“During the day, I work as a pool girl. Obviously, you know that. But at night, I’m a high-end escort. Mostly entertainingmen like Hunter. The wealthier crowd.” The way the words tumbled from my mouth sounded filthy.
He had to be judging me.
Even I was judging me.
Explaining this part of my life was new and I hated it. I never had to describe this part of myself to anyone outside of my friends who already knew everything about me.
His dark gaze was stuck on his bourbon, swirling the liquid in small circles before he entertained a taste. I was dying to know what was going on in that head of his. This thing between Spencer and me, it was …nothing. We had just met each other. So, why the hell did I care so much about what he thought of me?
I woke up every damn day ashamed of what I was doing.
Why I was doing it.
The mornings I woke up in random hotel rooms. The fake smile I had plastered across my face at events like the one tonight, pretending I was someone who had been in Hunter’s life for as far back as he could remember. The ache I buried deep inside me that I couldn’t actually be with someone I enjoyed being around because I belonged to whoever bought me for the night.
Every single thing about this job brought me shame. But it was the one thing getting me closer to paying off my ex-boyfriend. The bigger the job, the more jobs I took on, I’d be that much closer to paying everything off, and put this chapter of my life behind me.
“Forgive me for asking, but since you only take on wealthy clients, is that why you entertained conversation with me at the bar that night?” With a deep breath, his fingers combed through his hair.
“I know it looks bad, but I promise that wasn’t the case. I was off work that night.” My eyes shifted from the lint on my dress to the dark brown irises intently staring back at me. “A handsomeguy across the bar bought me a drink. It … It just felt good to forget who I was for a night. To entertain conversation with someone who didn’t purchase my time.” Tipping my head back, I forced the tears forming in my eyes to go away.
“By the way it sounds, you aren’t thrilled to be doing what you’re doing. So, why do it?” The question I was waiting for but dreaded every moment of.
Taking a deep breath, I remained quiet. Unsure of how to answer his question.
“Because I have to,” the words eventually slipped out.
Placing his now empty drink on the end table, he inched closer to me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The confusion must have been evident on my face when Spencer said, “You shouldn’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Yeah, I shouldn’t. But that’s not the world I live in.” The differences between Spencer and me couldn’t be more dramatic. He fell asleep to the panoramic view of the city lights every night while I locked the door to my van, spooned a baseball bat, and hoped for the best.
We were fire and ice.
Oil and water.
Innocent and guilty.
Everything Avery said,she said it with poise and maturity that had me forgetting all about the fact that she was my son’s age. Even after everything that happened tonight, the last thing I wanted to do was kick her out.
When I heard Hunter refer to her asSky,it irritated the hell out of me. My blood was boiling the entire night, don’t get me wrong, but the other half of me still needed the answers. And now that I was getting somewhere with her, I found myself needing to knoweverythingbefore she stepped foot back on that elevator.
Anything she was willing to share with me, I’d hear her out—even if it took all night.
“Because I have to.”Her answer came back to haunt me. The words were about as vague as they could be. I didn’t want to press, but I was curious to know more.
I took a deep breath.
“Avery, this secret part of you, it doesn’t scare me,” I said, reassuringly.
I had to let her know I wasn’t here to pass judgement.
Living in Vegas introduced me to a lot of different people, each one on a different path. As far as I could tell, from the few interactions between us, Avery was a kind and caring woman. I knew there had to be a damn good reason for her doing what she was doing. Since, clearly, she wasn’t in the industry because sheenjoyedher job.
“It should.” Her response was short.
“Why do you say that?”
“It makes me completely unavailable. After running into you tonight with Hunter, who knows how many of your other friends or acquaintances I’ve been with.” As the last few words rolled off her tongue in distaste, my stomach sank.
