17

Lexi
I plop onto a barstool at Swank and wait for Gina to come over. She’s working behind the bar tonight as a bartender, which is new for her. I think she’s still in training for it.
It’s been four days since I’ve heard from Bobby.
I guess I should be glad. I have a sugar daddy who’s given me the use of a beautiful luxury apartment and doesn’t make a huge demand on my time.
That’s what I keep telling myself.
But that’s not at all how I feel.
I feel like my new crush is blowing me off.
That’s the dumb part. Bobby made it clear he wasn’t a boyfriend and not to have those kinds of expectations of him. He also told me he was a busy man. So this whole situation was laid out clearly for me. I have absolutely no reason to be angry. Or right to miss him.
But I do miss him.
I also have been debating whether or not to ask him for a loan to pay off Arissa, but I haven’t decided on whether I wanted to hassle him when he’s already paid off my landlord and given me cash this month. I guess I was thinking I’d play it by ear when I saw him, but I haven’t seen him.
“Well?” she prompts when she arrives. “How’s it working out with your sugar daddy?”
I smile. “Yeah, it’s the real deal. He’s great.”
Gina beams. “I thought you guys would be a good fit! How is the sex?”
“Honestly? Amazing. I’m supposed to be at his beck and call, but I haven’t heard from him in four days, and I can’t stop thinking about him. I’m almost ready to call him!”
“Oh my God.” Gina affects a scandalized tone.
“Well, I’m not falling for him or anything,” I say, probably a little too quickly. “Is that what you think?”
Gina holds up her palms. “Hey, I didn’t say anything. I’ve just never heard you talk this way about a guy before.”
“Well, you were right. He’s hot.”
“Like what? What’s so hot? What’s he do?”
My face heats remembering how he bent me over the sofa and spanked me. Screwed me hard against a wall. Fingerfucked me on the kitchen counter. “He’s rough. Totally demanding. But in tune. Does that make sense?”
Her brow furrows. “Like what?”
“I mean, he knows when I start getting nervous and slows down, but if I’m on board, he’s the type to throw you up against the wall and fuck your brains out.”
Gina raised her eyebrows. “Did he do that?”
I do the slow, awed, satisfied nod.
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow. Total wow.”
“So, what’s the scoop? How often do you see him? When do you see him next?”
Butterflies stir in my belly. I haven’t heard from him in four days, even though I texted a couple times. I hope my eviction drama didn’t turn him off. I definitely need to see him because Arissa, the owner at the salon told me I have to pay in full by the end of the month, or she’ll find a new renter for my chair. I will give her everything I make, but it isn’t enough. I hoped to see Bobby a couple times to supplement the income enough to at least pay one month’s rent and get Arissa off my back.
Before I can answer a skinny blonde waltzes up and takes the barstool next to me. Gina shoots me a meaningful look, which I don’t know how to interpret.
“What can I get you?” Gina slides a cocktail napkin in front of the blonde.
“Cosmo. Were you talking about Bobby?”
I whip my head around to look at the woman.
She shrugs. “I saw you leaving here with him last weekend. Is that who you’re talking about?”
Gina clamps her mouth shut and gets busy making the drink.
Aw, fuck. This must be the ex-girlfriend. Or ex-sugar baby. Or whatever. Well, hell.
I’m not jealous since she’s the ex, but I still don’t like her.
Although… I guess I could use some more information about the guy. Like knowing what this chick did wrong to lose him. That might be helpful. Because I really need this situation to last long enough for me to get back on my feet. I’ll need enough money for a deposit on my own place, and hopefully a small cushion of savings.
“Yeah. Did you used to date him?”
The blonde nods. “I still do, sometimes,” she says, and my eyes narrow. “I’m Stacy. Did he mention me?”
Gina shakes her head when the blonde isn’t looking, rolling her eyes.
“Um, no.”
“How about you? Have you seen him since that night?”
“Yes. I moved into his apartment.” I’m not usually alpha female, but I guess I’m feeling a little territorial right now. She’s obviously still interested in Bobby, and it pisses me off.
The blonde’s lips tighten. Gina sets the drink in front of her, and Stacy drains the glass. “I’ll have another, please.” Turning to me, she produces a saccharine smile. “I lived in that apartment for two months,” she boasts. “But, things just didn’t work out between us. He’s too controlling. He gets off on being the one in charge, you know?”
Obviously. That’s his kink, bimbo. I make a non-committal sound.
“Listen, do you have his new number? Because I tried to call him this week, but it sounds like he swapped phones out again. He does that a lot, you know.”
I don’t want to bite. I really don’t. But I haven’t heard from the guy either. “What do you mean?”
Stacy shrugs. “Something about keeping lines secure. I have no idea. But every so often, he dumps his number and starts over with a new phone.”
“Oh. Well how are you supposed to get a hold of him then?” Maybe that’s why he hasn’t returned my texts.
“Oh, you don’t have his new number, either?” Stacy flashes that nasty smile again.
Grr.
She opens her phone. “I could give you his home number.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why don’t you just call his home number, then?”
“Well, I have, but he hasn’t picked up.”
I don’t trust Stacy even the slightest bit, but her story about the phones might be true. I take out my own phone and scroll through the contacts to Bobby’s name. “Yeah, I will take that home number, if you don’t mind,” I say.
“No problem.” Stacy hands me her phone.
I take it and copy the numbers into my contacts, trying to figure out if I dare call him there. He said he wasn’t my boyfriend. Calling his home line probably comes off as needy.
A cold sensation slithers through me. What if, despite everything he said, he is married? I mean, why else would he keep his girlfriend at a separate apartment where he never sleeps?
I’m tempted to call the number just to see if a woman answers.
“May I see the number you have for him?” Stacy asks when I finish.
Well, crap. I totally set myself up for that, didn’t I. Somehow, I feel certain Bobby won’t like me handing out his number. I mean, what did he tell me? Not to talk about him to anyone.
Fuck.
“Uh…sure.” I am so bad at saying no. It’s really a skill I need to develop.
I show her the number, and the other woman shakes her head. “No, that’s the same one I have. It’s no good. Thanks, anyway.”
Thank God. I really didn’t want to piss Bobby off.
Stacy slips off the barstool and takes her second drink with her.
Gina leans her forearms on the bar. “That was weird.”
“I know. I kept waiting for her head to spin around and fire to come out of her mouth or something. You don’t really think she was being helpful, do you?”
Gina shakes her head. “No. She wants him back and is trying to keep her enemies close. I’d watch out for that one if I were you.”
“I will.”
I take the bus home and sit on the sofa considering. Why hasn’t Bobby called? Is this a normal time span between dates for him? I almost wish I asked Stacy. But that would mean revealing that I’m being blown off.
If he does have a new phone, why hasn’t he given me the new number? Could he have lost my number?
I consider calling his house. If a woman answers, I know he’s a lying piece of shit. If he answers, I can just let him know I miss him.
I pick up the phone and dial, my heart rate increasing as I wait for someone to pick up.