Page 88 of Paradise & Vodka

"Is Nick with you?"

"He is."

"Hi, Everleigh," Nick said.

She laughed. "Hello, Nick."

We said our goodbyes, and I set my phone on the coffee table.

"That's some shit," Nick stated.

I nodded. "Yeah, but I was hoping it would be him."

"I think we all were."

"I just hope it means that she can still get the money," I confessed. "My parents need it."

"Yeah," he agreed.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Speaking of money …"

He waited a few moments, probably for me to elaborate, but I didn't. He finally asked, "You mean my job?"

I nodded. "I know I can't make you quit, but I think we need to talk about it."

We faced each other on the couch, and he sighed. "This is one of the reasons it took me so long to call you mine."

I smiled at the term of endearment. I loved hearing him say I was his.

He continued. "I've only been an escort, so I don't know what to do."

"Do you want to still do it?" I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

Nick sighed. "I can't."

"You can't?"

He leaned forward and cupped my cheek. Running his thumb along my bottom lip, he said, "I went on a date the other day, and all I thought about was you."

"Oh," I breathed, looking away from his eyes. Did he sleep with someone else? It wasn't as though we were really dating, and we had just broken up. It was literally his job.

"I didn't sleep with her if that's what you're thinking."

My gaze shot back to his. "You didn't?"

He shook his head and smiled, still running his thumb along my lip. "No, and that's when I knew for sure that I needed to figure us out."

"And did you?"

"Only that I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you too."

He removed his thumb. "But I haven’t figured out what to do about work and making money. I've never been in a real relationship before, but I doubt you want me to be a deadbeat boyfriend."

My eyes widened. "I …"

Nick laughed. "Yeah, I didn't think so, but I have money saved, and I can figure it out."