Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 64 - part ii

(No Control - 64. Fireproof, second part)

"OK, so I have an idea for this one," Nick grins, and my heart sinks. "I think you should ring her up and ask her for her advice on buying women's underwear, for you to wear, because it's your fetish."

I groan and close my eyes, and he laughs at my discomfort. "Do I have to?" I whine.

"It's either that or delete her number, live on air," he reminds me again.

"OK, OK," I sigh. "Don't make me laugh, though," I warn, as the call connects, and begins to ring. After a couple of rings she diverts it and Grimmy hastily cuts it off before her number is broadcast across the nation via her voicemail.

"Ah, she's at work, she can't answer," I say in relief, but then I hear the ringing sound again, and I look over at Grimmy who grins at me.

"We need to be persistent," he says.

I wait with trepidation, and my heart sinks further when I hear her voice answer in a hushed tone, "Hello?"

Forgive me, Jess, for what I am about to do.

"Hey!" I say cheerfully.

"Hi," she says warily. "What's up?"

"Nothing, you?" I stall.

"I'm at work!" she says, a little exasperatedly. "I thought it was important!"

"It is," I say quickly.

"OK... so what's up?" she probes. "Have you spoken to Modest or something?"

Fuuuuuuuuuuck. So much could go wrong right now.

"No no, it's not that," I rush.

"Have you not rung them yet?" she asks.

"Um, no not yet," I reply, panicking a bit. I don't want to arouse her suspicion to make her say something that could be potentially damaging to me or the band, or reveal anything about our relationship.

"Oh, sorry - can't you talk?" she says quietly, and I clear my throat, nervously as I quickly prepare what I am going to say.

"Um, not really... yeah... so I need your help with something," I begin.

"Okaaayyy," she says. She can sense something is up. She's never going to fall for this.

"I need you to come shopping with me. I need some new underwear," I declare.

"What?" she giggles. "Why do you need me for that?"

"Well, I want to get some girls' underwear. For me," I add. "I like the way it feels."

Beside me Nick snorts and covers his mouth, and I feel laughter rising in my chest.

"Um, what did you just say?" Jess says, nervously.

I pause a moment to swallow my laugh.

"Um, I borrowed some of Gemma's a while back and I sort of developed a bit of a liking for it," I say on impulse, and Nick swiftly turns away, his shoulders shaking silently.

There is a pause on the line, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to think of something serious so I don't laugh and ruin it.

"Let me get this straight - you've been wearing Gemma's underwear?" Jess says, sounding horrified.

The thought of me wearing Gemma's silk knickers almost breaks me, and I pinch my nose between my fingers to stop my laugh again.

"Yep," I say shortly, because that's all I can manage.