“Once your test results have cleared you, you can perform with anyone in the house without a condom if you both agree. But if you have sex with someone outside of the house, protection is mandatory. You’ll need to inform the house, and you or your partner must use a condom until you’ve re-tested and are cleared.”
She placed a pen down beside my open folder, then slid the other across the tabletop to Madison.
“Just so we’re all on the same page,” Nina’s tone was friendly but firm, “everything I’ve just offered is not negotiable. I’ve done enough negotiating to last a lifetime, so I’m kind of over it.” She straightened. “Questions?”
“If I sign,” Madison said, “when could I move in?”
This question thrilled Nina. “Tomorrow.” The screen of her smartwatch lit up, and she glanced down at the text message. “Scott needs me for a second. I’ll let you look over everything, and I’ll be back in a minute.”
Her footsteps faded as she went into the kitchen and then the hall.
I picked up the paper and began to read, but movement on the other side of the table grabbed my attention. Madison uncapped her pen, turned to the final page, and scribbled on the signature line.
Was she fucking stupid? It wasn’t a race, and this wasn’t like calling ‘shotgun.’ Whoever signed first didn’t beat out the other person on who got to move in. “You didn’t even read it.”
She tossed her pen down on the signed contract, sat back in her chair, and looked indifferent, but I wondered if it was just a mask. “There’s no point,” she said. “I’ve come too far, and I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Her statement hit me like a slug to the chest.
It was the same for me. So, I picked up my pen, flipped to the last page, and signed.
NINE
Madison
My first night in my new place was better than I expected. The bed was comfortable, the room was quiet, and after I’d finished unpacking, I’d taken a long, hot shower.
Abbie, the girl who I shared half of a bathroom with, came over to introduce herself right after I’d brought my suitcase upstairs. She had long, sandy brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a gorgeous heart-shaped face. A tiny silver ring glinted from her nose.
She didn’t offer to help—she just assumed I’d need it and followed me down to the front door where Yasmin had unloaded my stuff. My former sister was the only one I knew who had a car, and thankfully I hadn’t needed to twist Yasmin’s arm too hard to help me shuttle my stuff off campus.
Abbie carried boxes upstairs, then put sheets on my bed and sat on the edge of it, filling me in on how she came to live and work at the house. She was from a small town in Georgia, with big dreams of becoming a singer, and moved to Nashville when she turned eighteen. But that hadn’t panned out, so the former beauty pageant winner turned to modeling.
“When that wasn’t paying the bills, I became an escort for a while.”
She’d said it the same way I would tell people I used to work at Olive Garden, and it was admirable how she’d done it without worrying about how I’d react. Of course, I was in the house now, so she probably felt safe I wasn’t going to judge.
“I moved into adult film, did a scene with Scott, and I’ve been with Petal since the company started.” She sat up and tilted a shoulder toward me, striking a provocative pose and her voice turned husky. “That’s when Lexi Grey was born.” She returned to normal, folding her legs beneath her. “Have you picked a stage name yet?”
I’d been putting clothes on hangers to go in the closet, and my movements slowed. I frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that yet.”
She gave me a sweet smile. “It’s important you pick the right one to reflect your brand. Pick something short and easy to remember. Don’t do any quirky spellings though. You want people to be able to search for you in Google.”
She was talking like I was going to make a career out of this, but that wasn’t my plan. I just wanted to finish my degree. But she was sweet and helpful, and I appreciated it.
“Anyway,” she climbed off my bed and traipsed over to me, “I’m looking forward to working together.” There was an electricity in her pretty eyes, and she set a hand on my arm. “You’re so pretty. We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
My pulse jumped at her touch. It was friendly, except there was an undercurrent of sex and the air went thin—but in a good way. She was gorgeous and touching me, and knowing our attraction was mutual was exciting.