Arranged love

TITAN

I HOLD MY breath as I wait for her to respond to me. I owe Nite fucking everything. He saved her life. I should have been there for her. That’s what makes me the maddest. I should have followed her to her house when she left the funeral, but I didn’t. I always allowed my pride to get the best of me, but in the end, it’s going to cost me everything.

She licks her lips and nods her head once. “I need to go back to Chicago. But I won’t stay there.”

“Why?”

“Because I still have things there. I haven’t been able to return since I got the call about my father. And I just destroyed everything I had here.” She gestures to the black dress she’s still wearing from the funeral earlier. “I need things …”

“We have things here.”

“Titan.” She stomps her foot.

“I said let me take care of you.”

“I don’t need-”

“I want to,” I interrupt her, cupping her cheek. “Please?” I beg. “Let me show you what you deserve.” There’s nothing in this world that I can’t give her. She just needs to let me.

EMILEE

Titan has kept his word. Within two days, all my stuff from my Chicago apartment was delivered to Vegas. We moved it into this house. Most of my parents’ house was destroyed. I lost clothes, shoes, essential everyday needs.

I couldn’t care less.

I’d been gone for two years and hadn’t needed it before, why would I need it now?

Titan spent twenty-four hours straight with me. Which I think was the longest he had taken off work in a while. He had to go back today.

I’ve been walking through Kingdom for the past two hours, pretending to play machines here and there to get free drinks. I tip the waitresses, and they keep them coming.

Haven has called me three times. I’ve ignored them all. Embarrassed how I spoke to her that night after the funeral when she reached out to me.

Jasmine hasn’t tried reaching out to me once. I feel bad for what I said to her as well. Because out of the three of us, she was the one who came from the most fucked-up family life. Jasmine isn’t one to tell her problems, but Haven and I knew they were there. I guess we were just never good enough friends to ask.

I pull my cell out of my pocket and dial her number. She answers on the fourth ring.

“Hello?” She doesn’t sound very happy to hear from me.

“Hey,” I sit down at a slot machine. It looks like a giant fishbowl. It’s called Deal of the Day.

“What do you want, Em?” she asks, letting out an annoyed breath.

“I just …” My eyes drop to the black and gold carpet. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for what I said to you. For hurting you.”

She sighs.

“I know you were just trying to help me.” She stays silent. “You of all people should know what that feels like.”

Jasmine is by far the most independent out of the three of us, but that’s because she’s had to be that way.

“Are you gambling?” she asks, changing the subject.

“No.” I take a sip of my rum and Coke. “I’m walking around the casino getting free drinks.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Maybe a little.” I lick my numbing lips.

She chuckles. “Come up to The Palace.”

“You’re working?”

“Yeah. But I’m done. The guy rented the place for the night and only took twenty minutes.” Her laughter grows. “He’s in the bathroom getting dressed about to leave. Come up here and we’ll raid the minibar together. It’ll be like high school all over again.”

“I don’t know. Nigel won’t let me up there. And I’m not doing a job.” The room is for paying clients only. And when I mean clients, I mean those who hire a Queen. The casino does not promote the room at all. To all these gamblers that are here on vacation, it does not exist.

She snorts. “I’ll send him a text.”

“You have his cell number?” Another sip.

“Of course. We’re tight like that. Give me ten minutes and head this way.” Click.

“There she is.” Jasmine gives me a big smile when I enter The Palace. “Told you Nigel would see you up.”

“He didn’t even question me.”

I look around the room. It looks the same from the last time I was up here with Titan. The purple lights give off a glow. The black walls help keep it pretty darkly lit. “Didn’t take your client long, huh?” I ask her.

She chuckles, walking over to the bar in the corner. “We didn’t have sex.”

“What else would you do up in this room?”

“He had me dress as a Dominatrix and spank him.” She shrugs. “He has mommy issues.”

“This entire room is full of issues.”

She throws her arms out wide and spins around in a circle, while saying, “Every queen needs a palace.” She quotes the saying on the door.

I laugh and take the drink she made for me and lie down on the floor. The rug in this room is incredibly soft. I guess when everything is meant to cause pain, they decided to make the floor comfortable. She lies down beside me.

“Haven called me.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“What did she want?” I ask.

“She’s worried about you. She wanted me to talk to you.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m worried about you too, Em. But I was giving you time. I do know what that’s like.” She sighs.

“How are you doing?” I ask. Everything has been so crazy lately I haven’t even thought about asking how she is doing.

“Great,” she lies. A softness falls over the room and I sit up to take a drink of my rum and Coke. “Haven was right.”

“About what?”

“I have an addictive personality.”

I shake my head. “She was just …”

“Correct. I know it. You know it. Everyone knows it.” She stands. “Do you think I’m a whore?”

I jump to my feet. “Jasmine, no …”

“You don’t have to lie. We’ve always been honest with one another.”

I grab her hand. “I wish I was more like you.”

She snorts.

“You’re gorgeous.” She rolls her eyes. “Sexy and confident. You enter a room, and everyone stops what they’re doing to look at you. You’re not a whore. Not even close. You know what you want, and you go for it.”

“Says the girl in a sex dungeon.” She laughs.

I do too. “You didn’t sleep with him. And even if you did, so what?” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Like I said, I wish I was more like you. I was always shy. I had only ever slept with Bones until I moved to Chicago. Even there, I only slept with one guy. Now Titan makes three.”

“How is that going?” she asks.

“Good. For now.”

She smiles over at me. “He’s good for you.”

Doesn’t mean I’m good for him. I’ve been thinking about it ever since he begged me to stay. I have nothing to offer him. He owns a Kingdom. I’m homeless, broke, and my current job is being an escort.

“Enough of this. We’re going to do shots now.” She goes back over to the minibar. “Pick your poison. I have Jim, Jack, and Garth.”

“Garth?”

She holds up her phone. “Garth Brooks.”

“How about all three?” I offer.

“That’s my girl.” She punches some keys on her phone, and then “Friends in Low Places,” fills the room from her speaker.