“Oh. Okay. Anyway, hun, he asked for a discount, and since he’s a real good customer, I had to grant it. I hope youunderstand.”
“How muchless?”
“Half.”
I squeezed my fingers around thephone.
“He was happy with you otherwise. Asked if you’d beinterested—”
“No.”
“If you change yourmind—”
“Iwon’t.”
“Okay then. I’ll wire your wage to your account. Bye,Candy.”
A deep sigh rattled out of me. I’d sat through an entire dinner, all the way through dessert, but the dude had the gall to haggle. And it wasn’t like he didn’t have the money to pay me. I was incredibly tempted to tell Liam to turn around so I could give Aidan a piece of mymind.
“How long have you been doingthis?”
“Doingwhat?”
Liam’s eyes gleamed in the darkness. “Dating formoney.”
“Just this once,” Ilied.
“Do you havedebts?”
“Doesn’teveryone?”
“How much do youowe?”
I plopped my elbow down on the armrest and cradled my head. “Alot.”
“A lot is not a number. Fifty grand? Ahundred?”
I blinked at him in horror. “No!” If I owed a hundred grand, I would…I would… God, I didn’t even know what I would do. “Sixgrand.”
“Forcollege?”
“No.”
“Credit cardbills?”
I huffed. “Past rents. Mom’s funeral. Not everyone has an unlimited supply of money likeyou.”
He braked so suddenly my seatbelt dug into my chest. “Ness, can you give me a break? I just lost my father too, all right? I’ve got my own shit to deal with. But I don’t go around being nasty to everyone and debasing myself for a couple ofbucks.”
Shame surged throughme.
He put his hazard lights on and heaved a ragged breath. He clenched his fingers around the steering wheel. “I’m sorry. That came out harsher thanintended.”
He touched my leather sleeve, and I shifted my armaway.
“Don’t touch me.” I stared at the crimson flashes punctuating the darkness. “Can you please drive mehome?”
“Do you want me to loan you themoney?”
