and outwards as I writhe under the spasms of the most intense orgasm. Aidan leans down, capturing my mouth as I’m still climaxing, until I have to pull away to gasp breath.

‘Christ, Lexi,’ he says after a moment, rolling on his back. ‘How do you expect me to go through my day today and stay sane? Now you’ve put that image into my head.’

I place one hand against his cheek. Before Aidan I’d never touched myself in front of anyone. It should feel embarrassing, but it’s liberating, and I draw satisfaction from the fact he enjoys the spectacle.

‘So you see, I’ll be fine,’ I joke, promptly sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, getting to my feet. Aidan falls back against the pillows, letting out a grumble of disappointment that it’s over.

‘Cold shower awaits,’ he murmurs.

I enter the en-suite bathroom, finding what I am looking for immediately. I tear the condom packet with my teeth, sliding it out into my fingers. Re-entering the room, Aidan is pleasantly surprised when I straddle his body.

When he opens his mouth to say something, I place one finger against his lips.

‘Don’t talk,’ I whisper. ‘Six hundred seconds, remember?’

Looking down, I grasp his proudly erect shaft, rolling the condom down it in one fluid motion, fixing it in place. Aidan lets me take control, his eyes never leaving mine, his gaze clouded by raw desire. Giving him a single, flirtatious glance, I turn myself around, so that my behind is facing him in a reverse cowgirl stance: his favourite sexual position. The noise he makes at the realisation fills me with a deep satisfaction. Moving above him, I position myself and grasp him, hearing him draw breath as I guide his tip to my opening, nudging him against my wet warmth, feeling my body sheath the length of him as I slide him inside, until he’s buried as deep as I can take him.

‘Lex,’ Aidan chokes out as I begin to ride him, reaching around for his hands and bringing them up to cup both my rolling hips, completely turned on by the power I now wield over him.

His breaths are laboured as I move in long strokes. I feel him pulse inside me, wanting to keep him forever and never let go. Then I shift my tempo, and buck my hips faster. I can hear that he’s close from the rough groaning sounds that he’s making.

‘Fuck,’ he grits out. Within moments, he explodes with an intense growl of pleasure, coming and coming, emptying himself into the condom before he collapses back against the pillows and gasps for breath.

‘It’s never ever happened that fast,’ he rasps, as I calmly ease myself off him, removing the condom as I go, getting up and taking it back into the en-suite for disposal.

When I return, Aidan reaches for me, yanking me down roughly to the bed. ‘Kiss me,’ he says, and I do. ‘Never stop kissing me. You’re so beautiful.’

I hold onto him, feeling his heart rate return to normal. My own heart feels open. I decide that what I have with Aidan is love, and it’s a blissful feeling like no other. It warms my heart. More than that, it engulfs my soul.

Even more so, it terrifies me.

I watch Good Morning America in my room with Duncan and Meredith. Ziggy requested I refrain from filming today, as security in Times Square was going to be tight. I agreed, happy to have the morning to contemplate Ravi’s second interview. When I told Aidan I was interviewing Ravi again later, I didn’t tell him the real reason, but I’m keen to.

Meredith has brought breakfast up from the main buffet downstairs.

‘Also, I stole a champagne from the chill-out suite,’ she says, producing an unopened bottle, ‘so I thought we could have that. Duncan, you’re gonna have to do the honours.’

Duncan takes the bottle from her, his mouth already stuffed full of fresh croissant.

‘Champagne at eighty-thirty in the morning?’ I laugh. Duncan makes quick work of the cork, and it goes flying to the ceiling.

‘I’ve got extra glasses in my room,’ Meredith says. ‘Back in a sec.’

She scurries off. I lean forward, waiting for the door to close.

‘So did Ziggy come through for the booking?’ I ask him.

‘Aye. Best Italian in Manhattan, apparently.’

‘Good. What are you wearing?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Wear that fitted black shirt you have. It looks good on you.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yes. And when you kiss her at the end of the night, make sure it’s mind-blowing.’

Duncan’s cheeks flush again. ‘No pressure, then.’ He tips his head towards the TV. ‘Boys are on.’

I grab the remote. ‘Quick, volume up.’

Meredith races back into the room, pouring us all water glasses full to the brim with champagne, as one of the presenters introduces Rebel Heart.

The cameras cut to outside in Times Square, where a vast, screaming crowd has gathered for the boys’ live performance of “Shame About My Face”, on a stage that’s been specially erected. I note that they’re using a crane for overhead shots. In the centre, the boys are all in formation, wired up with microphones. Their hair has all been preened to perfection. The bass line pumps, the beat striking up, their movements all in sync. Cal is at the front, doing the majority of the singing. They are wearing baggy low-slung jeans, metallic black puffer coats, all of them open to reveal stark white vests underneath.

The camera cuts to Aidan momentarily and I’m mesmerised. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to him being on TV, the man that only a few hours ago I was so intimate with. When it’s Miller’s turn to sing, the crowd gives an even louder scream and I roll my eyes.

‘You can see the breath coming out their mouths,’ Duncan says. ‘Must be Baltic out there.’

Meredith is glued to the screen. ‘I wonder what time people started lining up.’

‘Have you ever queued up all night to see a band, Dunc?’ I ask.

‘Not all night. Queued for ages to get into a festival once.’

‘What about you, Mer?’

My assistant’s eyes are still trained on Miller on the screen.

‘Mer?’ I say again.

‘For bands? Oh god, a few. My sister and I camped out once or twice.’

‘For which band?’

She looks to her food. ‘You know, I can’t even remember. Think it was Maroon 5 or something.’

I want to ask her what she’s wearing for her date with Duncan, but I keep silent.

Towards the end of the song, the cameras scan the crowd.

‘Oh sweet, look, Bianca’s watching,’ I say, breaking out into a grin.

In the early evening, whilst Duncan takes Meredith out on their date, I conduct Ravi’s second interview in a room I secured through Ziggy. Ravi asks for Tun to be present.

There are parts where I think I see him trembling. The moment he says the words ‘I am gay’ strikes me as particularly powerful, the simplicity of his confession holding so much emotional gravitas. When I switch off the camera, Ravi is grinning. Tun goes to him, throwing his arms around him and saying ‘I’m so proud of you,’ before they fold each other into an embrace, their lips finding one another’s.

‘I want to go and tell the boys now,’ Ravi says. ‘Before I frighten myself and chicken out.’

‘You want me to come with you?’ Tun asks.

Ravi squeezes his hand. ‘Can I tell them, then come get you? Would you hate me for that?’

‘Of course I won’t hate you,’ Tun says, kissing Ravi again.

I’d already hooked myself up with a concealed body camera in anticipation of him making that very decision.

‘Do we know where they’ll be?’

‘They’re upstairs.’

Outside the chill-out suite, Bianca is with Cal. Social media speculation regarding the status of their relationship has gone into overdrive, the Rebelles falling into two camps: either for or against.

I greet her with a hug, aware of the camera I’m wearing.

‘Everything okay?’ I ask quietly, because Cal’s turned his attention to Ravi. ‘I hope you’re ignoring Twitter right now?’

Online, some Rebelles have come after Bianca, saying she only wants publicity.

She blushes. ‘I’m not rising to it. We’re good. We’ve only just got back to speaking terms, anyway.’

‘Sensible,’ I say. ‘Don’t listen to the haters.’

‘I won’t. We’ve agreed to keep things a little more on the DL this time round.’

I grit my teeth. ‘I take it you saw the front page of the New York Post today?’

She bites her lip, suppressing a smile, just as Cal comes back to her. ‘Apart from that.’

We follow them into the chill-out suite with Ravi. My heart flips over at the sight of Aidan playing with Xavi in his lap on the sofas. His gaze flits to mine but neither of us reacts. J.B. sits with his arm around Audrey on the other side, his guitar abandoned to one side. Miller is wearing a bomber jacket and has his feet on the table.

Audrey gets up to greet me, giving me a hug.

‘What is this, another Lexi summit?’ Cal laughs.

‘No, Cal, believe it or not, today is not about me, or you in fact,’ I say, moving to one side, walking behind the sofas. Aidan glances my way. I want to be in the best place for covert filming, but guilt gnaws at my insides. That I’m filming without their knowledge will anger him, and I have no idea yet how I’m going to confess to it.

‘Then what is this about?’ Miller grumbles, as Cal goes back to whispering with Bianca. ‘Come on, it’s not a show night, I wanna get back to GTA 5 on the Xbox.’

Ravi moves to stand in front of them all, clasping his hands together.

‘We’re here because of me,’ he begins shakily, and a hush descends. ‘I talked to Lexi and there’s something I need to do. There’s something I need to say. Loudly.’

Miller suddenly bolts upright, on the front edge of his seat, listening, in complete contrast to his demeanour moments before.

‘What is it, Rav?’ Cal asks.

I see Audrey take Xavi back from Aidan, then I offer Ravi a supportive nod.

He plays with his hands. ‘So… there’s no simple way of putting this. I’ve known for a long time. But I’ve always been too scared to admit it to myself. I’m… I… I’m gay. I’m attracted to guys. To men. I’m gay. And, yeah… that’s me.’

Ravi exhales shakily. His eyes are hopeful. A stunned silence fills the room. I glance around at surprised faces. Cal blinks. Only Miller is grinning.

Aidan is the first to get to his feet, wrapping Ravi in a bear hug. ‘That’s amazing, Rav,’ he says, and his support for his bandmate makes me melt. ‘I’m proud of you, man.’

Then the boys are all on their feet, joining in the hug and expressing their support. All except Miller, who remains seated, resting his elbows on his knees.

‘Miller, what the hell are you doing?’ Aidan snaps. ‘Get up here and support Rav.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. Miller’s known for a while,’ Ravi blurts, emerging from the huddle. ‘He’s supportive.’

J.B., Aidan and Cal all stare at Ravi in disbelief.

‘Like , whaaat ?’ Cal says, laughing. ‘Are you serious?’

‘That’s impossible,’ Aidan says, looking down at Miller.

‘Why is that impossible?’ Miller questions casually, leaning back in his seat.

‘Because you cannot keep a secret about anything ,’ J.B. says.

‘Well, this I kept to myself,’ Miller states. ‘For about five years.’

‘We got drunk one night, and I told him in the early days,’ Ravi says. ‘But then I got scared and told him he couldn’t tell a soul. To his credit, he hasn’t.’

‘Is that why you guys are sketchy sometimes?’ Cal asks.

‘I love that it’s more surprising to you all that Miller can actually keep a secret rather than Ravi being gay,’ Audrey says with a smile before Miller blows her a kiss. ‘Honestly, Ravi, I always thought you were,’ she continues, bouncing Xavi on her knee. ‘I did not even question it.’

J.B. shakes his head in disbelief at her astuteness.

‘I’ve been trying to get him to have this conversation with you in, like, for ever ,’ Miller says, finally getting to his feet and holding out his arms. ‘Come get a hug, big guy,’ he says to Ravi.

Ravi and Miller embrace. I feel a lump in my throat as the other boys pile in on top in a group hug.

‘Girls, I think you should get in on some hug action,’ Aidan says.

Audrey gets to her feet, Xavi in her arms. She and Bianca are folded into the group.

‘You coming, Lex?’ Aidan asks me.

‘I’m just waiting for Ravi to tell you the other thing,’ I smile, praying that I have a good angle on my hidden camera.

The group hug collapses.

‘There’s more?’ Cal says in disbelief. ‘Who else has got secrets? Did you know about this, Mill?’

‘No, I don’t know about anything,’ Miller says.

Ravi flushes crimson. ‘I’ve kind of got a boyfriend,’ he admits coyly, and the room erupts.

That night, Aidan comes to my room. At eleven o’clock, I lie naked in his arms, looking up something on my phone. His head on the pillow, Aidan strokes my bare stomach absent-mindedly.

‘So, when did Ravi tell you he was gay? In his first interview?’ he asks.

‘No. He didn’t say a thing about it in his first interview. I had no idea. It happened in Sydney, by accident. I stumbled into him kissing Tun after you’d helped me get away from that guy at the party in the bar.’

He goes quiet.

I turn to face him, cradling his cheek. ‘I’m sorry. It wasn’t my secret to tell,’ I add.

‘No, no, I get it,’ Aidan says, propping himself up on his elbow. ‘I just… I don’t know… we’ve just been so close these last few days. I guess it’s just something I thought you would have told me.’

‘Are you angry with me?’ I ask.

‘Of course not. But it’s important that we’re honest, you know? I don’t have a zillion people in my life I can trust.’

I nod in understanding, a knot appearing in my stomach again, knowing I am yet to confess that I’ve been filming the band without their consent. I need to do it, and soon.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’

My phone buzzes. A message from Duncan reads: Date went well. Back at hotel.

I type back, How was the goodnight kiss?

Duncan doesn’t take long to reply. Mind-blowing , he says.

‘Duncan had a nice time at dinner with Meredith,’ I tell Aidan.

‘Yeah? That’s good. Keeps her away from Miller. I think he thinks…’

‘What?’ I say, bristling with concern.

He frowns. ‘You know… he thinks that Meredith… would be an easy lay.’

I throw him a look of disgust. ‘Ugh. How does Miller manage to be likeable one minute, yet so despicable the next?’

Aidan cradles my cheek. ‘It’s a special talent. Plus, he doesn’t have anyone close enough to keep him in check.’

The kiss he gives me sends blissful pulses through my body.

‘Lex,’ Aidan whispers.

‘Mmm?’

‘Don’t freak out,’ he says in between kisses. ‘But I think I’m falling in love with you.’

His mouth moves to my neck, one hand drifting between my thighs.

‘I think I’m falling in love with you too,’ I breathe, too afraid to tell him that I’ve already fallen.

I wake with a start. Someone’s knocking at my door.

‘Shit,’ Aidan mutters, stirring beside me. ‘What time is it?’

I check my phone. ‘Oh god, it’s after nine.’

Aidan sits up, rubbing his eyes, swearing again. I hear Meredith outside my door.

‘Quick, get into the bathroom,’ I hiss at him and he hops naked out of the bed, diving into the en-suite.

‘Hold on one second,’ I shout out to Meredith, and dress quickly in last night’s clothing. I pick up all of Aidan’s things from the carpet and pile them onto a chair.

‘Hi,’ I say with a smile as I open the door to Meredith.

‘Hey,’ she says, walking past me without asking if she can come in. ‘I’m so sorry, did I wake you?’

‘I must have overslept,’ I say, rubbing my eyes, trying to think how I can get her out quickly.

‘You haven’t seen Aidan, have you? He’s, like, gone missing and isn’t answering his phone. Bodhi and his team have searched everywhere. Doesn’t sound like he stayed in his room last night. Ziggy’s freaking out. They’re about to call the cops.’

My eyes widen. Panic explodes in my chest.

I stare at Meredith. Suddenly it doesn’t seem to matter that she’s in the room. ‘Shit,’ I mutter then raise my voice. ‘Aidan,’ I say out loud towards the bathroom and – after a split second of realisation – Meredith’s eyes go wide. ‘You’re missing in action. Ziggy’s about to call the police.’

The handle clicks down on the bathroom door. One hand shoots out.

‘Can you hand me my clothes?’ Aidan says and Meredith’s jaw drops open. I go to the chair and pick up the messy pile, delivering it to his outstretched hand. When I turn around, Meredith is speechless.

We’re silent whilst he gets dressed. He emerges, rakes his fingers through his hair, effortlessly sexy. ‘Better go,’ he mutters, and before I know it, he’s out of the room.

It’s a moment before I can look Meredith in the eye. When I glance across at her, grasping aimlessly at my fingers, she’s gawping at me.

‘He was in here the whole time?’ she splutters.

My response doesn’t come immediately. ‘We’re sort of seeing one another. In secret.’

Her wide-open mouth reveals just how gleeful she really is. ‘When did that happen? I thought… after Dubai—’

‘New Year. At Aidan’s house.’

She looks fit to burst. ‘Oh my god!’

I wince. ‘I am in so much trouble. How angry was Ziggy that he couldn’t find Aidan? On a scale of one to ten.’

Meredith grits her teeth. ‘Oh, ten. Definitely. He’s mad. Worried. Freaking out . What the hell is Aidan gonna tell him?’

‘I don’t know,’ I say, a panicky quiver in my voice, looking around for my shoes. ‘I need to get up there.’

I can hear Ziggy before I even get inside the suite. The door is already open.

I walk in with Meredith on my tail to find the rest of the band watching on as Ziggy lays into Aidan. Aidan stands stoically with his legs apart, arms crossed over his chest, his shirt crumpled, his cheeks slightly red. In contrast, Ziggy’s face is puce, droplets of saliva spraying out of his mouth as he rants.

‘…What am I supposed to do, Aidey? Eh? You don’t have your phone on… your bed hasn’t been slept in, what am I supposed to think? In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve had fans running riot around this hotel, tryna track you boys down! So, tell me what I’m supposed think, Aid? Tell me.’

A muscle throbs in Aidan’s jaw. ‘I don’t have to tell you where I was,’ he sighs.

‘I was about to call the fuckin’ coppers, weren’t I?’ Ziggy explodes. ‘Bodhi was on red alert! You know the drill: you tell him or his team if you’re planning on going out and about!’

‘I told you. I didn’t leave the hotel.’

‘Well, your bed wasn’t blimmin’ slept in! I had to get someone to let me in!’

Ravi’s looking at me. Something dawns on him. He looks to Cal, then looks back at me. Cal’s mouth goes into an ‘O’ shape. I am doomed.

‘Ziggy, could I have a word, please?’ I pipe up and Aidan turns his head, his eyes flashing, only just realising I’m in the room.

Ziggy holds up one hand towards me but doesn’t look my way. ‘Not now, Lexi, I’m in the middle of an incident here.’

‘It’s just that—’

‘WHERE WERE YOU?’ Ziggy explodes at Aidan.

‘He was with me!’ I blurt out at full volume and Aidan’s head whips around.

Ziggy looks my way. Cal’s already sniggering.

‘He was with me,’ I say again, in a more measured tone. ‘Aidan was with me the entire night.’

Ziggy frowns at me. Aidan’s suppressing a grin. I glance around. J.B. and Ravi look ecstatic. Cal and Miller are hysterical. Even Bodhi looks pleasantly surprised.

‘So, what… you two are…?’ Ziggy questions, pointing a finger between us, Aidan blushing.

‘I know you told me to stay away,’ I say, trying to formulate an apology, ‘but—’

‘We’re together, yes,’ Aidan says, coming over to me, taking me gently in his arms.

‘I know you said you didn’t want trouble…’ I say to Ziggy.

Ziggy’s still frowning. ‘What do you mean by “together”?’

Aidan looks down at me.

‘He your boyfriend, or what?’ Ziggy asks in my direction.

Tears sting my eyes, a lump sticking in my throat, because I haven’t been able to say those words in a very long time. ‘Yes, Ziggy. I guess he is.’

I hear the other boys’ whistles of approval and feel my cheeks flush. Meredith’s clapping her hands like a seal. Aidan’s expression is elated. He crushes me in his embrace.

Ziggy glowers. ‘Great. Just next time, don’t kidnap him, alright? Nearly gave me and Bodhi a bloomin’ heart attack this morning.’

‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘Won’t happen again.’

I’m still caught in Aidan’s arms. Ziggy’s tense exterior begins to relax now that he knows the truth. He rolls his eyes in a playful way, inhaling deeply. ‘Yeah, you always tell me that,’ he says, and gives Aidan a hard slap on the back.

In his room, Duncan sits on the corner of his bed, resting his elbows on his knees.

‘So… Aidan and I are… dating,’ I say a little breathlessly, when I’ve relayed the whole story of this morning’s events to him.

‘Aye, I’m pleased for yous,’ he says. ‘Figured something was up. You kept disappearing.’

‘You’re not angry with me?’

‘Why would I be?’

I look to the floor. ‘Because I’ve been honest with you about everything else.’

‘I’m not the one you need to be honest with, Lex. You’re filming a boy band without their consent, and you just made one of ’em your boyfriend.’

I swallow a tight lump in my throat. Ouch.

‘I know that,’ I murmur.