Heat burns my cheeks and I take a deep breath before nodding.
“I know because I thought so too, but the stuff I’m into is hard and kinky, and I think that shocked some of the guys. Not to mention, I tend to get a little lost in the moment and become demanding if I’m not getting it the way I want it.”
Angie squints.
“But is that so bad?”
I shake my head.
“You sure you want to hear this, girlfriend?”
She nods eagerly.
“Hell yeah!”
I sigh again. “I just need to be fucked deep, and every which way. You know, so that my teeth are chattering and I’m orgasming non-stop. Not only that, but I like rimming, and I like when he bites my nipples, that kind of thing.”
Angie stares at me.
“You mean, you like rimming him, or you want him to rim you?”
I smirk.
“Both! So yeah, I like it when a man licks my butt, but apparently some clients aren’t into that.”
Angie begins laughing uncontrollably.
“You know, Em, I think it’s good that you got out of the escorting life because it sounds like you want to be serviced by the client, and not the other way around. Were you actually asking guys to put their tongues into your ass? To lick your back door?”
I frown, crossing my arms.
“Yes! It doesn’t taste bad, I swear. I’m very clean, and besides, I did it to my exes all the time.”
Angie laughs again.
“I know, I know, but hon, you were the service provider. You can’t ask a billionaire to do this to you. Em, honestly, I think escorting wasn’t a fit for you at all.”
I nod glumly.
“Apparently so, because no one was booking me, and this one guy even complained that I was “too nasty.” I’m just a girl trying to enjoy herself in bed! That’s not a crime!”
My friend’s laughing so hard now that I’m afraid she’s going to drop Lola.
“Of course not,” Angie wheezes when she can finally breathe again. “Seriously, Em, you crack me up so much and you are an insanely funny girl. But honestly, I think it’s better that that part of your life has passed. How is New Jersey otherwise?” Angie asks, still wiping tears from her eyes. “Other than being stuck in your high school bedroom, of course.”
Blowing out a heavy sigh, my shoulders slump once more.
“Yeah, I guess being so open about my needs didn’t work out well for me. But this is a one-eighty. It’s so boring here,” I complain. “There’s nothing, and I mean, nothing going on.”
My friend nods.
“Are you working at least?”
I shrug.
“Not as an escort. I can’t do that since I’m living with my parents and besides, like you said, it doesn’t seem like the right fit. So now, I’m just walking dogs to make money. It’s nothing but pocket change, but it’s better than zero.”
Angie’s eyes light up.
“But that sounds fun! And I know you love animals. It must be nice getting to hang out with them every day.”
I nod.
“I do really like it, and I like being outdoors too, and you know how rare that is in the city. But I just got started so business is really slow right now. A lot of people have moved away since I left, so I don’t know many people around here yet. I’m hoping to drum up some more clients, but it’ll take time.” I pick up one of the stuffed animals and wave it in front of my phone where my friend can see. “Then maybe I can make enough to move out on my own and get away from the mountains of stuffies who stare at me while I sleep.”
Angie laughs again, and Lola coos at the stuffed bear I’m holding. I make it dance for her and the baby goes wild, trying to grab it through the phone screen. But then my cell beeps, signaling another call. I frown. The number shows up as unknown, and I don’t usually answer calls from unknown callers, but maybe it’s a new customer. As much as I hate to, I need to hang up with Angie because I can’t risk possibly blowing off a potential new client.
“Hey, I’ve got another call,” I say apologetically. “If I’m lucky, it’s someone looking for a dog walker.”
“No worries,” Angie says. She holds up Lola’s small hand and they wave bye together. “We’ll talk to you later, okay? Good luck! I know you’ll get the job!”
I smile half-heartedly.
“Thanks, bye! Talk soon.”
Clicking over to the unknown caller, I say in a grumpy tone, “Hello.”
A woman’s cultured voice sounds over the receiver.
“Hi, is this Emory White?”
I perk up.
“Yes.”
“Hello Emory. My name is Mariella and I’m an assistant to Logan Henley, who recently moved to your neighborhood. Mr. Henley’s looking for someone to take his dog on walks. Would you be available?”
My mouth goes dry. Logan Henley wants me to walk his dog? Of course, I know he lives here. In fact, the famous celebrity chef lives right next door to us, except that our houses are so big that “next door” doesn’t mean that we share a fence or anything. It just means that he lives in a neighboring estate which borders ours.