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Cal shrugs. “He is still here. He didn’t bolt.”

“Yeah, but now I feel bad about it.”

Cal tosses a glance at Aden. He is sipping at his drink, not minding anyone around him. He looks a bit tired, which worries me. Probably came here from a long day at work and now has to hang out at this shithole.

“Okay,” Cal takes a deep breath. “You have a short shift today anyway.”

“Yeah, only one and a half hours left.”

“I will take over for you,” he says. “I still owe you one for jumping in for me last week.”

“What?” I exclaim. “Are you for real?”

“Yes, today is a slow evening. So go, grab your handsome guy and leave. He is still here, so obviously he is interested in you. He is hot and has rebuffed any advances from other people here. He looks like he could become something for you, and I don’t want you to fuck it up on your first date already.”

“Thank you,” I blurt out. “Thank you, Cal!”

“Just make something out of the remainder of the night, so that he won’t bolt for real.”

“I owe you one!” I proclaim.

Cal smiles. “Don’t worry. It’s a give and take. The next time I have a promising date, you can do the same for me.”

“Got you.” I give him the thumbs up before hurrying to our small staff-only area. I freshen up swiftly so I don’t reek of alcohol and sweat, change my clothes, and then dash out into the bar area again.

Aden looks up when he notices me next to him.

“Sorry for letting you wait so long,” I say, my anxiety skyrocketing. Please don’t let him bolt now. “Shall we leave?”

Aden takes a sip from his drink. For what feels like an eternity, he doesn’t say anything at all, then his thoughtful gaze lands on me, looking through my eyes right into my soul. Fuck. I have never noticed his eyes. They are a dark shade of brown, almost piercing now. “Did I pass your test?” he says.

I feel my cheeks flush in embarrassment. For a moment I consider pretending it wasn’t one, and that I never intended for him to come to this shithole. “A bit pathetic, huh?”

Aden gazes around. “I guess you have your reasons,” he says, much to my surprise. “It doesn’t necessarily mean I am happy, but I’ll let it pass if this was the one and only test you will put me through deliberately.”

“I promise. I just… had some bad experiences.”

“I thought so.” Aden puts his glass to the side and gets up. “So, what’s the plan now?”

“How about we grab something to eat?” I offer. “Or… you know… have an actual good drink?”

Aden’s lips curl into a smile. “Then lead the way.”

eight

*NOEL*

Ihave decided to take Cal’s advice seriously. It’s only 11 p.m. and we still have time for a date. The bar is in a shady corner of the city, so obviously, our choices here are not top-notch, but I know my way around.

“I know this doesn’t look fancy,” I tell Aden when I lead him to my favorite bar. It looks cheap and run down, but the inside is well looked after. “They also have some nice food choices. Nothing special, but for this area…” I break off. “It’s one of my favorite places,” I finally admit. “Even if it isn’t great.”

“I’d actually like to see your favorite place,” Aden says. “I am sure it won’t scare me away.”

“It’s run by drag queens,” I say quietly, realizing that I have put him through a lot this evening. “It’s not a test, I promise. I am friends with the owner, and it’s—”

“A drag queen place sounds good,” he reassures me. “I am frequenting one, too.”

“Really?”