Page 52 of Valentine's Slave

“Please, enlighten me.”

“We’ll talk later.” Hailey and I have always been open with each other about our sexual exploits, hers more so than mine since I didn’t have all that much to show for, boyfriend-hopping from one asshole to another. Part of me wants to tell her everything, but the other part isn’t even sureIknow what this is.

Despite the snow, Malcolm and I still get to the Barclays Center in good time, and Malcolm is nearly bouncing up and down with excitement as we wait in line to get in.

Oli Sykes is just as classy and tattooed as ever, and during the meet and greet, I study him up close. The poetry in his lyrics has long since enchanted me, even when it’s just as dark as it is beautiful. He’s been through hell and back again with breakups and cheating partners, which I can relate to. Shawn wasn’t the first guy to cheat on me, and I hope Oli and the boys play ‘in the dark’tonight, their poetic revenge song about his cheating ex.

Since meeting Valentino, however, I haven’t once missed Shawn, and I’ve gone from realizing how low my standards were to being thankful for what he did, by freeing me. He was shitty in the sack, and he was selfish both in that regard and in life in general. Maybe Valentino’s stoic philosophy about thankfulness and acceptance aren’t such a bad idea.

Malcolm and I get our photos and autographs, which even makes me fangirl a little bit, and then we head to the VIP lounge for some snacks. Full of gratitude and sexual energy as a result, I pull out my phone, hoping for another text from my slave master. But he’s silent, and I assume he’s trying to give Malcolm and I some space.

I haven’t been to a show for a while, let alone in a mosh pit. Malcolm loves it, jumping up and down safely away from the rowdy part. He’s high from meeting his hero, and we sing along to every song—even a couple of the hardcore ones—all the way to the end.

Valentino already told me he would pick us up just after eleven when the show finished, but that seems ludicrous to me, seeing as it’s snowing like mad, and at this rate, the whole city might shut down. Not to mention that Valentino will have to drive us all the way to Queens to drop off Malcolm and then straight back downtown to get us home.

“My friend Valentino is going to drive you home, and then he’s going to drive me home,” I say, leaving out the part that my home is also his home for this week.

Malcolm eyes me with an expression deathly similar to Hailey’s.

“Is he your boyfriend?” he asks, clutching his bag full of free BMTH merch from the meet and greet.

“No, but we’re seeing each other for now,” I explain. No need to include that it’s about to end. We only have a matter of days left, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I didn’t really expect toenjoythis contract. But now, I can’t imagine the thought of it being over.

“What’s the difference?” Malcolm asks.

I have to think for a second. “Seeing each other is what you do at the beginning, before things get serious, when you’re just getting to know the other person.”

“Do you like him?”

Malcolm is just as direct as his mother.

I can’t hold back a smile as I weigh my words.

“You do!” Malcolm pipes up, eyes shining. “I can see it.”

“He’s just charming, that’s all,” I explain as Valentino’s black Volvo pulls up. “But don’t tell him I like him. We haven’t gotten to that stage yet.”

Malcolm nods silently as we get in. I slip into the passenger seat, and Valentino turns to the back seat to shake my nephew’s hand as he introduces himself.

“Did you take good care of your aunt at the show?” Valentino asks.

Malcolm smiles. “Yes. I made sure no one killed her or even got close.”

“That’s a good man.”

It’s a long, slow ride, but I’m surprised at the conversation Valentino makes. He asks Malcolm about school, talks about music, shares a few stories of when he went travelling. By the end of the ride, I feel like he’s opened up more to Malcolm than he has to me up until now, and I notice Malcolm glowing the whole time. Valentino chats with him like an adult, an equal, and Malcolm sits up a little straighter, attentive and interested.

Hailey keeps texting me, worried about the snow and public transit.

Me:We’re not on the bus. Valentino’s driving us back.

It takes her exactly ten seconds to reply.

Hailey:What’s your sexy boss doing hauling his ass all the way across the city for you?

Me:Don’t ask me—he insisted

Hailey:And you’re sure this deal is just sex? You guys haven’t had any heart to hearts?

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