I scoop a quarter of my noodles onto a side plate and offer them to him. "Fair is fair."
He nods. "I like a generous woman."
Oh, god, he's talking about sex again. I take a long sip of water in the hopes of cooling off.
It doesn't help.
We eat in silence. The food is good. Especially the eggplant dish. When I'm stuffed, I thank him for dinner and attempt to relax.
Tom finishes a few minutes later. He pushes the plates aside and leans closer. "You want to tell me why you're here?"
"At this restaurant—"
"In Reno. Drew didn't mention you coming, so I know it was last minute. And the way you've been acting. You're running from something."
I swallow hard. I can't tell Tom. He might relay the information to Drew. I shake my head. No. I'm not telling him.
"I can reword to make it a demand," he says.
"It's not any of your business."
He looks upset. But why? Tom barely knows me. He doesn't have any right to expect me to share my secrets.
An idea hits me. Perfect. It gets me out of answering without telling him to go fuck himself.
I look back at Tom. "I'll tell you. If you do something for me."
He sits up, intrigued. "I'm listening."
"I have an application for a photography job due at noon tomorrow and I don't have any pictures for it."
He shifts back to teasing, shaking his head in mock outrage. "Procrastinating on your homework. I expected better from you, Willow."
"Hey! You have any idea how hard it is to ask someone to get half naked so you can take sexy pictures of them?"
"It can behard."
Oh. I clear my throat. "Are you familiar with boudoir?"
He nods.
"I need a model. I have ten photos due tomorrow. You wouldn't have to get naked. Just underwear."
"Sure. I'll do it."
What?
"Try not to look so surprised." He smiles, the picture of confidence. "You want to use my hotel room or you need some place sexier?"
My head is swimming. Tom is going to pose for me. I take a deep breath. "No. The hotel room is perfect."
For Tom.
Half-naked.
In front of my camera.
