I scrunch my nose. “I’m shocked. I figured protecting little, old, helpless you from big, bad me would be his first priority.”
West drains his espresso in one gulp. “As luck would have it, I managed to convince him you weren’t an evil shrew.”
I do my best witchy cackle, which admittedly is lacking. “That’s good. Is he always so…”
“Anal?” West supplies.
“I was gonna say uptight, but sure, let’s go with anal.”
“It’s almost like there’s two Coltons—lawyer Colton and normal Colton. When he’s in lawyer mode, he can be damn near unbearable, but the fucker is good at what he does. Like, insanely so.”
“What kind of—” The sound of my phone ringing cuts me off. “It’s AJ. I’ve gotta get ready. See you later!” I dash up the stairs as I answer her call. “’Sup, bitch?”
“Want me to pick you up?”
My brows tug low at her question. Picking me up is totally out of her way. “Why?”
“Well, Brock is doing lessons at the country club, and I figured I’d surprise him after, so I’ll be out your way no matter what.”
As much as this feels like a handout, I accept. “Yeah, okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am. I’m heading that way now.”
I check out my reflection in the full-length mirror hanging opposite my bed. From my gnarly bun to my sleep shorts, I’m a full-blown hot mess, completely unfit for venturing out of the house. “Shit, okay. Let me get ready!”
I hang up without giving her the chance to reply and fly through getting ready. Dry shampoo, a braid, brows, a dab of concealer, and a fresh outfit later, and I’m ready to go. Too bad AJ honked to let me know she was here ten minutes ago.
Chapter Fourteen
Stacia
“Fuuuuuck, this is so good,” I moan as I devour the last of my French toast.
“I know, right?” AJ agrees as she drags her last strip of bacon through the river of syrup on her plate.
While brunch today may be a poor financial decision, it is exactly what my soul needed. Some time to feel normal—like things are the way they’ve always been—has me feeling almost like my usual self.
“So, what’s going on with…everything?” AJ asks, waving her hand in a vague gesture.
Oh, hello reality, how nice of you to crash my brunch. “Things are really…rough.”
My best friend frowns. “You know, I could—”
“No.” I stop her cold. “Just no.”
AJ looks offended by my refusal. “Why?”
“A million reasons.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Give me one.”
I lean in and whisper the amount of Dad’s bond. “How’s that for starters? And, it’s cash only.”
“Whoa.” She lets out a low whistle. “Well, even still—”
“That’s not counting the cost of legal representation. And, not to mention, I don’t know how long my grandparents can swing the cost of the Airbnb they’re renting. My job literally covers the bare necessities.” I laugh bitterly. “There’s a limit on what you can legally gift someone, monetarily. It’s just too much.”
Still unwilling to accept defeat, AJ pushes, “Well, what if Brock and I both—”
I feel bad to keep cutting her off, but it’s just not going to happen. “I love you, babe. But, I just can’t. The thought of borrowing that kind of money from anyone makes me ill. And who knows if I’ll ever be able to pay you back. I can’t have that hanging over our friendship. I appreciate you more than you will ever know, and the fact that you’re willing to help speaks volumes. No matter which way we spin it, it’s too much.”
AJ’s brow furrows as a dejected sigh escapes her. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
I feel bad for practically pissing all over her effort to help me, but really, it’s the only way. “I’ve been looking for a second job; you’ll never guess what Maren suggested.”
Baited, she leans in and asks, “What?”
I proceed to tell her about Virtual Kitty, even going as far as showing her the app.
“Are you actually considering this?”
I shrug. In all honesty, I’m torn. I’ve been obsessively researching the app since last night, and from what I’ve learned, the kitties can make a pretty penny. Even the solo ones. “I…I don’t know. From what I’ve read, the company pays really well. Better even than Pornwheel.”
“Oh, wow. PW is legit.”
I nod. “So is Virtual Kitty. Except it’s an app and not a website. It’s almost like…Suicide Babes, Pornwheel, social media, and online dating came together and made a baby. The user gets to pick his kitty based on their personal preferences. Some women only do solo stuff—twerk videos, pole dancing, strip shows, masturbation. Some girls even just dirty talk, sext via the messenger, or post pics.”
AJ smirks. “Well, sounds like you’ve done a lot of research since…last freaking night!”
I shrug, shooting for carefree and breezy, but I’m ninety percent positive I missed my mark. Because really, who takes becoming a porn star—so to speak—lightly? “I figure I need to weigh out all of my options.”