Chapitre 39: Chapter 39

“Yes.” I slid the charm onto the chain and put it into the case, then handed it to Mason. “Wrap it, please.” I turned back to Connor. “Well, it was nice seeing you again, Connor. Sorry. Bailey.”

“Fuck it, Connor is fine. It’s hard for us to change our spots. Look, Valentine’s Day is this Friday. I’m staying in suite 1276 at the Harrison Hotel for the next couple of weeks. Why don’t you come by for a drink before the ball? Or after the ball. Bring your guy.”

“Bailey?” A stout man who looked to be in his fifties approached us. “Have you selected your bauble? Well, hello.” His eyes crawled over me. “Why don’t you introduce Daddy to your…friend?”

It was all I could do to prevent a shiver. There had been a time when I’d have had to do anything this man paid me to do.

“This is Sweetcheeks. He used to run one of the stables I belonged to.”

I was relieved he hadn’t given the man my real name. Sometimes that was all we boys had that we could call our own.