I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Dad.”
He furrowed his brow and squeezed my shoulder, his palms smoothing away my goosebumps. “Hey, I’m serious.”
The fine hairs on my arm fluttered. I had his full attention now. I shivered and basked in it. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good.” He glared at Theo, then marched off to the other side of the room where another bouncer was talking to Bigfoot. What did Mr. Quarterback think of me now?
Theo touched his frosted tips. “What was that about, babe?”
I crossed my arms to suppress the churning in my chest. “I know she got you the Zeezy’s.”
“I mean…” He posed and admired his feet. “I guess she did. I really wanted them.”
I stomped in shock. “What the hell, Theo?”
“What?” He frowned.
I gestured widely. “Why would you accept such an expensive gift from some woman who wasn’t your girlfriend?”
He shrugged, his gaze drawn to my breasts. “You weren’t getting them for me, so I found someone who would.”
So, this was punishment? “What else were you ‘getting?’ Blow jobs? Nudes? Lap dances?” I snapped.
He held up his hands. “Ew, no. It’s not like that.”
“What’s it like then? Why were you in her DM’s?”
“She’s an old friend. We never dated or hooked up or anything like that.” He upturned his palms. “It’s like you and your clients.”
I jerked my head back. “What?”
“If I gave her attention, she’d buy me stuff. Send food. Get the shoes.” He angled his toes in, glancing at them. “All I had to do was pretend I was interested. That I loved but maybe wasn'tinlove with my girlfriend, that she and I found an ‘escape’ in each other over the occasional text, but that I didn’t want to break your heart, so we couldn't be together yet.”
I glanced at Bigfoot, who gave us a morose, grumpy look and clutched her purse on the way to the bathroom with a bouncer in tow. How much had she given my boyfriend over the years? “You led her on for presents?”
“Zeezy’s are expensive. At least neither of us had to pay for it.” He smirked and propped his arm against the wall. “Why are you looking at me like that? I love you, and it’s a good system. Hell, you use it, babe.”
No, he was using that woman. Did he only date me for my discount? My income?
I swallowed against the compressed ball throbbing in my throat and blinked back burning indignation. “It’s totally different. My clients know it’s a transaction. They’re not old friends. I don’t meet up with any of them or talk about my boyfriend. I’m a character. And youknowabout them. I was open about it because I’m not a lying piece of shit.”
He sagged and reached for me. “Baby.”
I pushed him away. “Don’t ‘baby’ me. We’re finished.”
“Babe.” His eyes popped wide, glassy with my reflection.
I swiped open my phone, half-tempted to take a picture of it: my magnificent, sparkly, messy self immortalized as the one who got away. The one he’d think of every year on New Year’s Eve. “The song’s almost over, Theo. Good luck with the new year. I’m getting a ride.”
And with any luck, a new boyfriend.
8
Taxi
The only sucky thing about breaking up with my designated driver on New Year’s Eve was the outrageous price for taxis. It would be three figures and at least an hour before anyone could get me.
Zack ushered me away from the door when they led Bigfoot through.
