Page 14 of As I Am
Carson didn't talk a lot about his career, and Ky didn't ask. He had a hard time thinking of Carson as a famous singer. To him, he was just a guy he'd met and enjoyed being around. When he thought about the video he'd seen with Carson on stage, it didn't feel real. Of course he knew it was, the number of people staring at them as they ate told him that much, but it was easier to just block the thought and keep Carson in the normal everyday guy category.
Thankful he only worked a few hours, Ky rushed through his job, looking forward to the night ahead. He wasn't naive enough to think that they wouldn't have sex, but the fact that Carson had even said they didn't have to, meant a lot to him. He'd never had a guy want him for anything but sex. Even the few casual flings he had with friends in the past had all been about sex and getting each other off.
Breakfast had been the closest thing he'd ever had to a date. It shamed him to think he was nearly twenty years old and had yet to even go on a normal date with anyone. He didn't say anything to Carson about it, but that small meal they'd shared together meant more to Ky than anything had in a long time.
Still, no matter how good if all felt, he couldn't let himself forget that this was his job. Carson was paying for their time together. It would be easy to get lost in the feelings that there was more going on, but in truth, there wasn't. He was just giving Carson what he needed, and Carson was paying him for fulfilling that need.
Even after breakfast, when they'd stood out back by the truck, saying goodbye, Carson had handed Ky a hundred-dollar bill, thanking him for the time they had. It had almost felt like a slap in the face because Ky had really felt like he was just sitting with a friend talking, but it was also a firm reminder that he couldn't let his emotions get caught up in things. It was business. Nothing more.
It was a mantra he repeated as he worked, but no matter how many times he said it, he wasn't believing it as deeply as he wanted to. There was something different about Carson than there was with other men he'd been with. There was some sort of connection. Ky didn't have enough experience to know exactly what it was, but he was sure that if he wasn't careful, he was going to end up hurt.
Once he finished work, he headed back to the break room, pulling out Carson's phone number. He'd nervously taken it as they said goodbye, and now, he sat even more nervous staring at the phone. Never before had he called a customer. They'd always found him. To actually call and set something up was strange and foreign. Still, it was a lot of money, and Ky needed it badly. Quickly punching in the number, he bit his lip as he listened to it ring.
"Hello?" Carson sounded guarded.
"Hey, it's Ky."
Carson blew out a breath. "I'm always scared to answer numbers I don't know, afraid the media has gotten my personal number. I was hoping it was you."
"Sorry, I have to use the phone at work." Ky fisted his hand to keep them from shaking because he was so nervous. "Um, I'm free tonight."
"That's wonderful." Carson sounded sincere. "I'm looking forward to spending more time with you."
"I am too."
"So, what do you have to do? I thought I could get a room at the hotel just down the street from where you are. It's the Grand America. I'll make arrangements to make sure that we aren't bothered by fans or anyone. Is there anything special you'd like to do?"
Ky didn't have any idea what there was to do. He had never spent a night like this with anyone. "I don't think so."
"Well, we can figure it out when we meet. How long before we can meet up?"
"I'd like to go home and shower first." The last thing Ky wanted was to show up smelling like dirty dishes.
"Okay, do you want to meet me at the hotel? I'll get us a room and leave your name at the front desk. They can give you a key. You'll have to show your ID." Carson acted like it was something he did every day, then again, he probably did.
"Yeah, I can do that." He wanted to ask if Carson was sure he wanted to do this. It was a lot of money to waste on him, but he bit his lip, keeping quiet because he really needed the money.
"It's a little after four now. Why don't you meet me around six? I'd meet you in the lobby, but I'd rather not have a ton of fans bothering us."
Ky understood. The last think Carson needed was anyone knowing he was hiring a prostitute for sex. He knew the game. He'd use as much caution as he could and do everything he could to make sure that Carson's secret didn't get out. "It's okay, I understand. I'll be there at six then. Thanks, Carson."
"No, thankyou. I'm looking forward to it. I'll explain more tonight, but it's been a long time since I've just been able to hang out with someone. I'll let you get home. See you around six."
"I'll be there." Ky hung up the phone as he sat back and blew out a long breath, again reminding himself that Carson was just another customer. He needed to do everything the same as he always did. Carson was paying for his time and it was Ky's job to make sure he earned every cent of that thousand dollars. He'd done this a million times. This one wasn't any different from the others. Even as he told himself that over and over again, he couldn't fight the feeling that this was very different, and if he wasn't careful, everything could blow up in his face.
