Living in Sin (The Escort Series) (29 page)

“We know how to pick ‘em, huh?” I say with a forced laugh.

“Yeah,” she says, rolling her eyes. “At least Jace isn’t doing it anymore.”

“I know, but that’s not really the problem. He lied about knowing Vivian when he had actually fucked her
and
two other girls at the same time, no less. He kept who he was or had been from me. If that’s your job, I think it’s kind of important to tell the girl you’re fucking that that’s what you do. He also fucked someone or more than one person after me and him had been having sex. That’s pretty fucked up.”

“I know, I know. I just think if you were to ever get past all that, it would be okay for y’all to get together because he’s not still getting paid to be with other women. Troy is.”

“Another shot?” I ask.

“Yep. Let’s have a liquid marijuana shot this time.”

“Sounds good to me!”

After taking another shot, we finish up our Long Islands and head to the dance floor. We dance through a few songs before Emilie drags me back to the bar.

“One more shot?” she pleads.

“Okay, one more.”

“Yay! Let’s have the Porn Star this time.”

“Mmm. I’ve always wanted a porn star in my mouth,” I say sarcastically.

With the third shot down and a Long Island Iced Tea, I’m starting to feel that warm, happy feeling. We dance a couple more songs and then go to the bathroom. The hall that they’re in is lined with fancy wall sconces and the doors have beautiful carvings in them.

“These guys don’t
need
to be escorts, I don’t think,” Em says.

“I think because they are or were, is why they were able to build this place up. With the money this brings in though, I agree, they shouldn’t need to, but maybe they want to.”

“Whatever. Let’s pee, then head upstairs. I want to check out the other levels.”

After waiting in line for a few minutes, we use the bathroom, touch our faces up, and then find the stairs that lead us up to the second level.

The more I walk, the more I start feeling the effects of the alcohol. Em and I get giggly and dance a few more songs on the second floor. We go to the deck and grab some of the treats I had set up earlier.

“Does eating cupcakes help absorb alcohol?” Em asks.

“Uhh, gotta be better than nothing,” I answer.

After eating a cupcake, we both dig into the fruit and dip it into the chocolate.

“Let’s get some water, and then after a while, we can get another adult beverage,” I say with a laugh.

“Sounds like a plan.”

After we’ve down some water, we go back onto the dance floor and I almost forget about my problems. Em and I are laughing and having a good time when we hear someone clear their throat nearby. We turn and see Troy standing there with a smile on his face.

“Ladies. Having fun?”

“Yes we are,” Em answers.

“Good. Emilie, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Emilie looks at him then back at me. I know she’s struggling with what she should do.

“Yeah, go ahead. I’m going to go grab some more water. I’ll meet you back here in a little bit.”

“You sure? Are you gonna be okay by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine, Em.”

Troy gives me a smile and places his hand on Emilie’s lower back and escorts her somewhere. I turn to go back to the bar and as I’m walking along the side of the club, I stop dead in my tracks.

Liam.

My stupid ex-boyfriend is a few feet in front of me with another guy and a girl. As if he felt my presence, he turns and sees me. A smile dances on his lips and he turns and says something to his friends. I pivot and begin walking anywhere else, but then I feel his hand on my elbow.

“Adrienne.”

I pause; take a deep breath and turn to face him.

“You look gorgeous,” he says, looking me up and down.

“Thanks.”

I take a minute to take him in, and notice that he looks fairly good. Too bad I know he’s an asshole and shitty in bed. I wonder how many girls he’s fooled into thinking he was worth something.

“I haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been fine.”

“Good,” he responds, giving me another smile.

A group of people move past us and push me into him. My body slams into his and he reaches out and puts a hand on my hip to steady me. I quickly move back and out of his touch.

“Watch it, assholes!” he yells towards the group of guys. “You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks. I was just heading towards the bar,” I say as I move past him.

He joins me and when we are near the stairs, I stop walking.

“It was nice seeing you, Liam,” I lie.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks with a crooked grin.

“I’m just trying to go get some water.”

He gives me a sad smile. “Adrienne, I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while now, but you’ve never given me the chance. Can we talk real quick?”

I think back to when we broke up and realize he’s right. I never did give him the chance to say much of anything. Just like I’m doing with Jace. Clearly I have a problem letting men speak after they’ve pissed me off. Maybe it’s because I just assume whatever their going to say is going to be stupid and piss me off more.

“Fine, but just a few minutes.”

He smiles and leads me to the stairs since there are less people there and it’s a bit further away from the music.

I lean back on the wall while he stands in front of me. He runs one hand through his dirty blond hair and then places both hands in his back pockets. His blue blazer is open, revealing a plain white t-shirt underneath.

“Adrienne, I just want to apologize for what happened. I know I fucked up and I know you hate the ‘I was drunk’ excuse, but I want you to know how sorry I am. It wasn’t like I always had a thing for your friend or anything like that. I was just really drunk and we were all hanging out and having a good time. You and I had just had a fight over something, and I was mad. I let my emotions control my actions. It was wrong and stupid and I’ll never forgive myself. I just want you to know that I still respect you and know that I missed out on something great with you. That’s something I’ll have to live with.”

After hearing what he had wanted to tell me this whole time, I regret not allowing him the chance to do so before. He seems very mature about it, and very different than the guy I remember. Or maybe different than the guy I made him out to be because I was pissed at him. Either way, I think allowing him to speak his mind will give us both closure.

“I’m sorry I didn’t give you the chance to explain yourself, Liam. I was pissed and I knew what you had done and that was all I needed to know. It was still wrong, but I know you know and acknowledge that now.”

He looks relieved. His hands come out of his pockets and he gives me a small smile as he steps closer.

“Forgive me?” he asks with puppy dog eyes.

I smirk and roll my eyes. “I guess. But only because it doesn’t make sense to hold onto any ill will. It’s been so long now.”

He stretches out his arms for a hug and I barely push myself off the wall before his arms surround me and he lifts me up off my feet.

“You’re so great, Adrienne. I’m so glad we’ve put this past us.”

“Me too. Can you put me down now?”

“Sorry.”

He places me down and then gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You look really good. I hope you’re happy.”

I hesitate, because I’m not happy anymore. Not without Jace. I know I need to give him the same opportunity to explain himself, and not wait eight months before it happens.

I’m about to say something when I hear a noise behind me and to my left. I turn around and see Jace standing there. His jaw is tense, his fists are balled, and what’s worse is I have no idea what he’s thinking.

“Jace.” My voice is soft and breathy. I’m surprised and nervous.

Liam looks between Jace and me, probably trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Uh, I think I’ll leave you two alone. You’ll be okay?” he asks me softly.

I only nod in response and then turn to watch him walk away. He has to walk past Jace and Jace is blocking most of the space that connects the two areas. Liam tries to move past him, but Jace moves just slightly to stop him. Liam is a few inches shorter than Jace and looks up at him.

“What’s your problem, man?” he asks.

“Do not touch or kiss her again,” he seethes.

“Jace, it’s fine,” I start.

“It’s fine? He can be all over you? He can touch and kiss you? He can lift you up in his arms, and that’s fine?”

“No. I didn’t mean…”

He turns back to Liam. “Do not. Touch her. Again. Got me?” His voice is low and menacing.

Liam looks confused and a little nervous. “Yeah, I got you.”

Jace moves aside and Liam escapes.

When Jace pins me with his intense glare, I wish I could escape, too. He moves closer to me, and I back myself into a corner. Literally. I’m stuck in place watching him approach me. He stops inches from me, and I look up into his eyes. Unsure of the emotion I see there, I look away.

“Come with me.”

As I follow him up the stairs, past girls who all but push their boobs in his face, I can’t help but feel nervous about how our talk is going to go. I still have feelings for him, that’s obvious by how much I want to push these girls down the stairs.

We reach the third level and he turns to make sure I’m still behind him. There’s no smile on his face. Nothing. He’s blank of emotion and this makes me more uncomfortable. Shouldn’t I be the one mad at him? I didn’t do anything. Why is he acting like he’s upset with me?

We walk to the back corner of the room and he unlocks a door and we slip in. We go up some more stairs and reach another door. When we walk in I notice the large, rectangular window that looks out onto the club. There’s a large desk and I can’t help but think back to our tryst on the other desk. He has two large, comfortable-looking chairs and a table in the corner of the office, a mini bar and refrigerator sit in another corner.

Unsure of where I should go, I walk to the middle of the room, then turn to face him. He closes the door to the office before taking a seat on the edge of his desk. There’s a few moments of silence while we study each other.

“Who was that?” he asks. His face still hard as stone.

I hesitate for a minute. “Liam. My ex-boyfriend.”

His expression changes to one of surprise and confusion. “Your ex?”

I only nod in response.

“And you like him again? I thought you hated him for what he did to you.”

He runs a hand over his head and I can tell he’s getting angrier. His eyes narrow at me and his jaw clenches.

“I was just giving him a chance to say what he wanted to say.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know I’ve made a mistake.

Jace tilts his head at me, his face screwed up in disbelief. He looks away from me momentarily before pinning me with a glare that shows not only his anger, but his disappointment.

“Are you kidding me, Adrienne? You let that fucking guy explain himself and yet you ignore me when that’s all I want to do? I’ve been going crazy waiting on you to give me a chance to talk to you, and you’re here in my club with your ex-boyfriend having a nice little reunion?”

He walks to the other side of the office, his back to me.

“Jace, I was going to give you the chance to talk to me. I realize I’m bad at not letting people tell their side of the story once they’ve pissed me off. I’m giving you the chance now. What do you want to say to me?”

He turns and faces me but stays on the other end of the office. His face softens a little, but I can tell he’s still angry.

“Adrienne, I was going to tell you. I had planned on telling you the night you found out.”

“You didn’t think that was something you should have told me before then?”

“Of course I knew, but I also knew you’d disappear on me and I’d never see you again.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” I murmur.

“Really? So if I told you that I went on dates with other women, and occasionally fucked them too, you would have been okay with that?” he responds bluntly.

I blanch, but don’t respond.

“Exactly,” he says. “Look, I was honest when I told you I have been with lots of women. That’s true. I just didn’t tell you that I got paid for it. I know that might make a difference to you, but what if I didn’t get paid? Would you be okay with me just having dated and slept with tons of women? Is it the fact that I got paid to do it that bothers you?”

“I knew you said there have been a lot of women, but being an escort for years means it’s probably a hell of a lot more than I ever would have imagined.”

“You’re probably right,” he deadpans.

“Why did you choose to be an escort? Why this life?”

He exhales a long breath. “I told you a little about my family, something I’ve never done before by the way, so you know I didn’t have an easy childhood. My father was never around, and my mom did the best she could. My brother and I had dreams of moving away and making a better life for ourselves. We saw how much mom struggled, and knew that was something we never wanted to do. My brother was a good kid; he never got in trouble at school and always did what he was told. He was very unlike me, but all three of us were close, and we helped mom around the house when she was at work. After working double shifts she’d come home with a smile on her face when she saw that we cleaned up.