Chapter 58. Pay Back Time

Ava

I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand in the room, 9:07 a.m.

The first period was already over, but if I moved fast I could still make the rest of the day. I wasn’t letting last night turn me into a ghost on top of everything else.

I ignored the scattered hundreds on the floor. His pity money could rot there for all I cared.

I found my real clothes folded in a neat pile on the chair, jeans, hoodie, bra, and panties someone had clearly retrieved from the lost and found or wherever the hell club staff kept abandoned dignity.

My phone was on top, fully charged. My keys were in the pocket of the jeans.

Mom’s Mercedes was exactly where I’d left it in the parking lot, untouched, no “gentleman’s” town car waiting like the waitress had said. What does he take me for? Some broke little girl who needs a ride and a wad of cash to feel okay the morning after? Fuck that.

I slid into the driver’s seat, still smelling faintly of him o