Page 132 of The Influencer

“Yeah. Why did you stay when you knew neither of us was happy?”

“I only just found out you weren’t happy. I thought everything was fine,” she lies.

“Be serious. Why?”

She loses all pretense for once, gesturing wildly. “Well, where else was I gonna find an apartment like this? How else was I going to get invited to all those parties to meet new people?”

Wow. I don’t know why, but I hadn’t pegged her for a social climber. Or a gold-digger. I was making barely more than minimum wage when we met. “And did you? Meet anyone?” I ask.

Her face sours. “How could I with all those faggots you hang out with?”

A breath whooshes out of me, and I see her so clearly now. The disappointment. The disgust. The hypocrisy.

I keep my voice level when I say, “Sorry it didn’t work out for you.”

“No, you’re not.”

I laugh. “True.”

I go back to the closet and pull another load of clothes off the hangers. There’s a knock at the door. I’m very grateful it’s Sunday, and the traffic is lighter.

Olivia startles. “If that’s your brother, I’m calling the cops on him. I don’t care who his boyfriend is.”

I walk behind her down the hall to the door. My long reach beats hers to the knob.

Jade is in the hallway wearing cargo pants and a perfectly fitted t-shirt. Also dangly earrings and a pink fanny pack. He looks like he should be in a magazine. So damn perfect all the time.

“What is he doing here?” Olivia asks, barely able to veil her revulsion at the sight of yet another “faggot.”

“Jade’s my lover, and he’s here to help me pack. You brought your car, I hope?” I ask him.

Jade’s eyes are as wide as dinner plates, but he nods.

“He’s your what?”

“I honestly don’t know what Tiana told you, but she’s just the one who did all my cock piercings. Jade’s who I’ve been fucking. Come on in.” I reach out a hand for him. “You remember Olivia.”

As soon as Jade slides his palm into mine, I feel instantly more settled. He strides in with all the sass and attitude that pulled my attention in the first place. He’s a peacock, and I’m so here for it. He ignores Olivia’s choking noises and looks around the apartment. “What all’s yours?” he asks in his lightest, sweetest, gayest voice.

“Technically, everything. But I’ll come get the heavy stuff once she gets evicted.” I tell him like Olivia’s not even there.

Initially, I’d felt some guilt for not wanting to keep paying rent for the place, but after today, I think I’m good.

“I need your eye for wardrobe,” I add. “I have a hard time throwing things out. Especially things that don’t fit anymore.”

“Then you called the right person.” He turns to me, rising to his tiptoes, and plants a kiss on my lips.

Olivia gags and runs for the bathroom. I grab Jade around the waist and pull him in for a much deeper kiss.

When we part to catch our breath he asks, “What happened with Adam and Jax?”

“They weren’t the right men for this job.”

Jade wraps his arms around my neck and kisses me again. I want to thank him. For waking me up. For wanting me. For maybe even saving my life, but more than any of that, I want to leave this sad, soul-sucking life behind as soon as possible.

I cup his face and pull my mouth away from his. “Thank you for coming. Now let’s get my shit and get the fuck out of here.”

His smile is the light at the end of the tunnel, and today, I’m running toward it.

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