“Not friends?”
“Oh no.” She shakes her head. “I’m pretty sure one of them doesn’t even like me. She gives me death glares, and the other gives different kinds of looks.” She cringes.
Breathe, I remind myself. Do not snap at her. It takes everything inside of me not to lose my shit. That’s the last thing I need to be doing right now. I’d scare the shit out of her and then she’ll try to run from me.
If that happens, I really won’t be responsible for my actions.
4
REMI
I can see his anger simmering just below the surface, but I’m unsure of what or whom it’s directed at. It’s different from when we were inside the club. Somehow I know it’s not geared toward me per se.
I’m sure I sound nuts and really naïve, but something about him feels safe. Deep down, I know his anger is somehow in relation to protect me. I may not understand it, but I’m in no way scared by it. In fact, his protectiveness is having the opposite effect on me.
He had talked about buying me, saying that would be between him and me. Does he really think I’m for sale? I can’t see that from him. Even knowing he’s pissed, my fingers itch to reach out and touch him. To run down his jaw and feel the scruff that’s come in from the day. I bet he shaves his face every morning. Everything about him is so clean cut.
Until his anger comes through. Then there is this wildness. It turns me on. Something is wrong with my body. There has to be. Why else when he talked about buying me would a thrill shoot through my body?
“How old are you, Remi?” He keeps his eyes on the road.
I can feel the tension coming off him as he tries to control his anger about my living situation. It’s not the best, but not everyone is bleeding money like him. I bet this car is the price of a house.
“Twenty.” He lets out a few curse words under his breath.
“Can you even be inside a strip club at twenty?”
“I don’t know,” I say. I hadn’t thought about that part. The only thing I could focus on was making money fast so that I could continue to have a roof over my head. I do know that my cousin isn’t always on the up and up when it comes to those things. I remember when I was in middle school, he’d tell me he could get me a fake ID. I was thirteen at the time. My mom told me to stay away from him.
“You never said where we’re going.” He's clearly not taking me home ‘cause he hasn’t asked where I live. “You know I’m not really for sale,” I blurt out.
“I don’t pay for sex,” he says through gritted teeth. “Though I’d be a liar if I said you wouldn’t tempt me.” He shakes his head. Heat settles deep in my belly at his response. That should not excite me, but it does. To think I could make this man do something he normally doesn’t. That I could make him step out of his comfort zone. “I’m taking you to my place. Yours doesn't sound safe, not to mention I’m guessing your cousin knows where you live?”
“Actually, I’m not sure he does. He might think I still live at my mom's house.” I suppose it was my house after she died. It never felt like mine. I never changed anything.
“She passed away?” Grant’s tone softens.
“Yeah.” I peek over at him. How did he know that?
“Your voice changed.” He answers my unspoken question. “I’m good at reading people.”
“I lost her a few years ago.” I close my eyes and take a breath, trying to get my emotions under control. Tears threaten to slip past my eyes at all the good memories I have of her. She was always my rock. My world was shattered once she was gone. A warm hand comes down on my thigh, breaking me from my thoughts.
“I’m sorry.” He gives a small squeeze.
“Cancer. It’s strange because it felt so sudden at times, and drawn out at others. As soon as we found out she was sick, she went to the hospital. She fought for over a year.” I stare at the window, trying to get my emotions under control. I hadn’t wanted to let her go, but at the same time, it was hard watching her hang on to give me more time with her. I finally had to let her go. “I tried to keep the house, but I couldn’t keep up. The bank took it to settle the bills from the hospital.”
“Did you want to keep it?”
“I think it was for the best that I ended up losing it. It was depressing being there, but I felt like I was losing her too if I lost the house. It’s stupid.” I swipe at my cheeks, not wanting to cry.