“I didn’t fall for him! I…I don’t know. We agreed to a night of no strings attached attachment, okay? If you have to know.”
“So, you did it. You got laid with him. And that’s why you’re freaking out. Because you enjoyed it, and you don’t think you should have.”
“No! I…yes! I don’t know. That’s not why I’m freaking out. I will not say if I did or did not enjoy it, but I will say I went downstairs while he was sleeping for a cup of tea and to think, because no, I didn’t actually expect to have anything to think about, and I got this horrible idea to look him up online.”
“Shit. Never look people up.”
“Always look people up!”
“You should have done that before. Just saying.”
I resist the urge to grab my seatbelt and see how far it will stretch across the car. Probably not far enough to strangle Dean with it. “Stop it! You picked him out at the club. But whatever. We’re not talking about that, not really. I’m not blaming you. I’m just…I’m not blaming anyone. He hasn’t done anything bad. He’s not an ax murderer or anything.”
“Of course not. If he were, he’d be in jail. So, what was it? Petty crimes? Tax evasion? Fraud? A small-time robbery that just got him a couple of years?”
“No! He doesn’t have a criminal record. At least, not that I could find. It’s worse than that.”
“What could be worse than having a criminal record? Or not having one, as it were?”
“He’s…he freaking…it’s so weird. I don’t even know how to say this. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Just spit it out.” Dean leans in toward me, sensing that something big is coming. I know I’m probably driving him nuts.
“He’s a billionaire. He sold his software or something for a huge dang pile of money. So, obviously, he didn’t need two grand. So why did he agree to this? Because he thought it would be funny? Because he wanted to be the one to use me? Because he secretly wanted to seduce me because he thought it would be funny? Because this is how he gets his rocks off? What? Why? I don’t get it.”
“Geez.” Dean leans back, and his head hits the headrest with a dull thump. “That’s pretty crazy. I don’t know. Why does anyone do anything? Maybe he thought it would be fun. We approached him, remember? Maybe guys like him don’t have a ton of fun. Maybe it’s hard for him when people know who he is. You can’t have that much money and have everyone not want something from you. Maybe he thought this would be a way to escape it all and just have a laid back good time for a weekend. Maybe he hadn’t done anything crazy in a while. Maybe he thought you were hot. But no, he’s gay. I don’t know. Wait a minute. You slept with him? So, he’s bisexual, then?”
“No! He’s not gay. Sorry, I didn’t keep you up to speed. He wasn’t at the club because he was gay. He was there with his brother. The guy who went to the bar? He wasn’t a friend. He was Gabriel’s brother. He’s gay, and Gabriel was there for him because he dragged him out. Or to support him. I don’t know, but yeah. He’s not gay. I found out last night. I…err…there were some signs before that. Before I finally decided to ask. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the money. Why wouldn’t he say anything about it? What do I do now? Do I tell him I know? Is there any point?”
“So, let me get this straight before I answer you. You want the no-strings-attached deal, or you don’t? Because if you do, then it doesn’t matter. So what if he didn’t tell you? The guy probably just wanted some privacy. It must be crazy being that rich. He probably just wanted to be treated like everyone else for a change. Have a good time, like I said, with a gorgeous woman. I don’t know. I really don’t. You’d have to ask him.”
“Why would he tell me the truth?”
“I don’t know that either. I have no answers for you.” Dean throws his hands up in the air. Literally. “I’m not the right person to ask about this. Clearly, I think you’re going for the option that you don’t want the no strings attached, and you don’t know what to do about it. In that case, you just have to talk to him too. I guess. You probably decided that together and now, if you want it to change, you’d have to make sure he does too. If he doesn’t, then I’m sorry, I guess you’re screwed. Or not. Maybe he’ll change his mind if you’re patient. Or maybe he secretly doesn’t want the no strings attached deal either. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I’m sorry I convinced you to do this. It wasn’t supposed to go this way with you getting hurt. Or dealing with this bullshit. It was just supposed to be fun. Innocent. Just a way to get your parents off your back and give your sister her day. Although Chase did a good job of trying to ruin that. Morons. I can’t believe they took him out last night.”