“I mean, it was from all of them?”
“So, twenty thousand dollars a fucking piece,” she said.
“I still can’t tell if you’re happy or upset,” I said.
“Emma. I’m fucking thrilled. Ten thousand between the two of us to pay off? Really? I mean, if we worked another month or so at the bar, we could have that. But I’m worried about what they expect from you for this money.”
“What do you mean ‘expect’?” I asked.
“Don’t take that tone with me. I’m not your mother. But you’re talking about five guys you’ve only known for a couple of months, at best. And already they’ve given you how much now? One hundred and twenty thousand dollars?”
“Thirty, technically,” I said.
“I’m worried, that’s all. I know they seem sweet, but they ride with a club, Emma. Men like them don’t give without taking something in return.”
Now, I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell her I’d slept with all of them. I felt fantastic. On top of the fucking world. I hadn’t been able to stop smiling since they all appeared on my mother’s porch a couple of days ago. But Lindy was slowly sucking the joy out of my day and replacing it with a reality I didn’t want to entertain.
What were they expecting in return?
“Anyway. The payment’s made. If they’re expecting it back or whatever, we’ll pay them instead of the bank,” I said.
“Just take a breath, okay? The payment’s good. And if there was no paperwork signed or anything to denote it was a loan, then they can’t technically nail you. You know, in court or something. Keep your wits about you. You’re smart. It’s what I love about you. But I see you getting caught up, and I’m worried. That’s all.”
“Thanks, Lindy. See you tonight?” I asked.
“Yep. Booker hasn’t hired anyone else, so I’ll be there.”
“Good.”
I hung up the phone and flopped back down onto the bed. That phone call didn’t go how I expected it to at all. And now, Lindy had my mind running in a million different directions. Were the brothers really giving me this money in exchange for sex with them, even though they swore they weren’t? It didn’t feel that way. Did they think they had to buy my attention or affections? I hoped not. The last thing I considered myself to be was some material bitch. I had felt so confident after my luscious encounter with them, and now I wasn’t so sure.
I fell back asleep in my bed until my alarm went off to get me up for work.
I headed to the bar and helped Lindy prepare for the shift. After the bar opened, we were dancing around one another, trying our best to keep up with the Saturday night crowd. Drinks were flying and money was pouring in. Lindy and I had our tits hiked up to get more tips from the guys, and we were better off for it. I was more focused on getting tips than anything else because of this looming idea of paying the guys back, but soon a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“A shot of whiskey, please.”
I shot my mother a look as her eyes connected with mine. She hadn’t put any money on the bar to pay with, so I continued working on my orders. But she tapped her hand on the bar to try and get my attention.
She had only been there for five minutes, and I was already done with her.
“Can a gal get some service?” my mother asked.
“Want me to get her out of here?” Lindy asked.
“Don’t worry about it. I got it this time,” I said. “You got money, Gracie?”
My mother shot me a smug look as she raked her eyes up and down my form.
“Can’t sit at the bar if you aren’t paying for a drink,” I said.
“I can pay,” my mother said.
I watched her shove her hand into her pocket and pull out a crumpled one-hundred-dollar bill. She smacked it down onto the bar as people around her began to stare, and I sighed. For once, my mother fucking had money to drink. Which meant I had to serve her.
Which meant I couldn’t kick her out.
“One shot of whiskey, coming up,” I said.