Their Paid Girl

Their Paid Girl - Part 34

[Re-cap]:

          It was terrifying how close I’d come to telling Adam everything. Too close.

          I cringed in pain as my mother’s voice was suddenly there in my head, whispering the words that I couldn’t stop believing, no matter how hard I tried:

          “When that Someone comes along and he’ll try to unlock you, he’ll see you for who you really are. And he’ll be running in the opposite direction. So don’t show them your heart.”

          Adam tilted his head, the wind from the open window whipping his hair back, blowing his scent into my face. I could smell the after shave, the slightly muted spice that was solely Adam’s smell.

          And all I could think was,

          Too close.

         

***

{Part 34}

          I raised my hand and hesitated. My finger brushed the ‘1’ button, then proceeded on its memorized path.

          I dialed 1-8-8-2 and soon the click of the receiver brought down Mr. Wells’ voice. “Wells’ Residence.”

          “Hi, Mr. Wells,” I ventured as Adam stood by my side, his broad shoulders back, hands in his pockets. “It’s Shawna and Adam,” I felt myself begin to blush as I said his name and he turned to give me the smallest of smiles.

          “Come right up,” Mr. Wells’ voice crackled over the intercom, and then we were buzzed in, the bellboy holding the door open for us.

          “Hey, Liam,” I grinned at his ever-cheerful face.

          “Shawna,” he returned the greeting. “The World’s Greatest Kid has been telling the entire building about your visit.”

          “Whoops,” I laughed, knowing full well how Jaime could never keep a good thing only to himself, but insisted on sharing the best news possible with absolutely everyone. “Should I keep it a surprise next time?”

          “Honestly, it’s been good to see him that excited. Besides, everyone here thinks he’s one of God’s own angels, so it’s not like anyone minds.”

          Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who considered Jaime an angel. I smiled at that.

          “But I was wondering,” Liam continued, hesitating. “What happened?”

          Liam looked at me as I opened my mouth, knowing full well what he was asking: why were the Wells completely fine with my visits now, when they hadn’t ever made it a secret that they’d loathed me before?

          “I—,” I stammered, not knowing what to say or how to answer.

You see, my mother told my little brother’s foster family that I’m a dirty whore and to keep him away from me. At all costs. Even if it’s ten thousand dollars more than what I could ever have afforded to glimpse his angelic little face.

          But instead, I felt a powerful yet gentle arm wrap around my waist and carefully pull me so that my back was pressed against Adam’s strong chest. I felt him breathing as he answered for me.

          “It was me,” Adam announced modestly. “They absolutely adore me, I don’t know why. I decided to bring Shawna along, though, since she asked nicely.”