Page 79 of Picture Us

Pointing at Rose, Diana nodded. “Literally yes. So she ends up saying that’s what she wants, and I’m like “lady, I’m a little old to be a sugar baby. I’m a thirty year old woman.”

Rose can’t believe it. “You said no?”

“Of course she did!” It wasn’t a shock to Drew. They had known Diana long enough to know she loved her “independence” too much to let someone else be accountable for her income. Which always made Drew laugh considering she was essentially just a cog in the wheel of a massive corporation.

“I have my own damn money.” Crossing her arms, Diana sat back in her chair.

Drew rolled their eyes. “But she would’ve paid you to eat a fancy dinner and talk with her.”

Finishing off her mimosa, Diana shrugged. “I didn’t know what else she would have wanted.” The insinuation made Drew laugh, like if she had asked for sex that Diana wouldn’t have been able to say no.

But Drew countered. “If she hadn’t asked, would you have slept with her?”

“Hell yeah, she was hot as hell.” Diana gestured obviously. “Do you guys want anything else from the bar?”

Both of them shook their heads and she left them to talk. Rose’s gaze wandered off as she thought. “I have no idea what I’d say if someone asked me that. Do you?”

“Yep.” Drew was matter of fact about it.

Wrinkling her eyebrows, Rose whipped her head around to look at them.

“I paid my way through college as a sugar baby. My parents wouldn’t pay so I had to find a way to come up with the tuition myself.” Drew nodded as Rose’s confusion grew.

Rose turned closer. “Really?”

Drew eyes her. “Why is that surprising?”

Sucking in a deep breath, Rose tried to figure it out for herself. She wasn’t quite sure why. “I guess you just seem buttoned up.”

Understandable. Even they could admit that they were prudish on the outside. But after all the shit they’d done together, Drew was a little surprised that Rose was surprised. “It’s really good money, and honestly really empowering. Like it was the only job I felt like my time was really valued.”

Tilting her head, Rose questioned, “But we set our own rates?”

Heeming, Drew shrugged. “That’s true but most clients don’t think we’re worth even that much. Sugar Mommy’s know you’re worth that much, if not more. They spoil you, pay for cabs, lunches by yourself, drinks, phones, books. I mean they know how much you offer them. Even outside of sex, they value just your company.”

It was an angle Rose hadn’t considered. Of course she never judged anyone for their line of work. But learning more about Drew kept her on her toes. “You’re full of surprises.”

Drew shrugged it off. “No, we’re just still getting to know each other.”

Hell, they still hadn’t talked about what exactly their relationship even was at this point. And every day that passed, Drew was getting more and more confused by it.

“But if you want to know something, just ask.” Drew opened the floodgates.

Considering it for a second, Rose cut deep. “Where are your parents?”

Duh.Drew laughed to themself, it was a bold and obvious question. A part of them knew they couldn’t run away from it forever. Not when Rose could see the negatives in their apartment.

“My mom was not very happy that I came out. She was raised Catholic and even though she grew up here, she couldn’t get over it. But my dad was fine with it, so he was the reason we kept in touch.” Drew cleared their throat. “He got into a car accident my freshman year and passed away. After that, my mom kind of just stopped trying.”

It had been a really long time since they’d been honest about their parents. Sometimes on first dates or hookups, Drew would just say they lived in the Midwest. That they weren;t around because of the distance. But Rose’s sweet, gentle face felt safe.

There wasn’t pity on her face when she spoke, “I’m really sorry, Drew.”

They shrugged, “It is what it is.”

“And it sucks that that’s how it is.” Reaching her hand out, Rose rested it on Drew’s knee.

Their gaze drifted off, feeling a tear in their eyes.

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