Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
I nod.
“No one should live the life my mom lived,” I say in a low voice. “And it’s definitely no way to raise a child.”
Stasia sends me a curious look.
“Do you ever talk to your mom about her choices?”
I sigh, shaking my head.
“No, because Ellen’s in a care home now, and she’s suffering from dementia. When I visit her, sometimes she recognizes me, and sometimes she doesn’t. It’s pretty impossible to talk about anything with her these days.”
Stasia nods, looking thoughtful.
“But was Ellen seeing the same types of men that you are?”
I shake my head.
“No. She was the worst type of hooker. A streetwalker. She was out there in the dead of night, trying to sell her body using high heels and a slutty dress. It was crazy.
“Okay, so her customers weren’t billionaires,” Stasia comments.
“Definitely not. It’s whoever happened to be driving down the street and saw her flashing her goods. It was dangerous as all hell.”
Stasia nods.
“Right, so Ellen made way less money than what you’d be making and lived a hardscrabble life. It sounds like she was definitely existing hand to mouth. You, on the other hand, are in a completely different situation, with different choices. If you slept with Chris, Jamison, and Dane for three months, you’d be rich. You could put that in a rainy day fund, or use it to go to college—”
“College?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “That’s not happening!”
Stasia giggles.
“Okay, maybe not college then. But what I’m saying is that you won’t be helpless the way your mom was, Tam. In fact, it’s the opposite. You’re a strong woman who’s making good choices. You’re looking out for yourself. You’ll be making serious cash that you can put away for a rainy day, so that you’re never left high and dry by any man.”
“I guess I didn’t think of it that way before,” I acknowledge. “My situation is a little different from my mom’s.”
“Right,” Stasia nods quickly. “It definitely is. And even though Chris, Dane, and Jamison will be paying you, I still don’t think you’d be like a prostitute. I mean, you like them and they obviously really like you too. You guys are already bumping uglies without money involved, so the money would just be an added bonus.”
“Bumping uglies?” I giggle. “Oh my god, that’s so ridic.”
“It is,” Stasia acknowledges before going somber. “But I’m serious, Tam. Why not get paid, instead of putting out for free? If they’re offering, then it makes sense.”
I nod slowly.
“I guess so,” I say. “Still, it’s so transactional.”
My friend throws up both hands then in exasperation.
“Everything’s transactional, Tam. This is Vegas! This is life! Even husbands and wives have a transactional relationship.”
“True that,” I murmur as my mind turns. “Okay, I’ll think about it. When did you get so smart, anyways?”
Stasia winks at me while taking a sip of her coffee.
“I’ve always been street smart,” she shrugs. “My wisdom is just hidden by my clumsy exterior sometimes.”
“Right,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes as she flips me off. But then my buddy goes serious again.
“Now listen while I lay a bit more of my wisdom down upon you,” she says. “I really think you should be honest with Chris, Dane, and Jamison about how you’re feeling. Your three lovers need to know about your hang-ups in order to help you get past them, and I’m sure they’d like to know if something is bothering you.”
“I don’t know,” I demur. “We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
Stasia mock-frowns.
“Don’t be silly, Tams,” she states sternly. “Open communication is a must in any relationship if you want things to work out! You should tell your three lovers about your past, and why you think the way you think. They’ll understand, and if they don’t, then screw ‘em! I mean metaphorically, not literally. That would be bad. Or would it be good?"
“I get your point,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Thank you, Stas. Really, this conversation has helped me out a lot and I think you’re right. I’ll think things over. Hell, maybe I’ll even talk with Chris, Jamison, and Dane about my hesitations. Who knows.”
My pretty friend grins.
“It’s no problem, Tams. You know what they say: an open mind leads to a free heart. And you want that, right?”
I merely giggle because I’ve never heard of the “open mind free heart” slogan before. But Stasia has a point. Should I tell my lovers about my past? I could, but it gets to the crux of the problem: maybe they’re not interested in my past. After all, if I’m only a hook-up for the three men, then why would they want to look deeper? Why would they want to know more? I sip at my coffee once more, my thoughts whirling about what to do … with no clear answer forward.