I was silent. My mind ran in circles and my mouth fell open. Did that just happen? All I could do was stare at the door he just slammed. Did that really just happen? I didn’t know what to do or say. I was speechless. How did that just happen? I counted in my head when he said it. Four thousand dollars for one night? That was ridiculous. I couldn’t believe that. What was happening? What was happening right now?

I felt a little bad for assuming that he was just doing what he was doing for money, but at the same time, we never established there was anything outside of that. I started to cry a little. This weekend had been an emotional roller coaster. What goes up must come down, I just didn’t know why it had to be a plummeting crash when I was only just experiencing life above sea level.

The shouting had hurt my head. I took a couple ibuprofens with my coffee and finished the cup. I wasn’t sure what my next move should be. It was early in the day, but there was already so much that had happened and much more for me to do.

I was surprised that he just stormed out. That seemed out of character for him. He had been so calm and cool the whole time I knew him. I never thought he was capable of blowing up like that. I didn’t know what he was doing in the lobby, and I didn’t care to see him yet. I was upset. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t taking his acts the wrong way.

I wiped my eyes and took a long long shower. I was right about him having more products than me, and they were the really really nice stuff. I hadn’t even heard of some of these brands. I was sure that they were made with Oprah’s tears. I decided to use some of them. He could more than afford it, if he made that much money. No wonder he was so clean. I was glad he charged that much. If I had gotten someone that had actually only charged $400 I might have been skinned or gotten mange.

My hair felt so soft after I used his shampoo. I smelled vaguely like colognes. My skin had never been fresher. I was going to have to steal some of this and put it in a travel container. If he was going to accuse me of using him, I might as well actually use him.

When I got out I rapped myself in the robe he had worn the night before and called Travis. He better have a great explanation for this. He didn’t answer the first time. I dialed again, and he picked up on the first ring. “Hey, I’m at the gym. Is everything okay?”

“Four thousand dollars?”

“Oh shit.”

“Four. Thousand!?”

“So you know, then?”

“Of course I know. When were you planning on telling me? What did you have to do to get this kind of a deal, anyway? Sell your soul? Did you sell mine?”

“Girl. Chill. I was doing you a favor. You are broke as a joke.”

“But he doesn’t need to know that! He is just there for the weekend for you.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Oh no.”

I took a deep sigh. I was in it now. I hadn’t realized how strong my feelings for him were until I was scared that he was no longer a possibility to me.

“You have feelings for him, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“Well you are going to have to do some crazy magic, because I can’t afford to buy him for you every night of the week.”

“Well… Actually…” I was quiet for a moment.

“Go on.”

“Last night we kind of…”

“Kissed?”

“Yes.

“So?”

“And there was more.” My voice squeaked at the end.

“Uhh.. How much more are we talking?”

“We are talking, like, all the way.”

“Like… You went all the way all the way?”

“Yeah.”

“Like not just a hug or something, but him penetrating inside of you all the way?”

“Gross.” There was never an excuse to use the word penetration, even if it was in an appropriate or correct usage. “But yeah. And this morning just made it worse.”

“Why? Did you double dip? Is he sending a ransom to your family for the dirty cash?”

“No. We were at breakfast, and I gave him the money because I figured, well, I don’t know. I didn’t want him to think he wasn’t getting paid.”

“Sure, yeah. I get that.” He was breathing heavy in the background. I could tell he was starting to run again.

“But then he got super pissed. He slammed his coffee on the table and started yelling about how I’m a horrible person and how last night had nothing to do with money, and then he just stormed out and he has been in the lobby for god knows how long now.”

He stopped breathing heavy. I could tell he stopped again. “So…”

“So?”

“So he has feelings back?”

“I… I guess….”

“Weird.”

“Yeah.” I picked some of the paint off of one of my fingers. “What do I do?”

“I don’t know, I have never had to deal with that kind of drama. Prostitutes are all news to me.”

“You think I have experience?” I scoffed.

“More than I do. As of now.”

“Shut up.”

“Sorry.” He started jogging again. His speech was becoming quick.

“So you see my dilemma.”

“Girl, I would help you if I knew how, but your situation was already fucked before you even got the party invite.”

I sighed. “Yeah, you’re telling me.”

“If you want my honest opinion, I’d say ask him how he really feels. It’s not your fault that you thought a prostitute might have been sleeping with you for money.”

I chuckled. Travis was the best at making me laugh. He knew that too, so he pushed harder.

“And how would anyone believe that he would want to touch someone as hideous as you?”

“I know. I get confused with the sea monsters so often I have my own fan page dedicated to the search for me.”

He laughed too. “I have had people come to our house and ask me for pictures or evidence of life in your natural habitat.”

“Yeah, a lot of people do the same for you.” We both sighed.

“I’ll have a ton of wine waiting for you when you get back. I have to go. Keep me updated.”

“Okay. Just know I hate you forever for lying.”

“Yeah, you’ll get over it.”

The line clicked. He was right. I would get over it. It wasn’t close to the worst thing that had happened to me the past year. Sadly, it was actually one of the nicer things anyone had done for me in a while. I didn’t have a clue what to do. The engagement party was tonight, and my paid-date was mad at me for paying for him, my mom would kill me if I didn’t show and ridicule me if I were alone. I didn’t want to have to deal with any of this anymore.

Maybe I was wrong to come here. Did I really care that much about my parents approval? I was an adult now. I can make all my own decisions. I should have just stood up for myself. My mom could have dealt with me not coming here. Why would she want me to come? Having been left before, she should know how bad it hurts to see Tom. It makes it even worse that he is with another person, and he is having the time of his life.

I had had enough. I didn’t care what my parents would say, I’d take them yelling at me. I grabbed a towel and put on my swim suit. If I was going to have to be held hostage here in Santa Barbra, then I was going to swim. I wiped both of my cheeks to get rid of the tears and put on the suit I had packed. I still felt weird wearing a one piece, but I had felt a little self esteem boost from last night. I wondered if I was really as good looking as everyone had said. I would have to see the reaction tonight when I didn’t choose the skimpiest dress I owned.

I put on some of the sun screen. It smelled like a pina colada and I wanted one so bad. I was avoiding going downstairs still. It was probably best to let Grant deal with his anger in his own way and just come back upstairs when he blew off some steam. I called room service again. They were going to have my face and room number memorized. I put an order for two pina coladas in, extra strong.

While I waited, I paced the room. Tonight was the engagement. Tonight. I had to do so much in so little time. Swimming was not realistic. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to think about all the things I had to do to get ready. I didn’t want to think about having to apologize to Grant. I was in the wrong for giving him the money, but at the same time this was the most intense and confusing thing that has ever happened to me.

I drank the drinks when they came up and watched some more TV. I had to work up the courage to walk through the lobby. It was going to take all my effort and mental capacity to stay calm and look like I had the perfect life that I had painted for everyone last night. The alcohol helped give me that extra push I needed. I put normal clothes on over my swim suit, just in case I needed to do not fun things instead of not caring. I went out of the room and walked past the elevator and to the stairs. I knew I was going to regret this the next day. I started walking down the steps, hoping this would be a good enough work out for the month.