I have to fight the unladylike urge to chug it. I think I’ve been laughing to the point of dehydration.
“Okay, so…question for you,” I start once we’re seated, waiting for the music to start.
He turns his entire body to face me. “Shoot.”
“If I had picked the art option, where would you have taken me?”
“I was wondering if you were going to ask me that. We would’ve gone to the Banksy exhibit. Have you seen it?”
Slowly, I shake my head.I’ve barely seen anything in this city.
Somehow, I think he reads that on my face. Because his next question is gentle. “Would you say you haven’t done much exploring in the city since you moved here?”
“I thought I was supposed to be the one who’s good at reading people,” I try to joke. But when he only gives me a knowing look, I sigh and give him a real answer. “I would say that, yes. I’m basically a hermit.”
Nico’s brow furrows as he mulls over my answer. “So then why’d you move to New York? I understand wanting to try a big city if you grew up in a small Southern town, but…whythiscity? If you weren’t going to explore it?”
It’s a valid question. One I’ve asked myself more than once over the years.
“I had every intention of experiencing the city when I moved here,” I admit. “I wanted to see the world, so of course New York City was the best one I could think of.” Lost in my own naïve memories, I look out toward the stage. “I had grand visions of going to the best restaurants, finding the coolest bars, living in the city the way the movies always portray. But…I don’t know,I guess reality hit pretty quick. I grew up a spoiled rich girl, so finding out the world is way more expensive than I thought was a big shock.” Sucking in a big breath, I turn back to Nico. “And then once Ihadmoney, I no longer had any interest in doing anything.”
The unspoken part of that—that once I started working as an escort, I no longer had the energy to romanticize my life—is loud. When sadness flashes across Nico’s face, I know he at least understands the sentiment.
I try for a smile. “So yes, my goal when I moved here was to explore. But that’s not how life worked out. Instead, I work a part-time job and spend the rest of my time attending an online college.”
“And helping at rescue organizations.”
My head jerks back in surprise. Then I laugh.
Leave it to Nico to put a positive spin on things.
“And helping at rescue organizations,” I agree.
“Andtaking a chance on a guy by letting him take you to a really cool jazz club.”
My laughter softens as I study him. From any other guy, it would sound like he’s fishing for a compliment. But with Nico…he’s just being honest.
“It wasn’t that big of a chance,” I whisper.
He smiles softly at that and opens his mouth to say something else, but before we can chat any more, the music starts, the first notes of a saxophone sounding through the speakers.
I stare at the musicians, in awe of the soulful magic they’ve created. I’ve never heard anything like it. It doesn’t matter that I grew up in the South, where jazz is prominent. Anything besides classical music was beneath my parents.
“It’s good, right?” Nico whispers. I don’t even look at him as I nod.
He doesn’t speak again, but I can feel him smiling beside me.
Somehow, we stay for the entire concert.
It isn’t until roaring applause breaks out after the band’s last song that I realize we’ve been sitting here for more than two hours. Far longer than I’d intended to stay out tonight.
Clapping politely, I whisper, “We should probably get going.”
He doesn’t argue, just grabs my hand and guides me through the establishment and out to the street.
Suddenly, I’m nervous all over again. Because I’m so far out of my element.
For one, this date wasn’t scheduled through the agency. It wasn’t planned. And it went on far longer than the agreed upon time, with no conversation about an extension.
