The Curves Ahead - Wattpad Award Winner

Chapter 4

I left Robbo's office with a massive grin on my face. Despite the humiliation of the previous night, I finally felt as though I was taking control of my life. An adventure was exactly what I needed to craft myself into a self-confident woman, on the inside and out - then return to Matt's loving arms, ready to throw him down and shag him rotten with the abandon of an award-winning porn star.

I have to tell him. Probably not the porn star bit, but the rest. I hugged myself happily as I floated along the corridor. I knew Matt would be delighted at my decision to find myself; the fact that he'd inspired me made it all the sweeter. My active imagination went into overdrive, picturing his joy at my new empowerment and our blissful reconciliation once I'd found my inner peace.

All the good feelings blew away as I turned the corner and found Taylor staring at me with her beady little eyes. Instantly, I went from feeling lighter than air to feeling hippo-esque as my conditioned brain automatically logged all the differences between our figures.

Taylor smiled, her expression innocent. "Hey, Evi! You look really tired today."

You look really tired always translated in my head as you look really crap. I nodded at her, trying to edge past without touching her. "I'm fine, thanks Taylor. I'm just looking for Matt."

Her hair was swept up in an adorable blonde ponytail, and it swished from side to side as she shook her head. "Oh, gosh. Please, don't tell me he's why you're tired! I saw you guys leave together last night and I'm so worried you might have done something silly..."

My temper flared. "So what if he is the reason, Taylor? Matt and I are consenting adults; if we choose to sleep together, that's none of your business. You don't have dibs on every good-looking man in Sydney, you know."

"Evi! I only have your best interests at heart." Her pouty mouth dropped open, wounded. "I just can't believe you'd go there after knowing about the bet."

Don't bite, I told myself. Don't even ask. You know that's exactly what she wants.

"What bet?"

Dammit, Evianna!

Taylor arched smug eyebrows. "You don't know? Oh, I'm so sorry, Evi! This is so incredibly awkward for you..."

The urge to yank Taylor by the ponytail until she spilled her guts was overwhelming. Instead, I restrained myself, crossing my arms over my expansive bosom and taking a single, threatening step forward.

She shrank backward, her expression faltering. "I just don't want you to feel hurt, Evi. I hate being the bearer of bad news."

"Right." Taylor was the queen of negative gossip and events. She practically giggled the last time she'd reported on a massive cyclone up north. "Just tell me, Taylor."

She leaned forward, her loose shirt gaping open at the neck, giving me a clear view of her perfect pointy breasts, braless underneath the silken material. "Well, I thought it was common knowledge. The crew have had a long-term bet running about if Matt could get you into bed."

"So? They bet on stupid stuff all the time." I shrugged, nonplussed. "Last week, they bet Alex he couldn't work the word 'kumbang' into his sports report."

"Yeah, but Evi... Matt knows about the bet. He's part of the pool."

It was a curve ball I never could have seen coming. My jaw locked on its own. Teeth gritted, I said, "I don't believe you."

"Well, you could always ask him, I suppose." She smirked, and said, "I have to go, sweetie, but look after yourself, okay?"

She patted my arm, the way you'd touch something sticky you didn't want on your fingers, then skipped off down the hall. I stood staring after her, scalding denial rushing through me.