Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I snicker. “I can see right through you, Auggie Vaughn. You’re hoping, if we can find a successful, profitable alternative to our usual shows, we’ll be able to have sex, off-camera, every night.”
Auggie laughs. “You got me. That’s partly true. But I’m also hoping to shift the focus onto you. You’re a natural at this, and I’m not.”
I shrug. “Okay, we’ll give it a try. Who knows, it might turn out to be a stroke of genius. No pun intended. It sounds like stroking your cock won’t be as big a plot point in these new kinds of videos.”
“That’d be my goal, anyway. I’ll keep doing whatever it takes to reach our goal. Don’t worry about that. But I can’t deny I’d much rather be your sidekick and lean into you being the star. Let me be your hype man—your prop, if you need one—and leave the rest to you.”
“I’m game. But if it becomes clear we’re not on pace to make our deadline after we pivot—”
“Then we’ll scrap it. In the end, I promise, Charlotte, I’ll do whatever it takes to have every dime needed by the time we board our flight to New Jersey.”
20
CHARLOTTE
“Atta boy!” I call out to Lucky. “Now, bring it back, buddy! That’s it!”
I’m playing fetch with Lucky on our usual patch of grass, while Auggie fetches smoothies for us from our usual place. Today is a variation from our normal routine, however, in that, usually, we come to this little park on-campus after our first show of the day to relax and recharge before round two. Today, we came here before our first show, due the videos I showed Auggie when he got home from class and the unexpected—but yummy—sexcapade that followed.
No regrets about the sex. I feel nothing but purring satisfaction about what happened between Auggie and me about forty-five minutes ago. So much so, I’ve scrapped plans to tell Auggie about the job interview I had this morning while he was at school. It was only an interview, after all. Not a confirmed job. So, why put a damper on the incredible afterglow we’re both feeling by telling Auggie about a job interview that might not lead to anything?
I know Auggie would be happy for me to land a new flight-attendant gig. Especially one this good. He knows that’s all I’ve wanted since my layoff—to get back to my old life. But I also know this crazy situationship we’ve found ourselves in has been as confusing as it’s been fun—a wild ride neither of us saw coming. Just this fast, Auggie feels like my best friend, next to Tessa. A bestie who’s amazingly fun to kiss and fool around with. So, I think it’d be naive of me not to realize Auggie might react to the news of my job interview this morning with some conflicting emotions.
As I’m tossing the rubber ball for Lucky across the grass again, my phone rings with a call from Tessa.
“Hello, Crazy Girl!” I bellow in greeting.
“Maddy had her baby girl today!” Tessa blurts. Maddy is Tessa’s sister-in-law—the wife of one of Ryan’s three brothers.
“Aw, how wonderful. Is everyone healthy? Did they go with Billie as her name?”
“Yup. Both mommy and Baby Billie are doing great. The entire Seattle Branch of the Morgan family is flying down to LA tomorrow morning, first thing. Are you still game to stay here with Ru-Ru? We’ll be in LA for a week, probably.”
Shoot. I forgot I volunteered to house- and dog-sit for Tessa and Ryan when the time came. Usually, one of Ryan’s local family members watches their husky, Rudy, when they travel. But this time, all their usual dog-sitters will be traveling to LA to meet Billie. Back when I volunteered, I thought I still had five more weeks to pay Carlo back. I also hadn’t yet dragged poor Auggie into my mess, so we didn’t need to be productive and put on multiple shows per day, every day, to meet our new, shortened deadline back then. “Yes, of course, I’m still game to stay at your place,” I say, my mind racing.
“Awesome. Thanks. Why don’t you come tonight, since we’ve got an early flight tomorrow. We’ll have dinner and catch up a bit. What’s kept you so busy lately? You hardly ever text or call me back.”
“Sorry. I’ve been busy doing projects around the condo.” I pause, trying to decide if I should let the confession that’s on the tip of my tongue free, and finally decide to go for it. “Also, having sex with Auggie.”
“You’ve been fucking the boy bander next door and you didn’t tell me?” Tessa shrieks. “Tell me everything!”
Chuckling at Tessa’s exuberance, I glance across the large lawn and notice Auggie walking toward me with two smoothies. “I’ll tell you everything tonight. He’s heading toward me right now. Can he stay with me at your place this week? He’ll be on spring break all next week, so the timing would be perfect.”