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I swallow hard.
I need money.
I need a lot of money.
And deep down, I know if having sex with a stranger twice will earn it for me, I’ll do it.
I have to.
Even though it makes me what I’ve worked so hard never to be.
“How much money?”
Madison’s face splits into a slow smile. “Definitely double.”
I chew my lower lip, mulling over this new possibility. “What do you think the odds are that will happen?”
Madison has been my only source of advice in this possibly ill-conceived scheme, and I’ve leaned on her heavily.
Hopefully she won’t let me down like I once did her.
Her dark eyes skim down the black sequined dress sucked tight to my every curve. “High.”
I feel sick again.
I press one hand to my stomach, trying to control it as it sets off in yet another round of rolling twists. “As long as I don’t throw up on him.”
Madison shakes her head. “You can’t throw up, Pais.” She grabs my shoulders, leaning down to look me right in the eye. “You need this.”
She’s right.
But I’m not the only one who needs this.
I rub my lips together and give her a little nod. “Okay.”
She nods back. “Okay.” Madison straightens and reaches into her gigantic makeup kit, pulling out a tube of lipstick. “I think you should go with red. It will stand out great against that black dress.”
“No.” It comes out louder and harsher than I expect, dragging more than a few eyes our way. I plaster on a fake smile, trying to look like I’m fine. “Not red.”
“Okay.” Madison says it slowly, dragging out the last part of the word. “Not red then.”
“Maybe just sparkly gloss.” I don’t wear makeup. At all. Not even at night when I work tables at the club Madison strips at. I’m sure it’s cost me some money in tips, but I don’t like the way it feels on my skin.
Or the way it makes me feel under my skin.
Madison lets out an indignant sigh. “You’re going to be completely washed out by those lights.”
It’s the same thing she said when I only allowed her to sweep a shimmering nude across my eyelids and the tiniest bit of blush and bronzer over my cheeks.
“I don’t care. They’re not bidding on my face.” It’s a sad truth.
A truth that’s going to help get my mother the care she needs. The care she deserves, regardless of what most people think.
“I just don’t want you to go through all this and not end up with the money you need.” Madison’s still arguing my refusal of the red lipstick, but she already has the glittery gloss in her hand. “Especially since this was my idea. I’ll feel like complete shit if it doesn’t pan out the way we’re hoping it will.”
I straighten my shoulders and sit taller in the chair labeled with the stage name they assigned me upon arrival. “It’s going to be fine.”
I might be lying to her right now, only time will tell.
