“I’m not bringing her to Radiant.” At least, I didn’t have any plans yet. My hands tightened into fists as Derek flashed through my mind. What if he had brought Athena to Radiant? “Why? Did you see her there?”
“Michelle said you reserved a room for next week.”
“Michelle has a big mouth,” I muttered.
He rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”
I sucked in a breath and averted my gaze to the sidewalk. “That’s actually what I want to talk to you about. I need advice. I reserved that room for a—ahem—business meeting.”
Hector shook his head. “Damn it, Charlie. I warned you about doing porn.”
“I enjoy it, and it makes good money.”
“Your family is worth a billion dollars. You don’t need the money.”
“I’m not going to live off them like Derek does.” I flared my nostrils and tried hard not to squeeze the cups in my hands. “Fuck being in their socialite circles too. It’s not what I want.”
Maybe that was what I had wanted in the beginning of college, but since I’d met Athena … a life outside the city with a couple of dogs sounded really nice. I didn’t have to worry about what others thought of me, didn’t have to show up at every party. I could go on silly little dates with her and enjoy my life.
Only if she wanted that too.
“What’s your problem then?” Hector asked.
“I have feelings for Athena,” I said, chewing on the inside of my cheek, “which wasn’t a problem until … I think she might have certain types of feelings for me back. I only got into porn because I … I never thought that she’d actually like me like that.”
“Do you know for sure?”
“No, but we hooked up.”
Hector’s lips curled into a smirk. “It’s about time.”
“You can’t tell Heather.”
“I won’t, but I still don’t know what your problem is.”
“I know that she wants to sleep together, but I don’t know if she has the same kind of feelings that I do. And I’ve already signed a contract with Nadia to film a scene with her next week, which is why I reserved that room.”
“What a sticky situation. It’s not like you can ask Athena how she feels.”
“And ruin years of friendship?!” I exclaimed. “I don’t want it to get weird between us.”
What if she doesn’t feel the same way?
“Besides, if she?—”
Before I could finish my sentence, the building door opened, and Athena stepped out. The wind blew strands of her red hair, along with the sides of her pink peacoat, back. I straightened out and cleared my throat.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Hector said, noticing Athena. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” I hummed, smiling at Athie as she bounced down the steps.
“You didn’t have to wait out in the cold for me,” she said, waving to Hector. “How’s he?”
“Good,” I said, handing her a hot chocolate. “Here.”
“Thanks!” She beamed and looked out at the busy road. “Where are we going?”
I placed my cup on the ground, snatched her coat, and twirled her back toward me, and tugged it together to button it for her. “You’re not going anywhere without buttoning this jacket up. What did I tell you about going out in the cold?”
