12
I am enough, I don’t need to hear someone else’s thoughts too.
I could just tell Layla no. It would be a lot easier than going through with tonight. The only problem is, I owe her. For the first two years of my last job, I wasn't making a high enough salary to cover my portion of the rent. It was super frustrating, knowing she was finding various ways to make higher amounts of income than I was, all while sitting at home behind her computer monitor, but I have been determined to thrive in my career, which meant starting at the bottom. Layla told me I didn't need to pay her back for the amount she covered on my behalf, but there is still guilt. After getting fired though, then telling her how shitty this new job is, along with my fear of it ending quickly, she's scrambling, even if it's in stupid ways that are putting me in an unfair situations. If all goes to shit, we're in trouble because I went two weeks without a paycheck and now we're back to living paycheck to paycheck, so that's why this new job was such a good outlook for me. We don't know when her next big “break" will be, but we haven't gone this long without one.
I open the apartment door, spotting Layla's mane of curls framing one side of her large monitor. “I can't understand how you could put me through this after what happened last night." It's my way of say,hi, I'm home.
Layla groans. “Dude, shut up and come here."
I drop my bag by the couch and plop down in the empty chair she has at her desk. “What?" I ask, looking at her screen.
An attractive man in a navy blue suit is on display—he's not bad.
“See, he's your type," she says.
“I go for more than just a man's looks, Layla."
“Fine, read his biography. You'll see he's single for a good reason, just like you," she says, poking my nose.
I skim through the blurb, noting he's a workaholic but wants to eat his cake too.
“Looks like a match made in heaven. Where do I get a marriage license? What's his deal? Why is he paying money for this date?"
“He's not," Layla explains.
“But you said—"
“He's turning thirty in a few weeks, and his attorney friend bought him the date."
“Don't you understand this is an escort service?"
“How is it different from all the other online dating sites, Mads?"
“A big price difference."
With a sigh, I toss my head back against the chair. “I don't want to do this."
“I know," she says. “If I knew how this week would turn out for you, I wouldn't have gone through with it. I spent my entire day trying to find someone else to fill in for you, but I couldn't."
“That guy was insane, you know …"
“I've blocked him on the site. I'm sorry.I haven't gotten one complaint about the services offered, so I didn't think it would be an issue. If I had any clue your date would turn out that way, I wouldn't put you through that, I swear."
“Okay." I'm still irritated, but I get it. There's no way around this. I shouldn't have been so eager to jump at the opportunity for a higher paying job without doing more research on the company first. This is my fault too.
“I've done searches on this guy you're going out with tonight. Everything comes up clean. He is who he says he is. I even called the law firm to confirm he works there."
“You did?"
“Mads, I don't want you to get into a bad situation. I know I seem desperate to make money, but it's because I don't like the money stresses we're experiencing. There's no blame, I want to make things better."
“I understand. Thank you for being proactive about our situation, and I'm sorry for adding more stress."
“Don't be. We learn from life."
I hug her and get a whiff of leftover cologne and something else. “God, Layla, I think you smell like sex."
“I think I do," she says. “I didn't shower today."
