Chapter 7 More Than A Machine

Eva's POV

Groaning, I turn my head to the other side of the bed but I know it's no use. Juliet wants to hear all the details and I'm in no mood to entertain her.

"You know you can't avoid me forever," she plops into my bed, poking the side of my ribs that's exposed to her.

"Come on, spit out. You look so tired, I bet Coleman was a machine," she giggles.

Her comment sends blurry images of last night flashing across my mind.

The images shoot straight to my core and I feel something trickle down into my panties.

I am doomed if thinking about sex with Aaron affects me like this.

"Come on, Eva. How was it?"

Sighing, I turn over to face Juliet.

My eyes mist with memories as I shut them to concentrate on my breathing, my heart thundering in my chest.

"He was more than a machine," I say weakly as my voice threatens to crack.

Juliet chuckles. She grabs by fingers, splaying them open and enjoining with hers.

"Ooh, you don't sound happy about it," Juliet muses.

She is correct. I am not happy about it.

I know Aaron doesn't like me but why is my heart hammering against my chest hours after he'd fucked me like I'm the only girl he wants?

He'd been both rough and gentle and all the sweet nothings and dirty words he'd whispered into my ear had made me think for a brief second that we would be good together.

I know that is wishful thinking. Aaron has never been in a relationship since the day I've known him.

He fucks around and bounces off. That's who he is.

Why will it be any different with me just because he is my first sexual partner?

"I'm not happy about it, Jules," I exhale a weary breath as I curve my body in a way that lets me put my head on her laps.

The atmosphere turns somber as Juliet strokes my hair.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"There's nothing much to say. We fucked and he was as amazing as all the reviews say."

"Then what's wrong? I thought you didn't like him?"

"That's the problem, Jules," I bite my bottom lip.

"I don't like him. But when he finished turning me every which way last night, I started to think we'd be good together."

"That happens," Juliet says sagely.

"It's not your fault to think that. He's your first guy and that's expected. At least you know that he's unavailable."

I nod my head against her lap. She's right but my heart doesn't know that.

I may know everything about Aaron but my heart doesn't and that's the problem.

Staying away from him would be the best thing. Good thing I've blocked him and deleted his contact.

"I guess you snuck out after he slept off?" Juliet guesses correctly.

I scrape my head against her thighs, my throat feeling too tight to say anything.

"Okay, that's great. That means we won't be seeing him. You sure you'll be fine?"

Her fingers gently brush the lobe of my right ear as I ponder her question.

Will I be fine? Definitely.

We've just graduated and life is finally about to get real for us.

I interned at a publishing company last year and it was one of the best years of my life. I had to learn how to edit, proofread and typeset for books in different genres.

My boss, Mrs. Warren had once told me that she'd love to publish any book I'd write in the future.

As I remember her words, a thought suddenly strikes me.

Abruptly, I lift my head from Juliet's lap as my eyes twinkle with amusement.

"I'm going to write about it!" I exclaim, like I've hit a jackpot.

Juliet blinks blankly as she turns her head around the room, probably wondering if we're being filmed secretly and I'm pulling her legs.

Her lips contort into a grimace as she faces me again.

"I'm sorry, you're going to what?"

"I'll write about Aaron...and me," I add reluctantly.

Juliet narrows her eyes. She scoots closer, places the back of her palm on my temple.

"You're not running a fever."

I chuckle, much to her puzzlement.

"No, I'm not," I answer cheerfully.

"Wouldn't that be bad?" Juliet retrieves her hand as she considers me with a mixture of bewilderment and concern.

"No, I'll change our names and twist the story. Besides, we've only fucked once but...I've been meaning to write a book and I think now is the best time. Before I finally focus on job hunting. I'd like to do this."

Juliet nods, as if finally seeing what I've been trying to say. She strokes her chin with her left thumb and index finger.

"Go for it if you think it's going to help you get over..." she waves her hands randomly between us, "whatever this Aaron shit is," she concludes.

I draw closer, throwing my hands around her shoulders.

"I'm so lucky to have you."

Juliet scoffs playfully. "You were going to write the book with or without my support, I just know it."

I laugh at her sentiment, feeling much better than I was when I left Aaron's sleeping body.

"But I'm lucky to have you too," Juliet adds.

She returns to her room while I get out my bed and to my table.

I set up my laptop and without any proper plot structures or chapter by chapter summaries, I begin to write.

What I started to write on a whim went on to become a bestseller in the next year.

Little did I know that book would come back to hunt me years later when I thought I'd forgotten about it.