Page 18 of 3 Times the Heat

“No one should live the life my mom lived,” I say in a low voice. “And it’s definitely no way to raise a child.”

Stasia sends me a curious look.

“Do you ever talk to your mom about her choices?”

I sigh, shaking my head.

“No, because Ellen’s in a care home now, and she’s suffering from dementia. When I visit her, sometimes she recognizes me, and sometimes she doesn’t. It’s pretty impossible to talk about anything with her these days.”

Stasia nods, looking thoughtful.

“But was Ellen seeing the same types of men that you are?”

I shake my head.

“No. She was the worst type of hooker. A streetwalker. She was out there in the dead of night, trying to sell her body using high heels and a slutty dress. It was crazy.

“Okay, so her customers weren’t billionaires,” Stasia comments.

“Definitely not. It’s whoever happened to be driving down the street and saw her flashing her goods. It was dangerous as all hell.”

Stasia nods.

“Right, so Ellen made way less money than what you’d be making and lived a hardscrabble life. It sounds like she was definitely existing hand to mouth. You, on the other hand, are in a completely different situation, with different choices. If you slept with Chris, Jamison, and Dane for three months, you’d be rich. You could put that in a rainy day fund, or use it to go to college—”

“College?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “That’s not happening!”

Stasia giggles.

“Okay, maybe not college then. But what I’m saying is that you won’t be helpless the way your mom was, Tam. In fact, it’s the opposite. You’re a strong woman who’s making good choices. You’re looking out for yourself. You’ll be making serious cash that you can put away for a rainy day, so that you’reneverleft high and dry by any man.”

“I guess I didn’t think of it that way before,” I acknowledge. “My situationisa little different from my mom’s.”

“Right,” Stasia nods quickly. “It definitely is. And even though Chris, Dane, and Jamison will be paying you, I still don’t think you’d be like aprostitute. I mean, you like them and they obviously really like you too. You guys are already bumping uglies without money involved, so the money would just be an added bonus.”

“Bumping uglies?” I giggle. “Oh my god, that’s so ridic.”

“It is,” Stasia acknowledges before going somber. “But I’m serious, Tam. Why not get paid, instead of putting out for free? If they’re offering, then it makes sense.”

I nod slowly.

“I guess so,” I say. “Still, it’s so transactional.”

My friend throws up both hands then in exasperation.

“Everything’s transactional, Tam. This is Vegas! This is life! Even husbands and wives have a transactional relationship.”

“True that,” I murmur as my mind turns. “Okay, I’ll think about it. When did you get so smart, anyways?”

Stasia winks at me while taking a sip of her coffee.

“I’ve always been street smart,” she shrugs. “My wisdom is just hidden by my clumsy exterior sometimes.”

“Right,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes as she flips me off. But then my buddy goes serious again.

“Now listen while I lay a bit more of my wisdom down upon you,” she says. “I really think you should be honest with Chris, Dane, and Jamison about how you’re feeling. Your three lovers need to know about your hang-ups in order to help you get past them, and I’m sure they’d like to know if something is bothering you.”

“I don’t know,” I demur. “We don’t have that kind of relationship.”