INSECURE

GORGEOUS

"Jeffrey Dahmer" Jax stated plainly.

Sputtering, I snapped my head towards him. "What?!?!"

"You don't know this guy Theo. He could be a serial killer that preys on innocent little boys." Jax continued. His eyes were unblinking. He was being serious.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "First of all, I'm not a little boy. I'm 22." The statement was met with a mumble and rolling of eyes from Jax. "Second of all, we are going to be in an open space. People will be around AND it's during the day." Shrugging. "Besides, I'm going on my lunch break, so if I'm gone for more than the allotted time, I'm sure Doc would come looking for me."

Jax just continued to stare at me. To be honest, I wasn't sure if he had even blinked since the beginning of the conversation. Which was very unsettling, to say the least.

***

Scott had picked me up from the clinic, in a white Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt that was tucked into beige Tommy Hilfiger chinos. Tommy Hilfiger was the designer for the day. Suede loafers that matched the color of his pants donned his feet.  Scott looked good.

He honestly was a breath of fresh air. He had opened the car door for me and even buckled my seat belt. "Safety first." He stated.

But I had felt underdressed compared to him, giving his outfit a pointed look, that uncomfortable feeling of inadequacy starting to bubble its way into my chest. I didn't want to embarrass him. Make him ashamed to be seen with me.

I had put on mint overalls with a simple white cotton shirt underneath and white vans. A gold chain around my neck, which matched the gold anklet around my left ankle. "I'm not dressed as nicely as you." I played with my chain. "I don't want to embarrass you."

Scott gave his head a shake. "You look gorgeous. I don't want to embarrass you." He didn't even give it a second thought. "You will always be better dressed than this old man."

Somehow, the bubbling in my chest had quieted.

Scott had played off the restaurant that we were going to as a simple café. But it was The Vineyard. The five-star rated restaurant The Vineyard. With warm soft light coming from the skylight roof, archways covered in white roses, and a soft breeze that lulled you into a sense of relaxation, I was speechless.

Being seated behind a booth with curtains that surrounded them. It gave one a sense of privacy, without stopping the airflow.

The menus were handed to us, and the waitress disappeared to the outside of the curtains.

I glanced at the prices.

"I can't afford this." I started.

Scott had just taken his gold-framed Cartier reading glasses that were tucked between the top two buttons of his polo shirt and donned them onto his face. "I told you, it's my treat."

"I couldn't ask that of you. These prices-"

A hand came and gently pulled the menu out of my face, cutting me off. I was met with an amused smirk from Scott.

"Like I said, my treat." Scott insisted. "Don't look at the prices, just look at what you want to eat."

"What do you do?" I blurted out. "To afford all this." I continued. The words just came out of my mouth without any control. "You picked me up in the latest Porsche. I know designer when I see it. From your clothes to your shoes.... Even down to the watch on your hand, and the glasses on your face... What do you do?"

Jax's words from this morning flashed in my head. 'Jeffrey Dahmer' What if he was right? What if he was a murderer who took young guys on dates, wooed them, to then murder them and sell their organs on the black market? All I knew, if Jax was right, I would never hear the end of it. Even if I was dead.