by CJ Azevedo
“No. Sex is up to you. As far as what you are required from me, you will find a list on the second page of your packet. But, what I just stated pretty much sums it up. Companionship. These women are looking for a companion. With that being said, I do suggest you figure out pricing for your extracurricular activities, as they do ask for them. The price for that is up to you, with me getting a portion. All of this is covered in your handbooks.
“We will meet once a month to go over any complaints from you or your customers. We will also discuss new customers and payments. I have an account set up for the ladies to pay online and then I pay you out of those deposits. Extracurricular activities are set up differently. You receive cash payment at the time of service and deliver me the percentage at the following month’s meeting. Are there any questions?”
“Yeah, will I be fired for not participating in the extra stuff?” I didn’t want to be rude, but these ladies probably were dirtier than street hookers. I don’t need my junk falling off; besides, I didn’t think I could do this. If its just talking and hanging out with them after cleaning their pool, okay, maybe. Nope. I can’t, I’m going to have to bail on Sebastian. When we get home, I’m telling him I can’t do it.
“Not at all, as long as you clean their pool once a week and chat with them a little, you’re golden. Now at the back of the handout is a form for you to be tested, just in case. I need proof you’re clean.”
“Is that all? I need to go.” I started to slip out of the booth.
Bash grabbed my arm. “Hold on. Madame Elleanor, when can we start? I’ll get my clean pass and be ready to work tomorrow. So will Sloan.”
“First, call me Elleanor. Second, my number is on everything in there; call me once you’re done with your tests and we can set up your routes.”
I was out of the booth and standing a foot away with my hands in my pockets. Bash jumped out of the booth, clapping his hands together. “Alright, we’ll talk tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Elleanor.” He grabbed her hand again and placed a lingering kiss. Releasing her hand, he reached over and fist bumped Kyle. “See ya later, Ky.”
Sebastian’s laugh echoed throughout the nearly empty bar as he spun around and sauntered toward the door.
“It was nice meeting you. See ya, Kyle.” I wasn’t promising her I’d call. If I had it my way, I wouldn’t be joining the Divine Services team. I was going to kill Sebastian. I knew he wouldn’t let me get out of this, because I owed him. But, after this, we weren’t going to be even; he was going to owe me, times ten.
Instead of taking us back to the apartment, Bash drove us over to Brix’s Nightclub. I could handle this, especially since he was the DD. He had the radio blaring on some up-beat pop shit. I hit the power button, effectively silencing the car. “Bash, I can’t work for her. I can’t do that. I bet those women are all married. I sure as hell am not going to charge them for sex while their Senator or lawyer husband is off working his ass off to keep her in a half million dollar home. Shit, I can’t even imagine sitting there and talking to them. You know what Brit did to me. I can’t willingly do that to someone else.”
“What Brit did is not the same. Slo, you don’t have to sleep with them. Keep it friendly. Visit for a while, make some money, and before you know it, you’ll be traveling all over doing your shows. You need this chance at making some serious cash as much I do. I will never make it out east without the income this will allow me. Don’t make me beg, or remind you that you owe me.” He smirked in my direction.
Damn him. Damn him for using my one fuck up against me at a time like this. And damn him for bringing up Brit. Wait. I did that. Shit. I can’t blame him for that one! “One month. That’s it, Bash.”
Smiling, the dickhead got out of the car and headed toward the bouncer at the door, completely ignoring the mile long line of barely twenty-ones waiting to get in. Slamming the car door I quickly joined my brother. Finding our way to the bar, we saddled up on two stools that had just become vacant. Some dude bitched about waiting for the stools forever, but we ignored him. Katelynn, Kyle’s sister, was bartending this evening and had on the mandatory Saturday night uniform. Yes, we frequented Brix’s a lot. The uniform for tonight was a pair of tiny black shorts, a black tank top with the bar name in hot pink across her chest, the top of her breasts popping out over the top, just above the lettering. Even though I couldn’t see her feet, I knew she had on her zebra striped boots with hot pink crosses and black tips.
“Hey there Slo, darlin’, what can I get you? The usual?” Katelynn and Kyle where from Texas and moved here his freshman year of high school. Katelynn’s southern twang never left. Or she faked it real well.
“Yeah, KT. How are you?”
She flicked her long dark hair back over her shoulder as she spun around to grab a Bud Light out of the cooler. Those shorts should be illegal. The bottom of her perfect, round ass was peeking out and my pants were becoming uncomfortably tight. She quickly spun back toward me, handing me the beer. She flashed me a half grin before answering.
“I’m good. You see my brother, tonight?”
Shit, did she know what he did? Ask Kyle about Katelynn and make him promise to keep his trap shut. Speaking of brothers, mine decided to join our conversation.
“Yeah we did, just for a minute, though. Busy night. There’s a line a mile long out there.”
“Better tips.” She adjusted her top bringing it down a tad bit lower. Ah, hell!
I smiled as I watched her and Sebastian banter back and forth. I tried to keep my chuckles to myself. Then, my brother, the ass, said the one thing I wish I had the courage to say. “Katelynn, go out with me. I’ll take you to dinner and a movie. A walk around the Rose Gardens; wherever you want to go. Just go with me.”
Thank God, I hadn’t just taken a drink or Katelynn would have been wearing it. “What?” I spun on my brother, lowering my brows and giving him my death glare.
Katelynn ignored me and snapped a dishrag at him. “Give it up already, Bash. Every time you’re in here, you ask the same stupid question. Every time you do, I give you the same answer. Not a chance in hell, buddy.” She smirked before looking over at me and winking as she walked down to the other end of the bar to grab a dish of lemons.
“Seriously? You asked her out? Multiple times?” My arms were resting on the bar and my fingers were peeling away the blue label. The bar was packed now and Katelynn was busy filling drink orders.
“Let’s move over to a table.” Bash started to get up.
I grabbed his arm and yanked him back down. “No. We’re staying right here. Answer me.”
He let out a long sigh, tipping his head back. “It’s a joke. Geez, Slo, give it a rest. I know you like her; I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to go there with you. Not again.”
“Fuck, man, drink your beer and cheer the hell up, already. What happened to my fun, balls to the fucking walls, brother?” He tapped my shoulder. “Hey, have you seen my brother? He looks a lot like you. And me! But he doesn’t walk around with a stick up his ass. You know, he laughs and relaxes, likes to have fun. If you happen to see him, let me know.” Sebastian got up and walked away.
I downed my beer and signaled Katelynn for another. He was right. I was always uptight, these days. I didn’t walk around with a stick up my ass, but I wasn’t exactly friendly all the time, either.
Brittany Jameson had been my high school sweetheart. We dated all through high school and for two years after. When Brit started at the local college, we spent less and less time together. I felt her pulling away. Two months into her sophomore year, Bash came to me with a video on his phone he received from a buddy.
The text that was sent with it asked, “Isn’t this your brother’s girl?”
Yeah, it was her. Naked. In a bed with at least five guys. She not only broke my heart, she ripped it out and stomped on it with five-inch spiked heels. At the time, I was saving up, working three jobs– not to compete, but to b
uy her an engagement ring.
I ended things with her by showing up at her dorm to find her in a similar situation. I quit two of the three jobs and went to work on my physique. That was three years ago. I was still dealing with it. Or not really dealing with it. I’m not sure which, yet. At times, I think I’m moving on and at other times I feel as if I’m standing in quicksand, being pulled back under.
I like to think that I would have done the same thing, confronted my brother, if I had been the one that received that text. In a way, I owe Sebastian. Brit admitted she would have stayed with me, if he hadn’t shown me and I hadn’t found out. She said, “I was only experimenting. I don’t have the experience you do. I’ve only slept with you. I wanted to try on a new pair of shoes before settling with my favorite pair. Slo, baby, you are my favorite pair. I was planning on spending forever with you.”
Can you believe that bitch? I couldn’t. Especially when the proof was there. In my face. Twice. I couldn’t waste another minute with her.
Back to Sebastian. He did save my ass from making a huge mistake with Brit. So yeah, I owe him.