Page 7 of As I Am
"And he wants to see you again." Seth punched him in the arm. "Dude, this is huge."
Ky shook his head. "It's got to be a mistake."
Darren sat down at his desk and narrowed his eyes at Ky. "Just how did you meet him?"
Ky shrugged. Darren had known him since he'd first come to Utah, back when Darren had lived on the streets himself. He was well aware of how Ky made his money. "He was just some guy. A hot as hell guy, but honestly, I had no clue he was famous." He thought about the nice hotel they'd gone to instead of some cheap motel. The clues were there, but even then, he never could have imagined….
"You slept with Carson Childs?" Even Darren sounded as if he couldn't believe it.
"I guess." Ky didn't know what to think. "It's him. That's the same guy." He pointed to the phone.
"And he wants to meet again." Seth laughed. "This is the coolest thing that's ever happened around here."
Darren frowned. "Seth, hush and let Ky figure this out."
"And don't go telling anyone. I don't need anyone to know about this, okay?" Ky didn't know what he was going to do, but he sure didn't need whatever media storm would come his way if anyone found out someone famous like Carson was picking up guys like him off the street.
"I won't tell anyone. I told you, he paid me to keep quiet and pass on the message to you." Seth finally sat down in the chair beside him. "You're going to meet him again, right? I mean, you have to."
Ky shook his head. "I don't know. This could turn bad fast." But as he said the words, he was remembering how good it was to be held by someone the way Carson held him. If he had the chance to feel like that again would he really turn it down?
"No one will know. I didn't realize it was him until he gave me his name. I could tell he was shocked I knew him," Seth said.
"But what does it say to him that I didn't know him?" Ky rested his hand against his head, his stress level rising.
"Maybe that's what he liked about you," Darren said softly. "I bet he can't go many places without fans bothering him. Maybe you were that break he'd been looking for."
"But now that I know…." Ky sighed.
"You know how I feel about what you do, so my first advice is forget the whole thing, but since I know you, and know you won't, then I say the fact you know who he is doesn't have to change anything. Don't even bring it up. Just go with him like you did last time. If he brings it up, then talk about it. Treat him the same as you did last time. That must be what he's looking for if he's trying to see you again." Darren smiled. "Don't overthink this."
This was the last thing Ky needed in his life. He had enough stress without getting caught up in some celebrity drama. He didn't know what game Carson was playing by picking him up off the street, but it wouldn't end well. The second the media got hold of the information, it would be a firestorm of problems, and Ky was not going to end up in the middle of it. He'd worked too hard to get where he was, and to keep his lifestyle hidden from Bryan. The last thing he needed was his face plastered all over the news. "I'm not going to meet him again. He paid well, but it's not worth the bullshit that could come with it."
"What?" Seth grabbed Ky's arm again. "Dude, you have to. I mean, why wouldn't you want to? He's hot as hell, and famous."
"So?" Ky shrugged his arm free. "The fact he's famous is why I shouldn't."
Darren nodded. "I have to agree."
Ky sighed. "He wasn't like the others. I should have known something was off, but I figured it was a job. You know how it is. Do what you're there to do and get out. That's what I did. I mean he asked if he could see me again, and I gave him the same line I give anyone. I like return customers, but I don't do appointments like some of the others."
"It's Carson Childs. You have to see him again. He'll be there tomorrow morning. You can't not show up." Seth stared at him.
"You can have him. I've got Bryan to think about. I can't get mixed up in some media frenzy. I mean a guy like him has to be nuts to think that he can pick up a guy on the streets and not have someone find out or see him."
"Think of all the money you could make selling your story once the media found out. I bet they'd pay you tons to hear details about Carson in bed." Seth rubbed his hands together. "You could make enough money to last months I bet."
Ky rolled his eyes as he stood. "Then you take him. Tell him I was busy or you couldn't find me. I don't care." He pushed past Seth and headed out the door.
As he walked outside, he tried not to let the disappointment hit too hard. Carson was just another paying customer. He could forget him, just like he forgot the countless others he had. But as he headed down the sidewalk, he found himself remembering every moment of their time together, and hating himself for wanting him again.
