Page 24

“Yes, please. Thanks, DeeDee.”

She blows me a kiss before shuffling off. At the bar, there is her co-worker, Crystal. A relatively new drag queen. She is very sweet and always makes an effort to talk with the patrons of their bar. She waves at me and smiles.

Aden takes his coat off, stretching slightly. He looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. What he just told me must be right. It also means that taking him here wasn’t the worst choice.

“This is not a bad place, Noel,” he tells me. “The atmosphere is relaxed. It gives off good vibes.”

I beam. “I am so glad you like it here!”

“Thank you for taking me to this place,” he says. “You said it’s your favorite, and I guess you don’t just take anyone here.”

“That’s true,” I admit. “But I didn’t want this evening to be a complete fuck-up, so, I took the risk.”

Aden looks at me, amused. “So, first you took a risk by asking me to go to the bar you work at to see how I’d react. And then, to make sure I am not too upset, you take the risk and take meto your favorite place? Are you aware you over-complicated this whole process?”

“I know,” I groan, brushing my fingers through my hair. “Why are you not running?” I ask bluntly.

“Why would I?”

“You just saw where I work! And you also saw how difficult I am.”

“I did,” he agrees.

“The place sucks! It’s sleazy, and with equally sleazy patrons. And did you know I work at a nightclub too, running around in a skimpy outfit and serving drinks? And it’s not one of the good clubs either. Actually, the one you came to is the better option.”

“It’s true, the place is sleazy,” he says. “But I assume you are working there because you have to, not because you love the place.”

“True,” I mutter.

“You wanted to show me, didn’t you? To see how fast I’d run and if I am worth the effort.”

I feel my cheeks flush. “I…”

God, why does he so easily look through everything I do?! It’s exhausting, it’s embarrassing, and also kind of hot. He has his life put together, but in a way that it isn’t patronizing or intimidating.

“It’s also true that you are complicated,” he adds. “But not unreasonably so.”

DeeDee brings our drinks, giving me some time before I have to reply to what Aden just said. He takes a sip of his drink and nods contentedly. “Thank you. That’s a good one!”

“Gin is my favorite,” DeeDee explains. “I always make sure to have something decent around. We are not high-class, but there is a middle ground, you know?”

“Absolutely,” Aden agrees. “I see now why Noel likes this place.”

“Oh, did you tell him that you love it here?” she beams and pats my head. “That makes your momma happy.”

“Who are you calling my momma?” I snap.

She grins. “He is a sassy one, but you know what they say about dogs that bark…”

Aden smiles. “Yes. I figured as much.”

“Please leave us alone,” I groan.

DeeDee laughs and moves away.

“She is nice,” Aden chuckles.

“Easy for you to say, as you are not the butt of her jokes,” I mutter, annoyed.