Page 129 of Flipping the Script

“I’ve been trying to think of a way to ask this without actually asking it, but I’m batting a thousand.”

He barked out a laugh. “Pretty sure you meant to use a different baseball metaphor. That means you’re basically perfect at something.”

“Well, I’m always basically perfect.” I tossed him a cheeky grin.

He responded by giving me a flat look.

“But you have a point. I struck out. Does that work?”

“Just get to your question.”

“Did you work as an escort?”

He stared at me for a good thirty seconds, so many emotions flashing in his eyes and on his face that I couldn’t even begin to pinpoint them all. The most prominent were wariness, defeat, and suspicion. I didn’t like that.

“Yes.”

His simple answer wasn’t what I was expecting, but it confirmed what I’d suspected.

“Are you going to ask why I did it?”

“No.” I settled back on the couch. “Not my business. I’m curious as hell, but I’m not going to demand answers to questions I don’t have the right to ask.”

“We just fucked, and you’re not going to grill me on my sexual history?”

“Why would I? You said your tests were negative. That’s all I need to know. Everything before that is your business, not mine.”

He bit his lip, obviously not sure what to do with my lack of questions.

The truth was, I wanted to demand answers, but not because I was judging him or because I thought I had a right to have opinions on what he did with his body. I wanted to know him better, to understand what made him tick because the Jesse I knew wouldn’t have gotten involved in sex work without a reason, whatever that was.

He studied me for another full minute, his gaze piercing.

I sat passively, letting him decide what he wanted to do with the conversation.

“You really don’t care?”

“Why should I? I’m curious as fuck, but you’re entitled to your secrets. And before you freak out, I swear I’ll take this to my grave.”

He nodded slowly, his shoulders finally relaxing as he seemed to let go of some of his tension. “What happened when you talked to him?”

“Not a whole lot. It was hard to get the full story out of him, but he admitted that he was following you and saw us together at Envy.”

“That was him?” Jesse’s eyes went wide.

“Yup.” I nodded grimly. “He figured out who I am and switched to tailing me. But when I talked to him?—”

“Talked to him liketalked, or like threatened?”

“Talked. I’ve dealt with stalkers before, and he seemed like the type who could be reasoned with. He didn’t want to hurt you. At least I didn’t get that vibe.”

“He’s not dangerous.” Jesse sighed and finally relaxed against the couch. “Just lonely and not great with people.”

“That’s what I gleaned too. I think I convinced him to move on.”

“You did?” He shot me a surprised look.

“Pretty sure. I just told him about your many flaws.” I grinned, hoping to lighten the mood. “And reminded him thatwhat you guys had wasn’t what he thought. He admitted that you never lied to him or told him it was more than whatever arrangement you had. I have no clue if it stuck, but I got his plate number in case you need his info to report him.”

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