Page 39 of After Midnight
Syrus looked at me, then back at Remy, his jaw flexing. "This nigga lucky you and me cool." He focused his attention back on me, cocky grin back on his face. "You got my number, sexy. You or Ronnie holla at me. I got some money for y'all to make." With that, he walked off towards the gym.
Heavy silence hung between us. I could practically feel the heat rolling off Remy. I turned slowly to face him. His face was set in stone, eyes flashing in anger. He for damn sure was going to want an explanation. The truth was knocking now…and it was time to let it in.
"Sorry about that," I said softly. "You alright?"
He glanced back towards the gym, then back at me. "Who was that—your ex or something? What is he trying to pay you for?"
I exhaled sharply. "He's not my ex." I shook my head. "He was a client of mine."
Remy's brows furrowed. "A client? In what way?"
I licked my lips, pausing. "Me and my best friend used to dance at his parties."
His frown deepened. "So…you're a stripper?"
"I was—" I sighed again. "But I'm not anymore which is why I got a new number."
His voice dropped and he stepped in closer. "So what do you donow, Gianna?"
I held his searing gaze. "I do sex work, Remy," I replied simply.
His mouth parted and he blinked rapidly like his brain was trying to process if I really said what I said.
"Hold on…you're aprostitute?" he asked.
I flinched at the judgmental tone in that last word. My first instinct was to just get in my car and drive away. I rolled my lips together, fingers curling at my sides. "I don't like that word."
His head reared back. "But… you are?"
"I'm a sex worker—yes," I replied, my guard now fully up. "I work at a brothel in Nye County." I shrugged. "I planned to tell you, but I guess now that's it out in the open…there it is."
He stared at me in stunned silence. "But you look so…clean.And normal."
I snorted a laugh. "Are you assuming that all sex workers are dirty?"
He shook his head quickly. "I didn't mean it like that," he rushed to explain. "I just—that's crazy." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I just wasn’t expecting this."
I nodded once, more to myself than him, that familiar wall sliding into place. "I know it's a lot to take in, Remy. I get your apprehension." I reached for my car door, fingers wrapping around the handle. "You're a great guy," I added, softer now—but distant. "But I'm clearly not the woman for you."
I knew how this worked, and I wasn’t going to give him a chance to drop me and hurt my feelings. "Rather than ghosting each other, let's do a clean break." I had said those words several times before but at least this time I wasn’t being disrespected.
He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, Gianna."
I rolled my eyes, but there wasn’t any real attitude behind it. I expected nothing else. "Don't be. It is what it is."
I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I slid into my seat pulling the door shut. I didn't even buckle up, just pulled off. I didn’t look back, but a few seconds into the drive, my grip on the steering wheel tightened, fingers pressing into the leather as my vision blurred just slightly.
That sting in my nose crept up out of nowhere. I swallowed hard, blinking it away. I was annoyed. At myself, the situation, and the fact that this one felt different. I let out a slow breath, shaking my head as I drove, trying to push it down the same way I always did.
I wanted to get to know him—but that was my mistake.
And now…another one bites the dust.
Chapter9
Ileaned back against the headboard, adjusting my watch while Monroe disappeared into the bathroom. The room still smelled like her perfume and expensive candles.
I was satisfied, but I always was with her. Monroe's bad ass could suck a bowling ball out a straw. I ain't never had head so spectacular until she wrapped those fire ass lips around my shit. The pussy was good too, but it was the head that kept me coming back. She was dangerous in the best way. Beautiful, confident, and she understood the rules of the world we were operating in.
