Page 43 of Insatiable Hunger

I’ve thought about moving out and getting a place of my own, but it can be so hard to rent a place as a sex worker. They either judge you and won’t rent to you, period, or you have to jump through so many hoops to prove that you make a livable income.

“Yeah,” I lie. “Should be fun. Are you?”

“Totally. They’re really fun. This is like the fifth or sixth one I’ve been to.”

“What’re y’all talking about?” Katie asks as she hands me my drink before taking a seat in the chair.

“The party tomorrow.” Cracking the can open, I take a sip. “You’re coming, right?”

“Duh, I wouldn’t miss it. Free booze and barbecue? Hell yeah.”

“Is your mom coming?”

Katie rolls her eyes. “She’s supposed to, but who knows.”

“What’s going on there?”

“Same old shit. She’s dating a new guy and the whole world vanishes except for him. You’d think it would get exhausting to do this ring around shit over and over again. But—” Holding up her hand, she continues. “You know what? Never mind. I’m not stressing about this today.”

Me and Jordan look at each other and shrug. Katie can be feisty when she gets going.

We all bullshit for the next twenty minutes or so. Katie telling us about a huge wedding she’s shooting soon. Apparently, the bride is some Instagram influencer with a billion and one followers. It sounds like it could be great exposure for her business.

Finishing the rest of his beer, Jordan stands, stretching his arms over his head. Katie and I, the pervs we are, watch. Eyes shamelessly dipping down to take in the dark happy trail that leads into the tight denim of his 501 jeans. We glance at each other and both bite back a laugh.

“Well, I gotta take off, but I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

As soon as he leaves, the inevitable questions and comments I knew were coming hit. “So, he’s much cuter than you led on,” Katie quips.

“What do you mean? I said he’s hot.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t say he looked like the fucking boy next door with all his charm and dimples. How have you not locked him down yet?”

“Oh my God, Katie,” I grumble. “Lock him down?”

She throws her head back, a full belly laugh erupting, which, of course, is contagious, and I can’t help but laugh too. “Well, you like him, yes?”

“We are friends,” I correct.

“Oh, right.” She nods. “Friends who fuck.”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “We haven’t f—”

“Fucked,” she finishes for me. “Right, right. So, anything juicy going on with the married guy?”

Almost choking on my drink, I wipe the dribble off my chin, my gaze darting at her. “Okay, random. What do you mean?” It’s a stupid question. I absolutely know what she means.

“Anything going on there?”

“Uh… no?” The way I make this sound like a question gives away my lie completely. My face heats and I just know it’s red.

It’s confirmed when her eyes go wide. “Elias Carnell! You are lying to me right now. Tell me everything!”

I’d like the record to show that I regret ever saying anything to Katie about this, vague or not. She’s got her wild, blood-thirsty—or should I say, smut-thirsty—eyes on. There’s no getting out of this. Besides, it’ll probably feel good to get it off my chest, even if it’s not the whole truth.

“Nothing, really. I mean, we may have slightly hooked up, but it’s no big deal.”

Katie’s eyes are as big as saucers. “Shut the fuck up! You did not!”

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