ASPEN
“Are any of my regulars asking for me?” My boss at the escort agency has been unusually silent lately, and with things well and truly over between Ryder and me, there’s nothing to stop me continuing to add to my restaurant fund.
“Mr. Whitiker has placed a retainer on you.”
“Can someone do that? What about anyone else who wants me to go out?”
“He’s paying double what any of them do. You’re being paid for nothing right now, as am I.”
“But it’s not right. I don’t wanthismoney. Do I need to go and find a new agency to work with?”
“No, Danielle. I don’t understand why you’re opposed to free money.”
“Because I’m not his possession. I’m not a toy that no one else can play with. I took this job because I want to pay my own way and on my own terms. He’s making that impossible.”
“Do you want me to set up an actual date for you? I know he won’t be opposed to that.”
“It’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.” I hang up the call and toss my phone across the room, frustration driving me to the edge.
Jude hears my phone smack into the wall and clatter to the floor and comes running.
“What happened? Are you okay?” She follows my gaze to my now-cracked phone.
“Every time a client calls for me, he’s intercepting it and paying double.”
“You’re getting ten grand for nothing? Score.” She doesn’t understand.
“I don’t want his money! I make an honest living. He’s the only guy who’s pushed me outside of the boundaries I set for myself. He can’t keep doing this. I’m giving him the money back. I’m not going to open my restaurant with funds that came from him. And certainly not because he’s dictating who I can and can’t spend time with.”
“Guys do stupid stuff when they’re in love.” She clasps her hand over her mouth the second she says it.
“He’s not in love with me.”
“I promised I wouldn’t spill the beans. And you seem to hate him now, but also, you don’t get this riled by someone you don’t have feelings for.”
“What? What do you mean you promised? When did you speak to him?”
“The night you came home crying. Remember, I went down to get your bracelet back. He looked so distraught, and I called him on it. He’s in love with you, but he didn’t want me to tell you because he didn’t want to influence your feelings for him.”
“But he can influence who I see and how I earn?”
“Shut up, Aspen!” I’m startled into silence. Jude has never told me to shut up. “This guy is totally crazy over you, and he doesn’t want other guys paying to spend time with you. I get it. It’s not his place, but you won’t even talk to him. He’s trying to be there for you, even though you won’t give him the time ofday. Maybe if you exchanged more than two words outside the kitchen, you’d realize that he’s head over heels.”
“He’s not.” I protest.
“And you’re into him.”
“No. That’s… I’m not… it’s absurd. No. Nope.”
“I’ve been your best friend for ten years. Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t. I signed an NDA.”
“What the fuck is going on, Aspen? You’ve been acting strange since the moment you started working at the restaurant you won’t let me come to. I’ve eaten food at every place you’ve worked over the years. Dives. Diners. Hoity-toity restaurants. And that was just when you were waitressing. You’re finally cooking, and you won’t let me come. Now you’re pushing away a guy Iknowyou’re into.”
