Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Get your nose out of my business, Pam. I’ve already said too much.”
“Fine, fine!” my twin exclaims, rolling her eyes while waving an elegant hand in the air. “Seriously, you’re so touchy. Fine, let’s talk about me instead. Well, I’ve been let go from my job, in case you’re wondering. See, don’t you feel bad now? You’ve been talking about yourself so much that you didn’t even think to ask about me.”
I swallow for a moment, surprised.
“Okay, sorry about that,” I say in a low voice. “Tell me about it.”
Pam merely shrugs and lets out an unladylike snort.
“It’s not a big deal. I was doing lunch service at the Hawaiian Tropic Restaurant, but it didn’t work out. They wanted me to share more of my tips with the staff, and I wasn’t comfortable doing that. I mean, I’m wearing a bikini while I serve all sorts of douchebags, so I deserve every cent that I earn. Besides, they wanted me to split my other tips too, and I was like, hell no!”
“What other tips?” I ask, already suspecting her answer.
Pam winks at me.
“You know, for entertaining clients on a private basis,” she purrs. “For the extras that only beautiful women can provide. But yeah, can you believe the temerity of those assholes? They said they wanted a payout for security and cleaning and whatnot. Hell NO!” she says in a loud voice, snorting again. “I put my pussy and ass on the line, and I’m not sharing a cent of what my bodily orifices have earned.”
Okay, this conversation is getting too graphic, but I merely shake my head, suddenly feeling inordinately tired.
“It’s fine. You’ll get another job,” I say in a listless tone. “You’re a smart girl.”
“You okay, Pais?” my sister asks, cocking her head to the right. “You don’t look so hot.”
I yawn and stretch a little before slapping a hand over my mouth.
“No, I’m just tired that’s all. Brad keeps me up all night doing our private calisthenics, and it gets exhausting!” I yawn again, practically unable to keep my eyes open at this point. “I better go.”
“You should,” Pam says with a nod, “because you look like you’re about to fall over. Besides, didn’t you say that you were meeting him tonight?”
I nod, getting up.
“Yeah, at seven. Maybe I’ll take a nap before then. I’m sorry to bail like this, Pammie, but I need to get some rest. We’ll talk next time okay? Bye,” I say before stumbling out of the cafe and making my way down the street. I swear, I hear my sister giggling behind me but chalk it up to my imagination because the streets of New York are loud and can be confusing sometimes. Still, the sleepiness seems unwarranted. It’s true that I’ve been burning both ends of the candle lately, but still, is that reason for the sidewalk to come swimming up at me? Fortunately, I make it to my dorm room before collapsing, and then sink into a deep, dreamless sleep.
CHAPTER 10
Brad
This is weird. Paisley’s usually on time, but she hasn’t arrived yet despite the fact that it’s already fifteen past. Well, maybe she got caught up studying, or maybe the trains are running late again. I’ve begged my sweet girl to Uber more, and offered to pay for it too, but she always demurs. She says she doesn’t want to waste my money, although I say that her safety comes first.
But then, the doorbell rings and I stroll to open it.
“Hi,” Paisley says with a breathless smile on my doorstep. Then, she steps in close and wraps her arms around my shoulders before giving me an open-mouthed kiss. It’s hot, but I’m surprised.
“Hey hon,” I growl when we finally come up for air. “That was unexpected. What was that for?”
She giggles while stepping inside, flipping a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Oh, you know. I just missed you, that’s all,” she titters while looking around. “Did you re-do the décor in here?”
“No, it’s all the same,” I say while shutting the door. Then I turn to her and size her up. “Something about you looks different,” I murmur, unable to pinpoint exactly what it is. “Is it your hair?” Goddamn, I’m always so bad at women’s things. Or maybe it’s her clothes? I’m not sure.
But Paisley merely giggles before doing a three-sixty before me.
“No, it’s not that,” she purrs. “I went to the dermatologist and got a special blood facial today, so I probably look really rejuvenated. It’s a vampire’s secret,” she says, winking at me.
I stare at her.
“First, I don’t even want to know what a blood facial is, and second, I didn’t know you were into facials at all. I thought you weren’t into beauty treatments?”
Paisley merely winks again before sashaying down the hallway to the kitchen.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t into it,” she clarifies over her shoulder. “I just want to take better care of myself going forward. You know my hair was always so ratty before, and I wore those ugly clothes. But you’ve helped me a lot in that department, Brad,” she coos while leaning against the counter. “See? Isn’t this mini-skirt sexy?”