She offers me a weak smile.
I get up from the floor and sit with her on the first step.“He wanted me to tell you that.Seriously, Leah.He would never hurt you.”
She leans her head against my shoulder.I breathe in the fruity scent of her shampoo and the sweet scent that is all Leah.
“Don’t let bullshit from the past steal your happiness.”I hold out her phone.“You deserve so much more.”
After a moment’s consideration, she takes the phone.“I’m calling him now.That stupid video doesn’t change anything.I miss him.I want himandyou.”
I kiss her forehead and wait while she hits thecallbutton.The ringing tone fills the room—she put it on speaker.
Gage answers.“Leah.”
“Hi.”Her eyes flick to me, then back to the phone.“I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner.”
“You said you wouldn’t run.”A thread of anger moves through the words, but he mostly sounds tired.
“I know.I’m sorry for that, too.”
“At least you’re with Dmitri.”
“He’s here right now.”Leah takes my hand.“You’re on speaker with us both.”
“Hello, Dmitri.”
“Hey.”I squeeze Leah’s hand.I’m glad she mentioned me so I don’t feel like an intruder.It’s a relief to have all three of us talk at the same time—I’m not passing messages between them.Everything will be out in the open.
“I don’t like talking about that period of my life.”Gage pauses.“But with you two, I’ll answer any questions you have.Would it be better to put me on a video call?”
Leah pushes a button, requesting video.He must accept, because his video turns on.His face is partially in shadow.The black walls and artwork in the background tell me he’s in his office at the club.
“It’s good to see your face, little girl.”Gage sounds—and looks—relieved.
Leah offers him a small smile.“It’s good to see you, too.”
“You have questions, no doubt.Ask me anything.”
“The things you’ve done with me…” Leah trails off, her gaze meeting mine before moving back to Gage.“They were the same as what you did with Nicola.”
He’s quiet for a moment.“Everything I do with you feels new to me.I have certain preferences, certain kinks.Seeing a woman on stage, pleasuring herself, is one of my preferred scenes.The desk was our version of a stage.But the scene is never the same, no matter how many times it’s played out for me.I liken it to sexual positions, although that’s perhaps too simple a comparison.It isn’t the ‘same’ every time a man gives you head, is it?”
“No.I see what you mean.”
“You are unique to me, Leah.Singular.The onlyyouthere is.Anything I do with you is new because it’s with you.Even if I’ve seen a thousand naked women—and given my place of work, I likely have—it will never be the same as when I see you.”
Leah nods.Seems like she’s satisfied, but I know her brain is working overtime.She’s soaking everything in and matching it with the video and article.Then she’s taking the info and siphoning it through what she knows of Gage.
“What about consent?”I ask the question even though Gage already talked to me.I’m reassured that he was new to the scene and made a mistake, but Leah hasn’t heard this yet.“If everything is so bad like Nicola made it out to be, you should’ve stopped.”
Gage says, “She had a safe word, but I think she was too proud to use it.I should have read her body language better, and checked in.”
“Maybe you should have.”Leah tenses against me, sitting up straighter.“But that doesn’t give her an excuse to spread lies.I bet that sex tape wasn’t leaked by accident.”
“I’ve wondered that, more than once.”Gage looks down, then back at the screen.“I try not to think too much about it, because the damage is already done.”
“There are laws against revenge porn,” I say.
“Yeah, if we track down the source, we could prove she did it.”Leah’s face is pure vengeance.Her ferocity reminds me of Danica.“She’d have to pay the price.”