AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But why did he give me his number?
The studio design rooms were still open for students, and I had a couple of hours left to go work on my portfolio. I packed up my bag and case, then headed over to the building. After setting up my computer and sketch pad, I hummed as I sketched,attempting to improve some of my previous designs. However, nothing worked.
I felt a sneeze coming and reached into my bag for a tissue.Achoo. My brows pulled together looking at the table napkin in my hand. Omg. I accidentally stole it from The Grill.
Laughing to myself, I put it back in my bag. The Grill’s vibrant metal architecture and copper tones came flooding back. I started sketching ideas and images in a creative frenzy, dividing my time between sketching and looking through fabric catalogs for possible swatches. Hours had passed by; I had to turn on the lights in the room when I was done creating dresses and pantsuits. Then the magic of the day wore off, and my worries returned. I still needed money.
Begrudgingly, I filled out the online application for the egg donation. Knowing I pissed off Dr. Casey made me unsure if I still had a chance. That left Lollipop Sugar Babies as my quickest option. I cringed at the name and the doe-eyed woman on the website’s homepage.
I logged in and had twenty-plus notifications. First, I RSVP’d to the New Member Party happening in a week at the Atrium on the West Side of Manhattan. I’d have time to look at potential Sugar Daddy messages. I opened my first reply.
To my utter horror, it was from none other than Sophie’s Trevor.
Yes, my day could most definitely get worse.
Should I open Trevor’s message?My finger hovered over the delete button, but curiosity got the worse of me.
Hi Nadia,
It’s good to see you here.
I thought it would be fun to have you join me in Paris. You could watch the fashion shows and go shopping with Sophie. After, you can continue with me to Italy for a few days or go to a place of your choice. I’ve sent you a present I think you’ll like.
Look forward to hearing from you soon, doll.
Xoxo
Trevor
Bile rose in my throat.Hugs and kisses?Did he know Sophie liked him?Or was this some way to get a kinky threesome or put her in her place?
Whatever Trevor was doing, I wasn’t going to get involved. I wrinkled my nose and marked the message as unread before blocking him on the Lollipop website. I also returned the website’s virtual gift-box present, unopened.No need to know what it was, lest I’m tempted.
I wasn’t up for rich men’s games.But that was a lie.Paul Crane merely crooked his finger, and I ran like the dopey-eyed wonder on Lollipop’s homepage.Then again, Trevor was not drop-dead gorgeous, oozing with charisma, or commanding in a way that stirred a whirlwind of lust inside me. I had been so hot and bothered after returning from lunch that I had to lock and block the door to the room andtake care of things. Thankfully, no one barged in.I can honestly say that was the first time I’d felt so…needy for a release. And here I thought I was immune to men.
I’d spent so much time avoiding men in fear of ending up like my birth mom, alone and broke. By graduation, no one bothered to approach me except my best friend Xander, who was pansexual. He came up with the idea that we could lose our virginities together.I went first—talk about catastrophes.Lucky for Xander, he found a more experienced partner and disappeared for a few months. After that, I gave up trying to connect with anyone. Even when I dated, men were all in quick hookup mode and dumped me when I wouldn’t have sex.Now, I’m left behaving like an awkward schoolgirl when a man gives me attention.Paul Crane must have thought me so immature.
My birth mom crossed my mind again.Nora Winkley. I didn’t like the way Dr. Casey had me thinking about her. After all, she never came back.She never wanted me.My chest tightened. Only when I thought about what happened did it hurt. After the Sokols came into my life, they treated me special every day, like I was a precious gift.
After packing up my backpack, I headed out of the room. When I reached the hall, a voice called out, “Sort that bitch into Gryffindor.”
I doubled over laughing, then turned and ran full force to Xander. He was dressed up like a throwback Club Kid from the nineties in a leather catsuit with platforms.
I caught up and threw my arms around his neck. He picked me up and spun me around.
“Speak of the devil, and he shows up,” I joked.
“About time I ran into you.”
Xander could have contacted me. He left Cudahy, and we lost touch. His big dream was to leave everything about his life in the Midwest behind.
I stepped back to admire him. He was tall, lean, and had blue hair spotted with black like a leopard print and a few new studs in his ears and nose. Just seeing Xander took me back to when we were in high school. We drank cheap box wine from his granddad’s basement liquor cabinet and had a heckling Harry Potter marathon.
He wasn’t alone. His friends were all just as dressed up as he was in club gear and looked at the two of us as if we were insane, but I knew Xander wouldn’t care.
He dramatically gestured toward me. “This was my first lover, Nadia, who projectile vomited trying to give me my first blowjob. She traumatized me for life, and I haven’t dated a woman since.”
His friends broke into riotous laughter.
