Page 4 of Virginity Sold

“I’ll bring you something from the diner when I get off,” I tell her quickly, knowing I need to get back out on the floor and check my tables.

“I can’t wait that long. I’ll come there and get some money from you.” Her voice rises with each word and my stomach churns. I don’t need her coming here and making a scene.

“No, Mama. I don’t have anything to give you. I’ll bring you some food when I get off. Until then, you can either eat what’s in the cabinet or not, but under no circumstances are you to come here.”

“Don’t—” I end the call, not wanting to hear anything else from her. It’s a useless battle. She’ll be right and I’ll be the spoiled brat who never helps her. Yeah, she’s firmly living in the land of delusion.

I slide the phone back in my pocket and quickly spin around to head back out when I slam into a brick wall. No, that’s not right, a person. Large hands grip my arms, holding me tightly.

“Are you okay?” the deep voice asks. My eyes trail up and I see it’s him—Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. I really need to find out his name.

“Yeah, sorry,” I stammer. “I should’ve been watching where I was going.”

“It’s fine. You look upset. Are you sure everything is okay?”

“I am.” I quickly pull away from him. “Don’t mean to be rude, but I need to get back out there.”

Moving around him, I rush back to the floor and check on the rest of my customers. What is it about him that has me so nervous?

A few minutes later, he sits back down in his booth, his eyes on me as I move through the diner. I’ve been procrastinating going back to his table, but I know I have to. I stop behind the counter long enough to pick up the pot of coffee and head over to his table. “Refill?” I ask.

“Please. Elena, I didn’t mean to intrude when I asked if you are okay.”

“You’re fine.”

“How good is the money here? Do you make enough to cover your expenses?”

I raise my eyebrow, curious about the odd questions. This is the most he’s ever said to me. “I manage.” Lies, I’m drowning, and I don’t see a life preserver anywhere in my future.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card, sliding it over to me along with the cash for the pie and coffee. “Keep the change and check out the website on the card. It’s an opportunity to make some money.”

I smile, not knowing what to say, as he slides out of the booth and stands. I’m still stuck in my spot, motionless.

“Have a good day, Elena.”

Before he can leave, I blurt out, “Who are you and what’s on the website? A job?”

He grins as his eyes twinkle. “My name is Edward, and yes, a job, in a way. Just have an open mind when you check it out. Think of it as an opportunity to make your life just a little easier.”

“Okay.” I’m not sure what else to say to him. He grips my chin between his fingers, tilting my head up to look at him.

“Remember, keep an open mind. Embracing those possibilities it presents could lead you to a whole new world of opportunities.” He releases me and turns, leaving the diner without looking back.

I pick up the cash, noticing for the first time he left a hundred-dollar bill. What he ordered wasn’t even ten dollars. He’s always been a generous tipper, but nothing to this degree. Next, I pick up the card and look at it. It’s a beautiful emerald green card with Club Lust written in elegant black cursive letters. His first name and an email are listed at the bottom, nothing more.

I don’t have time to wonder about what he meant. When I get home, maybe I’ll look up the website on the card. It couldn’t hurt, right?

The rest of my shift swings between periods of highs and lows. It’s crazy how you can be swamped one minute and it be a ghost town the next.

Today has brought me another two hundred closer to having the money needed to keep a roof over our heads. The sad part is it took ten hours to get it and I’m still short on not only the remaining rent but the fucking electric, as well. I’m never getting ahead at this rate.

“See you tomorrow.” Betty hands me the food order I placed for Mama, and I smile.

“Yes ma’am, another day, another dollar.”

Hopefully, hundreds of them. I never want to go through the misery of trying to find somewhere to shower again when there’s no power or water at home. At least I’m not in school. That was the worst. Kids are not forgiving and are the cruelest toward someone less fortunate than them. It’s even worse when you have no one. You’re a loner because you can’t risk anyone knowing what your home life is like. That you barely have food, and can go days with no power, or not knowing where your mother is because she’s on a bender somewhere.

I shake off my thoughts quickly and rush out the door just as the bus pulls up to the curb. Normally I walk to save the fare, but tonight I’m beat. I climb on board, giving the older driver a nod as I drop my change into the slot and make my way to a seat.

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