I inwardly groaned. Between the Bambi eyes and the use of the word cute, I needed to slap myself, hard.
I unlocked the door, relieved to be back home. I just wished it was Los Angeles, far away from my past. Audrey went over to the window and looked out at the city spread out and glittering beneath us.
“It’s so beautiful from up here,” she said, and she sounded very young to me. She was young. Too young to be living such a harsh life.
I wished I could explain myself to her. I sighed and sat down on the couch, finally loosening my tie. “Audrey, I’m really sorry about before,” I said.
“Which thing?” she asked.
“All of it, actually,” I said. “I’m sorry I told Cole about us. He’s the one person I’m usually honest with. And I’m sorry I just left you on the sidewalk like that.”
She said nothing, still staring out at the lights.
I sighed again. “I’m not good with people,” I said. “I’m more of an analysis guy.”
“You’re fine with people,” she said immediately. “You just don’t like them very much.”
“I’m not used to liking people,” I corrected her.
She gave me a searching look. “Is that because of your family? Because I know you don’t like them.”
“I have issues with my parents, like I told you…” I said, my voice trailing off. The headache was coming back. “It’s about some stuff that happened a long time ago. Some of that is what makes it difficult for me to trust people.”
I had what I loved taken from me, and I could never let that happen again.
But I couldn’t say that. I could barely stand to think it.
“That and my, uh, present circumstances,” I said instead.
“You mean your money,” she said.
“That’s right. It’s hard to tell if people are being genuine with me. It doesn’t happen often. So when you turned out to be a nice girl, it was just hard for me to believe it,” I said.
Audrey snorted in exasperation. “I’m a fucking escort, James,” she said, her hands on her hips. “I’m anything but a nice girl.”
“But you are,” I said. “You are a nice girl, Audrey.”
“Where do we go from here, James?” she asked, her face a businesslike mask. “I need this assignment. I need it to go smoothly. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. Even if that means fucking your best friend.” She shrugged. “I am a hooker, after all. It’s not like I have a real right to be offended.”
“Yes, you did. Cole was being a complete prick, and so was I. I talked to him again, and I told him to stay the hell away from you.” I paused for a beat, willing my hotness to subside. “I also suggested he call Elena and ask for Jenny,” I said, almost apologetically. “I hope that’s okay.”
Audrey’s face perked up. “Jenny would love him,” she said. “That was actually really nice of you.”
I smiled, pleased that I’d done at least one thing right since I’d met her.
“So…where do we go from here?” I asked, echoing her question. “I want you to stay. I want you to stay with me, and I don’t want you to fuck my best friend, and I don’t want you to say mean things about yourself, and I don’t want to hurt you.” The words just tumbled out. Perhaps I’d had one too many bourbons.
To her credit, Audrey said nothing, her face an impenetrable mask.
“Just stay. Let’s stick with the agreement.” I stood up abruptly, lest I started trying to take her to bed.
“We have a brunch tomorrow and then a bunch of other crap events for the rest of the week. Let’s just make it to the wedding. Together.”
“Okay,” she said. If she was disappointed by something I said, she did not let on.
“It was better tonight with you there,” I said, heading off to my room. “It was almost bearable.”
“Almost,” I heard her say before I closed my door.
Audrey
I lay awake all night. Waiting for him. I hoped he would come to me, but he didn’t, and I didn’t dare go to him.
I wanted to, though. The empty bed next to me was like a physical ache. I could feel him, just down the hall, just out of reach.
The next two weeks were going to be hell.
I dressed carefully the next morning, in linen pants and a pink blouse. I pulled my hair up into a bun. It was all very appropriate, all very unlike me.