Journey to Mirage

For a reason Rick could not identify, he didn’t want to hear Billy Dan’s ejaculation, so he covered his head with his pillow—and waited for Groton to finish fucking Billy Dan and then to come for him.

But Groton didn’t come into his bed, and Rick went to sleep thinking if he could just stay close to Phil tomorrow—Groton having said they’d be here one more day—maybe he could start bringing some level of calm, dignity—and backbone—back into his life.

And maybe tomorrow was the day he could confront Groton over some sort of regular pay. Groton was covering Rick’s room and board and giving him a few bills here and there when Rick asked for them—and he had replaced any clothes that had been ripped off Rick’s body during scene filming. But thus far Rick hadn’t received the thousands of dollars Groton had told him he’d be paid. He still had the nest egg he’d come with, but Phil had remonstrated with him more than once that he needed to be paid more regularly and substantially by Groton as they journeyed toward the film festival in Mirage, that he couldn’t trust Groton to pay him in full what he’d agreed to pay only when they’d reached Arizona.

Maybe, Rick thought, Phil would be there when Rick broached the subject with Groton. Maybe Phil would give Rick the confidence to make his claim.

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