“That’s what I’m here trying to do.”

“Well then, do it!”

People were starting to stare at us. I wasn’t the type to argue with a woman. I usually stated my position and moved on. But when a woman gets to you…That’s when I realized how dangerous Andrea was. I couldn’t have her even if I wanted to. She could mess up my whole career worrying about her. I had a carefree lifestyle with no dependents. Even my family knew to leave me alone. I was out there on my own island.

She glared at me and said, “You are such a coward. If you want a woman, then get a woman. At least he’s real about it.”

“Real about what?” I snapped at her. I don’t even know why I asked her that. I didn’t care anything about that guy. She had me reacting impulsively instead of thinking things through.

“He shows that he’s serious about me. You’re just out here fuckin’ around with me. This ring is real. So don’t talk about somebody needing to grow up!”

She got me to thinking. J. Walker had two kids with two different women, and he still didn’t have his act together. He was already paying a truckload of child support, and both of these other women were in their early twenties, like Andrea. What made it worse was that she knew about them. She told me everything.

This numbers cruncher had screwed up a couple of young women’s lives, and he was ready to screw up hers right along with them. But I was the bad guy. I was the one who wasn’t doing the right thing. At least I knew I wasn’t ready to be serious.

That girl was out of her mind to deal with this guy. He must have been a part of her game plan to get me to do what she wanted. But I wasn’t going for it. So I gathered my emotions back into my bottle, and I told her to kiss off.

I said, “You know what? I don’t think it would be a bad idea for you to settle down. I mean, you’re definitely gorgeous, but like you said, this modeling game is a hard one. So if you think this guy is gonna give you a better life and a chance to breathe while you try to establish your career, then go for it.”

That was some cold shit for me to say to a young woman who was extending herself to me like she was. Andrea was the type of girl who would put everything on the line, and she had been doing that with me and her modeling aspirations, it just hadn’t paid off for her yet, the steady modeling jobs or me.

I was doing her the same way the industry was doing her. Wait, wait, wait, and I may have something for you next season. Possibly.

After my line of truth mixed with bullshit, instead of going through another round of arguing, Andrea said “Fuck you” and got to stepping. I guess she finally said to hell with it then.