Page 36 of Three, Two, One [321]

I get up and start walking back to the loft and then spy a drug store across the street. I cross and go inside to pick something up for Blue that she will surely be needing.

I find my dress in the trash. Not that I’d wear it again. It looks like it went through hell. But it would’ve been nice to be asked if I wanted to wash it, considering I have no other clothes.

I found something, though. Sweats and a t-shirt of JD’s in his closet. But the pants have to be rolled over so many times, it makes the t-shirt bunch out over my belly. When I look in the mirror it makes me look pregnant and that just hurts like hell.

I unroll the sweats and hold them up as I make my way to the kitchen. There’s still mess in there from last night, so I start cleaning up. I’m just closing the dishwasher after loading it up when the door opens and Ark walks in.

He throws his keys on a small table in the foyer and then hangs up his leather jacket. He’s wearing a white button-down shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up. There’s a tie around his collar as well, but it’s loose.

I squint at him. Is that a fashion statement? Or was he really wearing a white shirt and tie for business reasons?

“What?” he asks, looking into the open kitchen.

I shake my head and start wiping down the counters. His shoes—dressy, I realize as I try to concentrate on the countertops—tap across the floor and stop just off to my right.

I lift my head a little to look up at him. “What?”

He throws a package down on the counter. “For you. I didn’t see any birth control stuffed in your panties yesterday. And we both came inside you. So…”

I look at the package. “What is it?” When I look up at him, he’s puzzled. “What?”

“It’s the morning-after pill. You’ve never taken one?”

I open my mouth to speak, then close it immediately and go back to cleaning. I’m not even going there. “Thanks. I’ll take it as soon as I’m done here.” But he doesn’t move. I wait a few more seconds before looking up again. “What?”

His dark eyes are squinting down at me. “You’re not the maid.”

“I know. I’m just…” I shrug. “I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“We won’t kick you out. Even if you don’t help.”

“OK,” I say meekly.

“You should eat. And then go back to bed. You look…”

“Beaten?” I fill in the word he won’t say.

“Like you need someone to be more careful with you.”

When I look up this time, he’s already walking away. “I’ll be in my office if you need anything. Oh—” He stops and looks over his shoulder just outside the entrance to his office. “We’re going out to dinner tonight.”

“Who?” I ask, stupidly, since I can figure that one out. “What will I wear?” That’s a better question.

“You. Me. JD. We’re gonna get this all out in the open over a nice meal. Talk it through like civilized people. I have parcels coming. When they arrive, please have them delivered to my office.”

He turns back to his office and walks through. “Ark,” I call out. “What if JD doesn’t come back?”

“I texted him. So he will. I told him I’m going to keep you for myself if he doesn’t.”

And then Ark goes inside his office and slides the doors closed.

I sit at my desk staring at her images for hours.

Hours.

The clock on the wall ticks away the seconds before I take this step, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s the right choice. I’ve been this man for four years. Can I be any other way? Can I imagine a life after this? Away from this work I’m so steeped in I don’t even notice the things I do are wrong?

No one sets out to sell sex. It’s not something to aspire to. It’s something that happens. An opportunity, maybe. A stroke of luck for some. A way forward for others.