Page 263 of Fragments

“I don’t think you could afford me,” I grumble.

He curses and drives off, and for the first time in weeks, I let a tiny smile slip.

The next three cars get the same scoffing sass. They call me aprude, and adickteaseas they peel away, and I just stand here chuckling, because I guess it’s kind of funny when you think about it. I mean, I have a dollar twenty-five to my name and I’m turning married men away like guys selling water on the boardwalk for five bucks a bottle.

Look, just because I’m not in an upscale locale like The Edge, doesn’t mean I’m going to give the goods away. I know what ten minutes of my time is worth. And I’m adding a surcharge for the fact that I really don’t want to be doing this at all.

I call it the Bitch Fee.

“Are you a cop?” someone asks me, and I peer over my shoulder.

There’s a kid with messy blonde hair standing there, opening a bottle of mouthwash. He looks pretty dopesick, dark circles under his eyes, which are a purely beautiful shade of brown and green hazel. They remind me of Dash…

Fucking Dash.

“Do Ilooklike a cop?” I lift a brow.

He shrugs, taking a sip of mouthwash, gargling it for a moment before spitting it onto the ground. My eyes follow the blue liquid. “You’ve been standing over here for almost an hour, but you haven’t gotten into a single car. If you’re not a cop, then what the hell are you doing?”

“I’m holding out for the right score,” I tell him firmly. “And you should too.” My gaze glides him up and down, taking in his obvious definition, sharp jawline, perfect lips. “You’re too hot to be handing that shit out to these chumps for a fistful of sweaty dollars.”

He huffs, lips sloping in amusement. “You’re not from here, are you?”

“No… I’m from New York. The land of opportunity.” I grin, and he chuckles. “You a football player or something?? You’re giving captain of the football team went on a bender…”

He laughs again, and I can’t help how it warms me inside. He has a great smile, dimples and extremely straight, white teeth for a potential drug addict.

“You’re a trip, new guy,” he sighs. “Word of advice, though…” His voice trails as a new car pulls up. An Audi with tinted windows.Not bad… A little sus, but there’s potential.“LA is a very different animal. Unless you plan on finding a sponsor to get you cleaned up, the streets are all you’ve got. Can’t afford to be choosy.”

The Audi rolls its window down, revealing a much more promising John than the rest of these closeted husbands. The blonde kid gives me a look as if to ask,You mind if I grab this one?

I gesture with my hand. “By all means.”

He shoots me a wink, opening the door and plopping into the car. “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.”

“Be careful,” I tell him quietly as the window rolls up, cutting off the sight of my mysterious new friend’s hand sliding into the driver’s lap.

The car speeds off, and I watch it go, my chest exponentially hollow.

I wish I’d asked him his name…

Not that it matters. I’m not here to make friends. I’mherebecause I have no other choice.

I fully understand what the kid was talking about. I could become a toy for one of the hundreds ofProducer Daddiesof Hollywood, brought out and trotted around at parties like a show pony. It would be more or lessexactlywhat I did at Club Edge. I’m used to that line of work. I know I’d be good at it…

But I don’twantto. Not after I fell in love, and experienced how blissful life can be when you have someone who actuallycaresabout you to share it with. Lexington Deon ruined me for casual sex and whoring myself out.

Moments of wallowing later, my white whale shows up, in the form of white Bentley GT. The car slows to a stop, rolling the passenger window down to reveal a man in a suit with a cunning smile. He reminds me of Dom a little, in that you can just tell he’s a shark waiting for the perfect moment to sink in those razor-sharp fangs.

“You’re too pretty to be over here,” he croons, then nods. “Get in.”

Well, alright then. But only because you called me pretty.

Slipping into the car, I immediately melt into the soft leather seat as he drives away.

“So, whaddya need?” the guy asks. “Cash, drugs… both?”

Making myself comfortable, I turn on my heated seat. “Cash, mostly. But if you have strong drugs, maybe I’ll take those too.”