“You are my greatest emergency. Luckily, I’m here to save our family the embarrassment of one of your stunts again. Now, I’m sure this would have been a very amusing joke, but it’s time to get ready for your sister’s day, so please tell your friend to leave.” Her mother starts looking through the bags she dropped as Simone drops her head and sighs.
“Dove, why don’t you go take a nice long bath while I help your mother with her bags.” I kiss her cheek and slap her ass in the direction of her stairs.
“I beg your pardon. Help me?” I smile as I pick up the bags and usher her to the door.
“We have a very long day ahead of us, and I’m sure you’re needed elsewhere. I have Simone well in hand. So you see, youropinions aren’t needed here today. We’ll see you at the shower. Bye now.” I slam the door in her face and toss the key I lifted from her as I lock the door so she can’t get back in.
She starts banging on the door as I look up the phone number of the townhouse’s main office.
“Hello, thank you for calling. How can I help you.” I walk closer to the door so the woman at the main office can hear Simone’s mother.
“I’m calling from my fiancee’s unit. There’s a woman outside causing a disturbance outside, and I’m afraid she will wake the neighbors.” I give the woman Simone’s address and then walk into the kitchen to retrieve my coffee.
I stand in the window as security escorts Simones’s mother off the property and wave at her outraged face before returning to plate the muffin. I refresh Simones’s coffee and check for cats as I go upstairs searching for the woman, who I hope is naked and covered in bubbles.
I find her in her bedroom brushing her wet hair in nothing but a towel.
“Feeling better?” She yelps as I take in the drops of water dripping down her shoulders and legs.
“I thought I told you to take a nice long bath?” I place the plate on her dresser and hand her the mug of coffee.
I take the brush from her and twirl my fingers in the air so she turns back to the mirror. She brings the coffee up to her lips and moans as she drinks it. I busy myself with her hair so that I don’t embarrass myself.
Her thick black hair is smooth and shiny as I detangle it.
“You’re really good at that.” She mummers as she watches me in the mirror.
“Lots of practice.” I smile at the memories of brushing Mallory and Maverick’s hair growing up.
“Is it a service you offer often?” Her offhand comment fills me with rage, and for the first time since I started my business, I feel less than.
“No, I used to brush my sibling’s hair.” I put the brush down and turned away from her.
“I’m sorry. Did I offend you?” I have to school my features before facing her again.
“You do tend to voice your opinion of my career rather frequently. If it bothers you, why am I even here?” It’s a question I’ve asked myself countless times.
I have never taken so many chin shots about being an escort before. Not even from the club. Trust me, no one can insult you like a drunk biker.
“Because you are precisely what I needed. I don’t mean to offend. I just don’t process things like an average person. My parents always said I was born with no filter, but it wasn’t until I was in college that my roommate, who was PreMed, asked if I was ever tested for autism. It turns out I’m on the spectrum, and my doctors were able to explain the world to me like I never knew someone could. It was like having a veil lifted on my life.” She says all this without meeting my eyes, as if she’s ashamed of who she is.
“Simone, look at me.” She takes a deep breath and raises her chin.
“Your diagnosis does not define you. Thank you for sharing that with me. It helps me understand certain things better now, and I can adjust as needed. Let’s discuss your mother. Is she always like that?” Simone rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling at my words.
“My mother has been that way since the day she was born. Grandpa used to joke that the Devil got scared every time her feet touched the floor in the morning.” I chuckle at her.
“Sounds like a smart man.” Her nod is slight and sad.
“He was. We lost him last year. Anyway, my mother is the classic helicopter mom. She needs to see, approve, and micro-manage both our lives.” Jesus, what a piece of work.
“You and your sister?” We’ve never discussed other siblings.
“Yeah, our brother moved away long ago and never once looked back. He was the smart one.” She adjusts her towel, and I lose focus for a moment.
“Tell me about them. I should know the details.” She nods as she walks into her closet, leaving the door open so I can hear her talk.
“Tomas left on a trip right after high school to Europe. He found and married the love of his life and lives in South Africa with her. They have two kids. My parents have disowned him. He calls me every Sunday. As far as the family is concerned, he was never born.” Ouch.
