Page 10 of Forgiven

“You’re Ezra’s nephew?” Kyrone asked, once Callum was settled at the table.

“Yeah. I’m staying with him for a while.”

“Are you from Leeds?”

“No.”

“A group of us go to the Vibe every Wednesday,” Kyrone told him. “You should join us tomorrow.” His eyes sparkled as he looked at Jared. “Interesting things happen at the Vibe.”

Jared practically choked on his mouthful of burger. “Thanks for that,” he mumbled as he drank some of his fresh orange juice.

Kyrone winked at him and then turned back to Callum. “Jared mentioned you were job hunting.”

“Yeah, it’s not going so well.”

“Can you dance?”

Callum wondered how much Jared had told Kyrone about him. “No.”

“That’s a shame. My boss, Michael, is always on the lookout for fresh talent. There might be a bar job opening. Do you want me to ask?”

Callum looked at this bowl. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Kyrone frowned. “Why not? Can you pull a pint?”

Callum shrugged. “I’ve never done it.”

“Can you learn?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Then I don’t see what the problem is.”

“I’ve got a criminal record.” Callum pushed the noodles around in his bowl. It had been easier to say that out loud to Jared than Kyrone.

“I’m not sure that should be a problem,” Kyrone said thoughtfully. “I guess it depends on what it’s for, which you don’t have to tell me. Pass the ketchup?”

Callum was slightly taken aback by Kyrone’s easy attitude. From criminal record to ketchup, as though the former didn’t matter at all.

“My parents wouldn’t approve.” He passed the ketchup to Kyrone.

Kyrone glanced at Jared. “You told him I work at a gay bar?”

Jared nodded. “Ezra suggested asking Michael about a job, too.”

Kyrone squeezed a large dollop of ketchup onto his plate and dipped a chip into it. He stared at Callum “Doyouapprove?”

Callum blinked, taken aback. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I told Callum he should ask you about doing what your parents want, rather than what you want,” Jared said.

Kyrone stiffened. He picked up another chip and waved it in Jared’s direction before dunking it in ketchup. “Jared here has this theory that you have to be true to yourself, even if that means disappointing your parents.”

“Do you agree with him?”

“I didn’t, at first. I’d made a promise to my dad that I’d become an accountant and make something of my life.”

“That promise was making him miserable,” Jared added.