Page 55 of High Class

Chapter 17

Zara

Thelimopullsupto the airport to pick up my client, and I smooth my dress and try to calm my trembling hands. I promised June and her brother the VIP Vegas treatment since they’re paying so much for my date with Joe, and Luke insisted I use one of his company’s limos. I’m not sure he’s actually comfortable with this, but at the point that I begged, he gave in and helped me set it up. Things have been awkward between us since the confrontation we had the other night about our jealousy, so I’m not sure where we stand. But I hope he doesn’t spend the day stewing in jealousy over Joe.

I’ve never had sex with Joe. Sex isn’t what he pays for. He needs companionship and someone to talk to about the demons that plague him. He’s seen many therapists and none of them have been able to provide what he needs. I can’t offer mental health advice yet because I’m not done with my therapy certificate, but I can offer an ear and friendly conversation. I’m able to soothe his demons where others can’t. And because of his injuries, he feels like he’ll never be able to be in a real long-term relationship, so I offer the companionship that he needs.

I step out of the limo at the curb, so June knows which one to come to. June and I hug for a long time, then I turn to her brother and smile at him. “Hey handsome. I’ve missed you.”

He pulls me into a shaky hug and laughs nervously like he always does when it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.

“Hey Zara,” he says.

I kiss his cheek, and motion to the limo and we all climb inside with Joe taking a little longer to maneuver into the car.

When we’re on our way, he looks out of the windows in wonder as the strip comes into view.

When we pull into the Pink Sapphire, June sighs. “I am so looking forward to a spa trip.”

With a grin, I pull a folder from my bag and hand it to her. “I had them book everything you requested. This is your spa schedule for tomorrow. I thought we could all have dinner together tonight before I take Joe to a private showing of a Cirque du Soleil.”

It’s not completely private, but we’ll be in our own private box for the show since he gets too nervous sitting in crowds. And Tyson Vance is back in town, so Luke talked him into catering a private meal for the three of us. I invited him to join because it’s good for Joe to have some interaction with a new face every once in a while. But he declined and I’m not going to push. It would be weird to be totally honest.

Joe lays his head on my shoulder and smiles widely. “Everything is so big. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I can’t believe you’ve never been. You live so close.”

He looks out the window. “That’s a lot of people. I don’t like people.”

I pat his leg. “Don’t worry, baby. We have a hotel staffer escorting us to your rooms, so you don’t have to worry about anyone touching you that you don’t want.”

He looks a little nervous but nods. “I don’t like touching. Only you. Only June.”

It took him at least four visits before he let me touch him. With burns on much of his body, touch can be painful. But I learned where I can and can’t put my hands, and how to hug him without hurting him. So, he’s not kidding when he says he only likes for me and June to touch him. Occasionally, another of my escort friends spends time with him, but he refuses their touch.

“We’re going to use a chair like we did in the airport, OK?” June asks her brother as the door opens. The hotel staff is already unloading bags and one has a chair waiting for Joe to climb into.

He looks around in both awe and trepidation as we enter the casino and make our way to the elevator. For a second, I wonder if bringing him here was a bad idea. But June assured me it would be good for him to experience a change of scenery even if it meant he had a bit of a rough time adjusting.

I push the wheelchair and point out pretty things he might like to look at while June and the concierge make a path in front of us. When we reach the elevator, the concierge makes sure no one else enters our car, and rides up with us, swiping a card that prevents the elevator from stopping on other floors.

When we get to their floor, we enter the room that Joe and I will use for most of our time together, and June walks through the door that joins us to her room. “I’m going to let you two get reacquainted while I take a shower,” she says with a wink.

I think sometimes June hopes I’ll fall in love with her brother, but she knows deep down it won’t ever happen.

Joe gets out of the chair and strolls around the room.

“You’re walking really well, Joe. How’s the new leg working out?”

He grins and pulls up his pant leg to show me the new prosthetic. They’ve been through several iterations and finally found one that he likes.

“I can even walk without crutches most days,” he says, his voice sounding more relaxed now that we’re alone. In public, he speaks very stilted and gruff. But when it’s just the two of us, he’s able to relax into more normal speech patterns and usually gets very playful and sarcastic.

I sit on the couch and after a few more minutes of exploring the room, he comes to sit next to me, resting his head on my shoulder again. Unfortunately, my mind wanders to Luke and the way it felt to sit with him in a similar way the other night, and I can’t help but wonder where he is and if he’s annoyed with me right now for being here.

“Want to talk or watch something on TV?” I ask after several minutes of silence.

He sighs. “I’m just enjoying the quiet. The airport was really loud.”

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