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Why did I think I needed to do this in person? Fuck. “It’s not any of that. This has been so much fun, and I’m grateful you let me play along, but I have to get back to my own life.”
Neither of them said anything, but their expressions reflected shock.
I wasn’t going to say anything else. That was my piece, and I’d been clear and concise.
“We can help with the job hunt. We should’ve been doing that for you anyway. References. New contacts. Whatever you need,” Megan said.
“I know a lot of people in the industry,” Nigel added. “I can help open doors for you.”
I wanted that so badly, but I knew the reality of it. “Until they find out I’m a stripper.”
“I promise you not everyone cares. Elliot didn’t care.”
It would be so easy to take Nigel up on his offer. Megan. I hadn’t had luck on my own, but if I accepted help from them, I’d be in their lives still. Mynowouldn’t come though, so I glossed over it instead. “I need to get back to my life before I met the two of you.Mylife.”
Nigel twisted his mouth.
“No,” Megan said.
I waited for more, and when wasn’t forthcoming I prompted her. “Excuse me?”
“That’s bullshit.” Her tone was hard, but it didn’t completely cover her hurt. “There’s no going back to life before the three of us met. We’re different people now, and you’re as much a part of our world as we are of yours. You don’t get togo back. It doesn’t work that way. We’re—”
“We’re what.” Cutting her off was hard, but I needed to. It was important I stick to this resolve.
Megan looked at Nigel, but continued before he could say anything. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. We’re friends, at least.”
“We’re not friends.” This was cruel of me, and I didn’t want to do it, but I had to drive my point home. “I’m the stripper you hired for one last send-off before a marriage that didn’t happen.” Was I trying to push her away? Them? Without question. “I’m the cheapest rent boy you’ll ever find. I fuck for bagels and trips to Vegas that you were going to take anyway.”
“You’re not—”
“You heard the man.” Nigel talked over Megan. “He’s not fucking interested. He got what we wanted and so did we.”
Megan turned her surprise on him.
I hated his words and that they cut as deeply as his blade, but I’d earned it. “You have each other, and you’re incredible together. Be happy with that.”
As if she’d been reset, Megan’s expression went flat. “Fine. Get the fuck out.”
“Okay.” I hated walking out of the house, leaving the heavy words behind, along with two people I was starting to ca—
It was time to go home.
26
nigel
What just happened?
Did I expect anything else? This was the agreement and we’d all abided by it.
“So that’s that.” Megan sounded resigned.
From the fury of telling Landon to get the fuck out ofmyhouse tothat’s that. Should she and I talk about what just happened?
Did we need to? “What do you want to do? Tonight, I mean.”
Megan shrugged. “Star Wars marathon.”
