“Seems boring,” I point out with a deep frown.
“Maybe it’s time for a change of pace. I can’t always send you to the ones that ask to bite, choke, and call you a filthy slut.”
I wink dramatically at her. “I am a filthy slut though.”
“Trevor,” Claire admonishes me with a steely look.
“Fine. Trip isn’t far. Weddings are easy. There’s not even any sex though. Are you sure you don’t want to send Benji? He’s so… sunshine.”
Claire playfully smacks my thigh. “You know he hates when you call him that.”
“It’s his legal name!”
“Still.” Claire carefully takes the tablet from me. She keeps her eyes on the tablet, finger restlessly tapping at the screen. “I’m sending you on this experience. You need a break. The boyfriends will agree.”
My cell phone picks the perfect time to start vibrating. We stare at each other for a few stilted moments, before Claire throws her hands up in frustration. The phone silences, but theweight of the call is enough to reiterate that she’s probably right. A break to Florida for a few days could probably do my brain some good. I’d rather die than admit she’s right though.
“Whatever.” I push off the desk, flicking her pen off just to rile her up.
Her loud guffaw follows me out of the room. Following the sound of laughter, I drop my duffle bag off by the communal shower entrance before heading towards the main room.
Benji lies on the large sectional, dressed in only low-slung sweatpants, while letting Eli carefully paint his nails light blue. For a moment I stand there, taking in the sight of my best friends. Sometimes it still blows my mind that they decide over and over that I’m worth keeping. Worth spending time with. Worth anything at all for that matter.
“Trevor?” Jackson whispers from beside me.
I jolt and aim a glare his way. “You scared me.”
His dark brown eyes turn shrewd. “Rough weekend?”
Punching his shoulder, I make my way past him toward the kitchen. “Exactly the kind of rough I like.”
“Trevor.”
“My God, why is everyone obsessed with saying my name like a swear word. What have I done to incur such wrath?”
Jackson follows me into the kitchen, radiating the brotherly energy he can never help but exude. He’s not even the oldest. But he’s big brother Jackson, our protector. The one I call when a john gets a little too rough and I’m too scared to call Claire. He’s probably just feeling a little protective after what happened a few weekends ago. At least, that’s how I explain away his behavior away as he follows me around the kitchen like an overly keen puppy dog.
“Back off,” I whisper, annoyed.
Jackson huffs, grips my chin between his forefinger and thumb, tilting my face for close inspection. Against my better instincts, I allow him.
“No bruises.”
I tear away from his grip with a scowl. “It was a normal experience this time. I promise.”
Jackson hums, then crosses his giant arms against his broad chest. Shaved head, dark brown eyes, caramel skin, and the body of a professional athlete, Jackson is the agency's favorite top. I can see why. I get it. The man exudes daddy energy despite being only twenty-something. But he should know by now that I don’t require that type of care. I can take care of myself.
“The energy in this room is stifling.” Benji pops the fridge open to grab an energy drink. He looks from Jackson to me, gaze calculating. “Nice few days, Trevor?”
“Uh-huh.” No longer hungry, I head back out to the living room. Plopping down on the couch, I tap my feet against Eli’s. “Are we going out tonight?”
“No can do. I’m playing sugar baby again to that older guy. I’ll be home late.”
“Sex?”
Eli vigorously shakes his head. “Just a pretty thing on his arm. He’s sooooo nice. I’ll be sad when he finds the real thing.”
That’s the worst part of the job. Forming a manufactured connection with someone, only to lose it when they find something real. Rarely happens for me, at least on my end. Sometimes I act too well, and the johns fall in love with me. Those are the times I’m glad we all live in the same high-rise, with tight security down below. Telling someone that’s paid for you,I’m not in love with you too, is inherently dangerous.
