The smile that lights up his face makes my heart flutter with happiness. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me, pressing his face into my neck as he murmurs his thanks. Like I did anything. I hug him back and kiss the top of his head. Someday it’s going to be his lips, but not today.
I release him and open the passenger door for him, waiting until he’s inside to close it and jog around the car. We’re going to Seifutei, an upscale Japanese steakhouse that I’ve only everbeen to once at the invitation of Dr. Marconni after earning a fellowship on a national math competition. If I had goals for my higher learning beyond getting a master’s degree in forensic accounting, I would be set, but I came to this college because their graduate accounting program is one of the best in the nation for my goals. I’ve already applied for a bunch of grants and scholarships to cover some of the cost of the graduate program, but with the way things are going for me and Magnus, I might not need them, not that I would ever look a gift horse in the mouth.
As we drive, Magnus talks about his friend’s idea for hiring grad students to help sort through the data from our uploads. With little input from me, he works out the logistics of it, and I promise to figure out how much we can reasonably pay the four grad students he wants to hire. I don’t mind lightening his work load—anything that someone else can do gives us more opportunities to spend time together. I’m not going to complain about that.
When we reach the restaurant and I park, Magnus turns in his seat, reaching over to squeeze my arm. “Thank you for going along with me. I underestimated how much work this would be.”
A crooked smile forms on my lips, and I place my hand over his. “I don’t mind. The pay-off is completely worth the effort.” And I’m not talking about the money.
“So far, at least,” he agrees, releasing my arm and reaching for his seatbelt.
I follow his lead, and we exit the car, heading to the restaurant where Magnus gives the hostess his father’s name and she leads him to a table where a couple in their mid-fifties awaits us. Magnus and I have been friends for a year and a half, and this is the first time I’m seeing his parents. He doesn’t have pictures of them in our dorm room, and if he has them on his phone, he hasn’t shown me.
His mother is the parent from whom he gets the color of his hair, but where he’s short for a man, she’s tall for a woman, wearing flowing trousers and a nice blouse with ballet flats, all in black and white. Magnus Sr. donated his curls and stature to his son, and apparently his fashion sense since Magnus and his father are wearing matching suits with the same black tie. Magnus didn’t warn me to dress up, but since I’ve been here before, I’m wearing a tie and jacket over my nicest jeans, and Magnus is dressed in the suit he taught in today.
When they see him, his mother smiles warmly and his father stands, immediately pulling Magnus in for a warm hug.
“Hello, son,” his father tells him before releasing him to his mother, who also hugs him just as lovingly.
Magnus Rochester Lancaster the Third offers me a hand shake and a smile as he assesses me with eyes that match my friend’s and look black in the low lighting of this restaurant. “And you are Trent Bressler. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” I reply, shaking his hand, relieved that his parents seem more friendly than I expected.
Emily also greets me with her hand, but rather than shake, she just squeezes mine delicately.
Once we’re all seated, Magnus Sr. smiles expectantly. “We ordered a sushi platter for the table with sake, but if you want anything else, you can order whatever you like.”
“I don’t need to add anything,” Magnus responds, looking at me. “Trent? Do you want a steak instead? Or we could share one so you don’t have to choose.”
The steaks here are excellent, but I shake my head. “I’m good with what your parents decided on.”
Magnus shoots me a smirk and turns back to face his parents. “How have your travels been?” To me he adds, “They’ve been touring this year as guest lecturers in various universities across North America and Asia.”
I nod in response, and his father relays some anecdotes from his teaching, some funny, others way over my head, but Magnus understands and engages while his mother and I sit quietly across from each other. She unabashedly studies me, and since she’s way beyond the dictates of social niceties for how much she’s looking at me, I return her scrutiny with as much eye contact as possible. It’s uncomfortable, but as I’ve learned with Magnus, it’s best not to back down, and I’m assuming he gets his own eye-contact intensity from his mother.
“I would like to know about this adult entertainment study you’re conducting.” Emily interrupts what Magnus Sr. and Magnus are discussing, turning from eyeing me to look at her son. “I’ve followed your Instagram account since it’s the only one I can trust to not have fully nude photos of you on it. Why have you decided to journey into sex work? Are you bored with your university work?”
Magnus guilelessly meets what sounds like a judgmental question with his excitement on full display. “I’m working on a doctorate in sociology, as you know, and I thought it would be fun to do something no one else in the department has the influence and power to do. Sex work has been villainized for so long because of misogyny compounded by religion-driven social indignation, and it’s time academia puts those cultural prejudices away and starts treating sex work as a legitimate profession and career.
“I’m gathering data, but I’m going to study several different aspects of porn specifically tailored for a female audience. My audience is aware that they’re part of a study, and they know that all of their comments and interactions are compiled into the data. I’m going to start offering survey opportunities, and Trent and I just agreed that we can budget in four grad students to help organize the data.
“And to answer your question: no, I’m not bored. I’m having more fun than I expected. I’m busy, and your visit comes at an extremely inconvenient time, but aside from that, I’m glad to see you.”
“We should have perhaps checked with you before arriving unexpectedly,” Magnus Sr. agrees thoughtfully. “This was the only week we could have seen you before graduation in May. Emily agreed to speak at this year’s graduation here.”
“Oh, I was also asked,” Magnus exclaims happily. “We should consult before we finalize our speeches so we aren’t repeating each other.”
Emily gives him a soft smile as our server arrives with our dinner. “Of course. I’ll send you the speech when I finish it.”
“I’ll do the same,” Magnus agrees, and we pause the conversation to arrange the food and drinks.
Once everyone serves themselves from the platter, and Magnus Sr. pours everyone sake, Emily turns her attention to me. “And why did you decide to journey into sex work?”
I chuckle, glancing over at Magnus. “Because my best friend asked me to and offered me a means of paying for graduate school without having to work a traditional job on top of going to school. I don’t have any personal prejudices against independent adult content creators. It’s a legitimate career, and Magnus has an excellent business plan for us. I won’t have to worry about paying my bills and going to school at the same time with this. Plus, Magnus wants to move off campus, and I like living with him.”
Emily’s brows rise in surprise. “Oh, are you now old enough to move off campus?” she asks Magnus curiously.
Without missing a beat he nods. “Yes. I’m twenty-two now. I could have moved off campus last year, but I needed some experience with a roommate. I’ve been fortunate that Trent has been an excellent companion and wants to continue tolive together. We’re going to buy a house after spring break. Speaking of which, we’re going to Cancun this year. I’ve decided to experience the beach spring break that’s popular for college students. We’ll be filming in Mexico, but I’ll make sure to post plenty of photos and reels to social media so you can follow us if you want to.”
