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“I love it!” she gushed again.
I was pleased she was so happy and could only hope the other waitresses would feel the same about their elf outfits.
“Where do you want me?”
“There is good. Just hold still, okay? Trust me, these pins are sharp.”
Emma was almost shaking with the effort of keeping still in her excitement. I really hoped Jayden let her keep the dress after the party. It was a bit of a fancy fairytale but it could still be worn most places with the right accessories.
It would have been better to leave it alone, but the doubt had started to burn like a barbecue briquette in my chest and I just couldn’t help myself.
“Does Jayden date much?” I asked, trying to sound casual as I pinned down the waist of the princess dress.
“Oh, no,” Emma said seriously. “Jay doesn’t really ‘date.’ At least not in the usual way. I don’t like to speak ill of him. He was almost like a second daddy to us growing up, and I’ll love him forever, but I don’t know if he really loves anyone or if he can. I don’t remember seeing him with the same girl twice.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling a little silly.
“I think the term is ‘player.’ He even pays for it sometimes,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper at the last part. It’s best if you don’t get too attached to him if you’re thinking in that direction. Clarence was joking about how you should marry him.”
“Marry Clarence?” I asked, so surprised I nearly stabbed her in the hip.
“No silly, marry Jayden. You’re pretty and smart and have a good head for business. That’s what Clarence said anyway. That it was a match made in heaven.”
“What did Jayden say?” I asked, preparing for the worst.
“I don’t really remember exactly. Something about lucky he’s an agnostic.”
It felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I’d done so much with Jayden, giving him my very first hand job and blowjob, ending with my first taste of cum, and he probably didn’t even like me. At least not that way. He seemed to like what I had done, but it didn’t mean we were ever going to do it again. It was more than likely he saw me as just another girl. Probably even a slut.
My vision started to blur as tears started to form. I had to be even more careful to keep from jabbing poor Emma, who was still in my clutches. I didn’t believe in blaming the messenger, especially when I’d been the one to ask.
It was stupid, but I could feel the tears roll down my face. Everything I’d hoped for in life seemed to collapse like a house of cards from a worn out deck. It wasn’t as though Jayden was the only one who could help me with building my business, but it wasn’t just that. I was also worried about my reputation, not only in terms of doing business, but I also didn’t want to be seen as a girl trying to blow my way into opportunities. I had talent and really just needed a chance to prove myself. What had happened with Jayden had nothing to do with that. I just wanted him, but he had no way of knowing that.
“Are you okay?” Emma asked with sweet concern.
“Yeah,” I lied, wiping away the tears. I was glad I wasn’t holding pins at the time.
“Sure, that’s believable,” Emma retorted, nearly making me laugh with her wholesomeness.
She crouched down in front of me and held my empty hands, squeezing them comfortingly.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Not the first time. I love him, but he has more broken hearts in his past than an incompetent cardiologist.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Her turn of phrase was just a bit too perfect even if it was still a serious situation.
“My advice would be to do the ball to pay off the damage, get your payment for the custom costumes and leave it at that.”
“Strictly professional,” I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.
“Exactly. To be honest, it is all he really understands. Everything is a transaction, even love. It’s great for the business, and he is doing really well there, but it can play merry heck with his relationships. I wouldn’t be surprised if our mom and I were the only women he’s ever really loved, and of course that’s totally different.”
My mind was reeling. How could I have gotten it so wrong? Had I really mistaken lust for love? Mine as much as his? To be fair, Jayden hadn’t really made a move on me. I had assumed that the initial brush of his cock on my hand had been intentional, but it could have just as well been an accident much like with the corset incident.
