Tease (16 page)

Even before I’d unlocked the door to my apartment, my gut was telling me I was too late.

I stormed through the kitchen and down the hall to her room. Empty. Her suitcase was gone, and so was every sign that she’d ever been there.

I fumbled through my pocket for my phone. It was still on silent from visiting Mom, and there were twelve missed calls: Pete, Max, Jake, Nic, and the rest were unknown numbers that I wasn’t game enough to call back.
Nothing from Mia.

I called Mia. Her phone went right to voicemail. I dialed Nic.

“Liam?”

“Have you heard from Mia?” I demanded.

“What? No. Liam, you’re on the news—”

“I know. I know, Nic,” I sighed. Walking over to the sofa, I slumped down. “Mia’s gone. Fuck, Nic. Everything is
fucked.”

“Stay there. We’ll come over. I’ll drop the kids off at Jake’s mom’s house.”

Curled up on the sofa, all I wanted to do was sleep. And constantly try calling Mia. Her phone was on, but it rang out. Seven voicemails later—each one more frantic than the last—and I still had no response.

Please let me explain. Please, Mia.

I stared at the screen of my phone, waiting for any response, any glimmer of hope that she might be willing to listen to me. Nothing.

“Coop! It’s Nic. I’m coming inside.”

I listened to the sound of the key turning in the lock. Sitting up, I managed a smile as Nic and Jake walked into the room.

Nic rushed over, sinking onto the sofa beside me. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, grabbing my hand.

“Why? You didn’t do anything. I fucked this all up pretty good on my own.”

“Coop, you were doing what you were doing to help Mom.”

“Was I?” I snapped. “Or was it to help myself? Come off it, Nic. Every time we see Mom she’s more confused, more scared. How selfish am I to want to extend that kind of life for her, just so I can put off the pain of losing her?”

Nic’s
eyes welled with tears. “Don’t talk like that. You’ve always taken care of her. And me. You love us. That’s why you’re doing this. You’re
not
selfish.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. It is what it is. I can’t quit.” I shrugged and stood up. I walked over to the balcony window and stared out. “Can I use your phone? I have to call people, and call me paranoid, but I don’t want to risk the chance that someone has hacked my phone. I don’t want to dump any more of my clients in the shit.”

Nic nodded and handed me her phone. I slid open the sliding door and stepped outside.

After calling Amalie, Delaney, Brittany—who wasn’t the least bit concerned and even tried to book me for another evening—I felt a bit better. None of them seemed overly concerned about being
outed
. The only reason Beth had been revealed was because she had been seen with me. I’d been cautious about protecting the privacy of my other clients, and they never booked a room in their own names.

I walked back inside to see that Jake had made me a coffee, which I accepted gratefully.

“So, Bethany Masters?” He winked at me.

For the first time in days, I laughed. “Yeah. She’s actually a really nice girl.”

“I bet.” Jake grinned.

Nic whacked him over the head.

“What was that for?”

“I think you know,” she replied frostily.

Jake laughed and shook his head. “It bothers you
that
much that I can appreciate an attractive celebrity?” he guffawed.

“When my brother is fucking said celebrity, yes,” she snapped.

Three days later and I hadn’t left the house.

Three days later and she still hadn’t called me back. Her voicemail was now full with thirty messages from me, begging her to call me back. That wasn’t even taking into account the numerous texts I had sent. I was turning into a stalker.

I went from the bed to the sofa and back to the bed. I looked like shit; I was in desperate need of a shave, and my eyes were glazed over from lack of sleep.

At least the reporters were starting to lose interest. I’d had calls from several major talk shows interested in my story, which I declined, and about ten magazines that wanted exclusive rights, which I also refused. The group who’d initially camped outside the apartment complex had seemingly given up too.

My story wasn’t for sale, not for any amount of money.

Friday afternoon, at 1:11p.m
.,
there was a knock on my door. I knew this because for the whole hour beforehand, I’d been staring at the blank screen on my phone. I pulled myself off the sofa, which had begun to conform to the shape my body from being on it for so long. Shuffling to the door, I opened it, expecting Nic or Jake. Nobody else had the code to get past the foyer.

Except Mia.

My mouth dropped open and I shut it quickly, remembering how long it had been since I brushed my teeth.

“I did not expect to see you,” I mumbled.

“Can I come in?” she asked. She was guarded, her body tense.

I moved aside, holding the door open for her. “Come in.”

She followed me through to the living room, which was a mess—but then, so was the rest of the apartment.

“Uh, do you want a drink?”

She shook her head, sitting down in the armchair. “You said you wanted to talk.”

“So you got my forty messages?” I asked wryly.

She smiled slightly. “It was a bit hard to ignore them all. Believe me, I tried.” She dropped her head to her hands. “Really, Coop? An escort?” she cried out, her voice laced with anger.

I sat down on the sofa, my arms resting on my knees, staring at the floor. “I wanted to tell you. I should have told you.”

“You’re damn right you should have,” she retorted angrily. “God, I feel like such an idiot, falling in love with an escort.” She laughed bitterly. “It’s like something out of a freaking sitcom. My life is a joke.”

I raised my head, her words hitting me.

She loved me? She had fallen in love with me?

I didn’t speak. I couldn’t trust myself to string words together just then without confessing my love for her too.

She glanced at me.

“Do you want to know the worst thing? If you said to me right now that you’d give all that up, I’d forgive you in a heartbeat.” She laughed incredulously. “What the hell does that say about me?”

“Mia . . . “ My voice trailed off as I realized there was nothing I could say here. “Fuck, Mia, I can’t.”

She nodded, standing up. “Nic told me about your mom. For whatever it’s worth, I understand. The fact that you would do anything for your family is one of the reasons I was falling in love with you.” She paused, a sad smile on her lips. “I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

Saturday morning, I went to see Mom again.

As soon as Mia had left the day before, I’d pulled myself together. I’d shaved, showered, cleaned the apartment—fuck, I’d even washed the dishes. I had to admit I felt better not living like a slob in a slum.

Reporters were still calling my number, and it was so bad that I’d invested in a second SIM card, sending it only to the people who I actually cared to hear from.

I walked up to the office to sign in, as per usual. Lucy greeted me, a big smile on her face. “Liam!” She smiled. “I was going to call you, actually.”

Oh, god.
My heart dropped. My job was the last thing on my mind right now. I cleared my throat. “Lucy, you’re lovely, and I’m flattered, but I’m not taking on any new clients right now.”

Her eyes widened, then she burst into uncontrollable laughter. I cringed, realizing that she hadn’t been about to proposition me, after all.

Fuck, I look like a dickhead. Fuck!

“Liam, I’m flattered, but I’m a married woman,” she said, stifling a giggle.

Oh, this shit just got better and better.

“No, honey, the reason I was going to call you was to tell you someone set up an anonymous fund for your mother’s care. Trust me when I say you’ll never have to worry about paying another medical bill for her.” She smiled widely, as though she couldn’t wait for my reaction.

Holy shit. What?

“Who?” I demanded, still shell-shocked by the news.

Lucy laughed. “Well it wouldn’t be anonymous if I told
ya
now, would it?” She giggled.

I nodded slowly. I didn’t need her to tell me. I knew exactly who it was. What I didn’t know was
why
.

I knocked on the door of the penthouse on the fortieth floor, still unsure of what the hell I was going to say. The door swung open. Beth stood there, looking cute in a pair of indecently cut denim shorts and a tank top.

“Coop!” she said brightly. Her face dropped. “They
told
you?” she wailed.

I rolled my eyes and brushed past her. “They didn’t have to, Beth. You just did. You’re not a very convincing liar,” I added, my mouth twitching.

“Are you angry?” She stared at me, her eyes huge.

“I’m not angry, but I can’t accept it.”

“Why not?” she demanded.

“Because you’re not paying for my mother’s care,” I replied, shaking my head. It was ridiculous. Stupid. Impossible.

For the briefest moment on the drive over there, I’d imagined being able to be with Mia and how amazing Beth’s gift would’ve been. More than anything I wanted to say yes. I wanted to scream it from the fucking rooftops, but the last thing I wanted was for Beth to feel like I’d used her.

“Coop, I’ve got so much money, I don’t know what to do with it. I could use hundred dollar bills as toilet paper if I wanted, and not miss it.”

“It’s not about that, Beth. I refuse to take advantage of you like that.”

“What? Don’t be stupid. Coop, you are the most selfless person I know. I donate to about ten charities
—
what’s the fucking difference?” she protested. “Think of it as me providing funds into Alzheimer’s research. Because that’s what it is, right? Basically?”

I shook my head. I couldn’t. There was no way I could possibly…
Could I?

Beth sensed I was faltering. “Coop, this makes sense, and you know it.” She reached out and touched my arm. “You deserve to be happy. If this gives you a chance at happiness, then it’s worth it. You’re so much more than an escort. You could be so much more.”

“I don’t get it, Beth. Why? Why would you do this for me?”

“Just take the damn money,” she growled, “get yourself a normal job, and live a normal fucking life. Do things for you for once, and don’t worry about your family. Put
you
first.”

“Tell me why!” I said, my voice rising.

“Because you’re like family to me!” she yelled back. “Because you do more for me than anyone else I know.” She laughed as I raised my eyebrows. “Get your mind out of the gutter. Not like that, you idiot. You treat me like a normal person. I can be myself around you. I don’t
have
that with anyone else,” she muttered, her cheeks glowing red. “I don’t have family, Coop. You’re my family. The way you’re helping your mom? That’s how I feel about you. Please let me do this.”

I reached for her hand and pulled her toward me, wrapping my arms around her. I laughed as I heard her sigh.

She hugged me back. “Go talk to her, Coop. Then figure out what you want to do with your life.”

She was giving me an out. Beth was taking the decision away from me. She knew I’d never choose love over my family, so she was changing the equation.

I had to talk to Mia. Had she meant it when she’d said she’d take me back in a second if I gave up my life for her? I kissed Beth on the cheek.

“Thank you.”

Mia was back to not answering her phone. I sent a few texts and waited.
Still no response.
Starting the car, I headed toward Northwest Hospital. I was getting anxious. I needed to talk to her, immediately. It couldn’t wait.

Hell, what am I doing? Am I going to corner her at work and force her to talk to me?

I didn’t even know if she was working. Regardless, I was going to find out.

Driving down into the underground parking at the hospital, I pulled into a spot. Getting out, I ran to the elevator. I pressed ground level, having no idea where to start to look for her.

I stepped out of the elevator and spotted a reception desk at the far end of the hall.

“Hi,” I said, as I approached it.

A surly looking woman in her late fifties glared at me.

“I’m looking for Mia Weston? She’s a nurse here.”

She narrowed her beady eyes at me, as if she were weighing up the legitimacy of my story. Or maybe she just recognized me from the news. Either way, I didn’t see myself getting anywhere with her.

“I’m her roommate. She left her key at home, and I’ll be out tonight.”

She kept her eyes on me, her mouth turning downward into a frown.

“Fourth floor, north wing,” she sighed.

I nodded and turned back for the elevator. Once inside, I contemplated just what I was going to say. My head was a jumbled mess of words. Glancing at my reflection on the mirrored wall, I ran my hand through my hair. At least l looked remarkably better than I had the last time she saw me—not that that would’ve been hard.

No
sooner had
I stepped out of the elevator, than I saw her. She had her back to me, deep in conversation with someone else—another nurse. I hid behind a corner and watched. My heart was pounding. What if she’d changed her mind? I wanted to explain everything to her, but what if she didn’t want to listen to me?

She laughed and waved at her friend, then walked into a room. I quickly walked over to the doorway of the room she’d entered, waiting for her to exit. Five minutes felt like hours, and I was sure I couldn’t look any shadier than I did right then, loitering in a hospital. Finally, she appeared, letting out a loud yelp when she saw me.

That went well. Make the girl feel special by scaring the hell out of her.

“What the hell are you doing here, Coop?” she gasped, her hand over her chest. Her eyes were wide with . . . annoyance? No, it was more excitement…or maybe both.

“I need to talk to you. Now.” I grabbed her hand. “Is there, like, a closet around here or something?” I asked, glancing around.

She chuckled. “What do you think this is,
Grey’s Anatomy?
”

I rolled my eyes.

“Come with me. Maya!” she yelled out “I’m taking my break.”

The nurse from earlier nodded as Mia led me down the corridor.

We walked down the hall the same way I’d come, both of us trying hard to ignore the awkward silence that was brewing between us. She pushed open a door. I went inside. It looked like a lunchroom that was, thankfully, empty. She gestured to one of the tables.

“I only have ten minutes, so you might want to get to the point.”

“Okay.” I sat down, my hands on the table in front of me. “I want to tell you everything. The escorting, it wasn’t something I did for the hell of it. I mean I enjoyed it—” Her eyes narrowed. “—
but
I had a reason. I needed the money,” I added hurriedly.

This wasn’t going according to plan. Or maybe it was, considering I had no fucking idea of what I was saying in the first place.

Get yourself together, Coop. You’re losing it.

“You know how sick my mother is,” I began, trying a different approach.

Mia nodded slightly.

“The trial I told you about? It costs a fucking fortune to keep her in that. Not to mention the costs of having her live at the facility she’s at. That is why I do what I do. Or did.”

“Did?” Mia repeated uncertainly. Her index finger tapped lightly on the table as she waited for an answer.

“I’m getting to that.” I sighed. God, she was pushy. “Mia, I like you a
lot
. Things were messed up…I was starting to feel something for you, but I had to keep working, and you kept sending me mixed signals. Then when this whole thing with Melinda happened it just sort of exploded in my face.” I sighed. “My point is, I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had to choose between you and helping my family. There was never going to be another job that would’ve paid enough to cover what I needed it to—”

“Then what is there to talk about, Coop?” she interrupted me. “I can’t be with you if you’re doing that, and I don’t think it’s fair of you to ask me that.”

“I’d
never
ask that of you,” I cried, my hand reaching for hers. “Will you please just let me finish here? What I’m trying to tell you
is
, I quit. I am no longer an escort. God knows what the fuck I will be doing with my life, but it won’t be sleeping with women.”

“You quit?” she said softly. “What about your mom?”

“Someone set up a fund for Mom’s care. It’s something I never have to worry about again,” I explained, smiling. I couldn’t even begin to describe the emotions that were running through me. I was feeling it all:
anxiety, happiness, fear
.

“Someone?” Mia said flatly. “And by ‘someone,’ you mean one of your millionaire clients?” She let out a low growl. “Why not one of them, Coop? Why me? I’m sure they could make you much happier than I—”

“Because it’s you I want, not them!” I exploded.

Right at that moment the door opened, and in walked three very surprised looking women. They glanced from Mia to me before backing out of the room quietly. I groaned, and rubbed my forehead.

“Coop, I have to get back to work.” She spoke quietly. “I need time to think.”

“Come over tonight?” I pleaded.

“I don’t know. I need to think.” She stood up, pushing her chair against the table behind her. “I’m sorry.”

I watched as she walked out. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever see her again.