Page 6 of Guardian
“That’s intense,” Troy murmurs.Adam nods in agreement, long hair bobbing in a bun.
My lit teacher, Mr.Monroe, seats himself at the pulldown machine next to me.“If you don’t mind me asking, Ravi, how long have you lived with this guy?”
Too long.
“Since my parents were murdered.”It’s not something I like talking about, though.I don’t like the pitying looks and the questions.“It was a little before my sixteenth birthday.”
One month and four days.We were supposed to spend the weekend in Washington, DC, visiting the museums and art galleries.Dad was going to take us to this café I liked but was too far from our home in Virginia to visit often.Now I’m in Belle Argo, Florida, and my favorite café is nine hundred and two miles away.
I don’t know why I bothered looking that up.Couldn’t help myself.
“Not that I know from personal experience, but I’m sure it’s a big responsibility taking care of a teenager whose parents have died,” Mr.Monroe says.“I’m sure this Liam guy is only trying to protect you, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.”
A plausible argument, right?Except Liam Masters wasn’t always like this.And I wish his protection didn’t feel so much like iron-fisted control.
“I get what you’re saying, Mr.Monroe, but I was already pretty close to being an adult when I went to live with him.He was away a lot for work back then anyway.He’s gotten stricter with me since I turned eighteen.”
Since the night I told him I loved him.Another mistake, and like the warehouse incident, some mistakes can’t be taken back.
“Ravi, I’ve told you, outside of class you can call me Fallon,” Mr.Monroe says as he gets up to kiss PJ.I guess because he and PJ are dating, he’s, like, friendlier with me outside of class?Still, it feels strange.
I’m happy for PJ though.He deserves to be with someone nice.Mr.Monroe is a nice guy.Even if I don’t like the homework he assigns.
I don’t want to write an essay about the family dog getting killed inThe Grapes of Wrath, okay?It’s so sad.
Off to the side though, someone is not as happy as Mr.Monroe and PJ.Mr.Monroe’s brother, Wes.He teaches some class for the hospitality department, I think?Why he comes to the gym with us is beyond me, since he’s always scowling at everyone in the group like he’s disgusted.Especially by PJ and the openly possessive way he touches Mr.Monroe.
I’m not disgusted.The achy twist in my stomach at the sight of them is envy.What would it be like to belong to someone the way Mr.Monroe seems to belong to PJ?
Some things you can’t find out from doing research, and I haven’t really belonged anywhere since Amma and Pop died.
“I’ll work on it,” I say to try and appease Mr.Monroe before returning to my reps.I’m not sure I’m comfortable with it, though—calling my teacher by his first name, even outside of class.
Adam pipes up.“Hey, you said this Liam guy’s former military, right?Bet that’s why he’s such a pain in the ass.Dated a girl who was in the Air Force for a little while.Those folks are all about routine and control.”
“That does sound like Liam,” I confirm.
For reasons I can’t figure out, everyone all of a sudden gets weirdly silent.Troy puts down his weights and Adam puts down his water bottle.Everyone’s staring at me.The only sounds are PJ clearing his throat and the rhythmic thud of Mr.Monroe’s brother jogging on the treadmill.
“Hey, Rav,” PJ comes over to stand next to the machine I’m using.“I know you think I’m beating this to death, but we’re all pretty nervous about this auction thing you’re planning to do.”
Oh.This again.
I’m a male escort.We all are.Well, except for Mr.Monroe and his brother.But I’m sort of unique, I guess?I’m a male escort who’s still a total virgin.
For now.
“Look, Brennan said auctioning off my virginity would make me a ‘metric fuckton of cash.’His words, not mine.”
Brennan’s our pimp, I guess?He prefers to see himself as some sort of resource coordinator.Since what he’s coordinating is people who want dates or sex with people who are willing to get paid to go on dates or have sex, I’m not sure how that’s different from a pimp.
“There are a million other ways to make money,” PJ protests.
He’s trying to help.PJ always thinks he needs to look out for everyone else.It’s nice to be on that list, it really is.
But.
The second I saw the look on Liam’s face the night I told him I was in love with him, I knew I needed to get as far away from Belle Argo, Florida as possible.Getting away costs money.
