Page 8 of Escort Mountain Daddy

“It’s nothing,” I mumbled, glaring out the window. “I just realized how stupid this whole thing was. I should’ve never gone on that escort site.”

Kellan was silent for a moment, processing what I said. “You wouldn’t have met methen.”

I stilled for a moment, understanding why he said that, but all I could do was look away and not respond. The tension was thick in the air. I know what he told me--that he liked someone--but I felt greedy in that moment. I wanted to be selfish and have him just for myself for one night.

“Take me to a motel,” I said, not looking at him.

“What? I thought you said—"

“I know what I said,” I muttered, still looking away from him, not wanting to see the disappointment I knew would be there. “But I changed my mind. If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“No, I want to.” Kellan said, a weird tone in his voice that I couldn’t quite decipher. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”

Of course, it was just his job. He was doing what I have paid him for, not because he liked me.

“Okay then, it is settled,” I whispered, my heart racing in my chest at the same time.

Kellan said nothing else as he drove through town, no doubt going to find a nice hotel. A slight frown made its way onto my face as I saw us passing hotels and motels one by one, even nice ones that I thought Kellan would stop at. Kellan drove past town, the lights disappearing in the distance.

“Where are we going?” I asked curiously.

Kellan didn’t look at me, but said, “Somewhere that not many people know about. Just be patient with me, Serena, we’ll get there in a short while.”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, more than just a little confused. I didn’t protest though; I was curious. I wasn’t as irritated as I was earlier, and I had a feeling that Kellan was being nice to me.

Maybe he knew something that I hadn’t figured out yet.

Maybe he knew about my feelings for him.

Was this something I really wanted to put my hopes on?

I knew the answer almost immediately.

“We’re here.” Kellan mumbled, putting the car in park.

I looked around; we were parked on the cliff where teens came to be together—Lovers’ Lane. Kellan turned off the car.

“I used to come up here a lot,” Kellan said, sighing softly as he stared at the towns below. “This was a good hook-up place in my day; hell, probably still is. But I would always come here to think, especially after my girlfriend’s death. The view from here… It was always beautiful. I could stay out here for hours, and let my mind be taken away by things out of my control. It was the only way I learned how to survive by myself.”

I couldn’t help but stare at him, wondering where he was going with this, “Why are you telling me this?”

Kellan sighed softly, shaking his head, “I have to be honest, Serena, I think something is bothering you. I don’t think you’re the type of person who hires someone to make your ex jealous. It just seems really out of place if you ask me. I know you just hired me, but I feel like we’ve gotten closer over the past two weeks. You know more about me than a lot of my friends do. I know you’re someone I can trust.”

My heart fluttered in my chest, feeling as if it was going to burst, I asked again, “Why are you telling me this?”

Kellan turned toward me, his eyes darkening slightly, “Because, Serena, I want you to be open and honest with me. I can’t help you or do what you need me to if you don’t tell me what it is. I’m no mind reader, that isn’t in my job description.”

I nervously gnawed on my bottom lip, unsure what exactly he wanted me to tell him, “I’m not so sure what to tell you, Kellan. I’ve told you everything I can think of.”

“Do you have someone you like?” Kellan asked gently, a persistent look in his eyes that made me weak. “Because it seems like it.”

I froze, wondering if he had really figured it out. I gazed into his eyes, trying to figure out what he was thinking, but my body relaxed as I realized that he didn’t think it was him I was interested in. I wanted to tell him, I did, but I didn’t want him to reject me. So why not make up a little fib?

“I think I might,” I said, keeping my eyes locked on his.

I saw the light die in Kellan’s eyes, but he forced a smile onto his face, “Oh? He must be a really lucky guy to win your attention then, Serena.”

“I guess so.” I murmured, still feeling like I was unsure where this was going. “I don’t think he likes me back, though.”