my life seems boring compared to yours.”
“Comparison is the enemy of—well, everything really. You’re happy. And that’s what matters.”
She smiles that kind of glowing smile that only a woman in love can. “I am. And speaking of happiness, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“What?”
She worries the edge of her cardigan as she speaks. “It’s the wedding.”
“Do you need more money?” She and Tom are set to be wed in the beautiful coastal town of Santa Cruz. On the beach. Right where I used to spend every single second of my free time. She’s my baby sister and I want it to be perfect. No expense spared.
She shakes her head. “No, no. It’s not that—you’ve been more generous than necessary. It will be perfect.”
“What about the wedding, then?”
Her gaze turns pleading. “It would mean a lot to me if you would bring a date.”
My nose wrinkles. Men are just clients to me. A means to an end. Not something to get attached to. “A date? Why?”
“I worry about you out there. Alone with no family. No real relationships. They said you didn’t even have an emergency contact.”
I let out a groan. “Not again with the emergency contact. Why is everyone so obsessed with that?”
“It’s true though, Miranda. You’re not an island. Everyone needs to have at least one or two healthy relationships in their lives. When you lived at the beach you had tons of friends. And boyfriends. You were at a different party every night. Then…” Her words trail off and sadness flashes over her face.
“I know.” My words come out in a whisper. I know me moving across the country was difficult for her. And I know for my sake, she won’t bring up the reason for my move. My hand instinctively goes to the scar on my torso.
The memory is too painful. I push it away.
She presses on with her inquiry. “Tell me honestly, how many friends do you have there in Vegas?”
I think of Samantha—Sam, my assistant. Katie Morrow, married to one of my best ex-clients, who I’ve become close-ish with.
Sam and I text about a hundred times a day. They’re all work related correspondences.
Katie’s invited me to at least two girls’ nights out this month. I turned her down both times.
And I don’t date, taking away the possibilities of any intimate relationships.
Lexi’s wide eyed stare holds my gaze. Confirming her suspicions. She’s right.
I have no one close in my life.
Big sister vibes kick in, strong as ever. I want to protect her. To take away her worries.
“Don’t worry, Lexi. I’ll call Katie this week. Make plans to go to yoga, do girl stuff, you know…”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m not talking about an outing once a month. You need a proper relationship. Someone who can care for you.”
Gross. That is so. Not. Me. I do the taking care of. “Lexi I’m not going to-”
But she’s looking at me with those baby blue eyes. Pleading. I need to tell her something that will reassure her. As I’m racking my brain, there’s a dinging noise, the notification sound from my phone, a text from Sam pops up on the screen. I breathe a sigh of relief. An interruption to give me more time to solve this problem. “Hang on Lexi. Let me put you on hold. My assistant is messaging me.”
My sister’s voice is laced with worry. “Should you be working right now? Can’t the Daddies wait? I think you should be recovering.” My sister is the only one who knows what I really do for work.
Pausing my video call with my sister, I flip through the texts. Sam’s freaking out. But not about me being in the hospital because obviously I didn’t have her listed as an emergency contact.
There’s been a Black Tie booking; a five-star date night with a local businessman. One that could possibly lead to another regular, high paying client.
It’s for tomorrow. And we don’t have a single available escort.
This is something that we cannot afford to turn down.
She’s asking.... me... to fill in.
My stomach turns to ice.
My sister, still paused on the video chat, sends a pesky text: You really need to rest.
What I need to be doing is running a successful company. Making money. Facing my fears.
And more importantly, taking away Lexi’s worries. Right now, I can ease her mind, even though it’s a little bit of a stretch of the truth. And while I’m at it, make a little extra money for her wedding.
I pull the call