Page 36 of Semblance

“The song and dance that you girls like to give,” he replied. “About how it’s an equal opportunity world and how you’reindependent and don’t want handouts.”

“Well yes,” I replied. “That’s exactly it.”

“Heard it all before,” Shadow sighed. “Look, if it makes you feel any better, you’re earning all that stuff right now.”

“How? By going on a date with you?”

“Yes,” he said.

“What do I look like? A high end escort?”

“I never said that.”

“But that’s essentially what I’m doing, isn’t it?”

“No,” Shadow said. “I don’t go on dates with hookers. That’s the difference.”

I needed him to understand the type of person I was.

“I’ve always had to work for everything I own, and though it’s been difficult to…eat this past semester, I could at least hold my head high and say that I’ve never accepted anyone else’s charity.”

“What’s wrong with charity?”

“There are other people in the world that need it more than I do.”

Shadow sighed. “Do you want the stuff I’ve given you or not?”

“I want to earn it.”

“I already told you, you’re earning it now.”

“No,” I demanded. “I want to earn it in some other way, and if you can’t think of any other means, then I’m going to have to hand you back the keys to the condo.”

Shadow looked at me with a pensive look as he took a sip of his drink. “You’re being serious?”

I reached into my purse and grabbed the keys and access card and set them on the table.

“Those are yours until I’ve figured out a way to earn them,” I replied. “That’s the way things will have to be with me.”

Shadow looked at the keys and pass card with a furrowed brow.

“Huh,” he muttered.

“Again with thehuh?” I replied.

“You’re a stubborn one.”

“I don’t want to be your trophy-two date girlfriend,” I replied. “I earn whatever you give me; period.”

Shadow leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. “Okay,” he said with a glimmer in his dark eyes. “There is one thing I’d love from you.”

“Choose wisely,” I said. “Otherwise this vodka soda and two limes are going right in your face.”

“Relax,” Shadow said. “What I want is nothing sexual in nature.”

“Good,” I said with a stern nod. Though I had to admit, I was slightly disappointed. I had hot flashes picturing his naked body on top of me. However I wasn’t the type of girl to accept bribes for the prize in between my legs. Sex without feelings was pointless to me.

“There are five piano pieces that have always infatuated me,” Shadow said. “I would love an original recording of all five pieces from the Golden Virgin.”

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