Page 8

eight

*NOEL*

“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?”

“Yes, one of our patrons runs it. She loves the more extravagant art and buys from one of my artists. The guy is almost exclusively painting for her.”

I feel my heart taking a leap. He is actually frequenting such a bar himself?

I suddenly feel much lighter. I know from Ster and Mateo that the art scene is much more free-spirited than other fields of work, but Aden is still a CEO.

Maybe not the typical CEO, but he could fit into their world easily.

He is rich, owns his own business, and looks the part.

I gaze at him. Maybe he wouldn’t fit one hundred percent. He dresses a tad bit more casual despite always looking proper, and obviously he knows how to wear jeans as he proved tonight, but still…

Aden chuckles. “What are you thinking about?”

“I just tried to imagine you in a drag queen bar,” I say with a frown.

“And?”

“Doesn’t work,” I say bluntly. “You always look so perfectly classy. Wouldn’t a fancy high-end bar suit you more?” I pause. “Oh fuck! I said that out loud, didn’t I?!”

“Yes, you did,” Aden says, furrowing his brows. I am so doomed. “But I appreciate this version of you much more than the one who wants to test me.”

What? Is he serious? “I don’t hear that a lot.”

“That your date doesn’t want to be tested?”

“No, that someone doesn’t hate my bluntness. I am not really…” I think. “I have an attitude, okay? I know it.”

“Have I complained?” Aden asks in return.

His words take the wind out of my sails. “No.”

“Alright,” Aden nods. “Then let’s go to this bar of yours. And for the record, I do like to visit a fancy bar here and there, but tend to avoid those where I am forced to mingle with the typical CEO audience. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t fit.”

“Really?” I blink. “But I have seen you during the event. You can handle them so well!”

“Yes, because I have to, and it’s my business. Also, the gallery is my territory. I know how to handle it well. But in my free time? I don’t fit in at such clubs and bars, and more importantly, I don’t feel comfortable there.”

I let his words sink in. That makes sense, I guess. Just like Ster is an artist, and knows how to talk to his fellow artists during events and to potential patrons, but he doesn’t like hanging out in such a stiff atmosphere, preferably.

~~~

The bar I am taking Aden to has a blinking pink sign above the door carrying the letters Paradise. It sounds and looks like a strip club at first glance, but the additional sign very much clarifies that it isn’t.

The owner is named DeeDee, and fortunately, she is present tonight.

“Noel!” she exclaims with a smile when she spots me. Unlike the bar I work in, her place is actually crowded.

She comes over, giving me a hug before gazing at Aden, a bright grin on her face. “And who are you, handsome?”

“Aden,” he says, reaching out his hand to shake hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She shakes his hand, starstruck. “DeeDee,” she says. “My, how polite.” She turns to me. “Your date, or are you stupid enough not to grab the chance?”

I feel my cheeks flush in embarrassment again. “DeeDee!” I groan. “Can’t you not embarrass me?”

She frowns while looking at me. “You are also looking way too skinny. Are you not eating properly?” Before I even so much as say anything, she already ushers Aden and me to a small empty table in a cozy corner.

“Here, sit down there. I had a feeling you might come by today and saved this place for you.” She grins.

“Didn’t know you’d come with such a hot date, though. ”

Since Aden doesn’t say or do anything to correct her, that we are technically meeting casually as friends, I don’t either.

“I will bring you something to eat. Anything you would like, handsome? We don’t have many fancy choices, but what I offer my guests at least tastes good.”

Handsome, aka Aden, just smiles. “Whatever suits a gin and tonic would be nice.”

She winks at him and nods before turning to me. “For you, the usual?”

“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 me to 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.

“She obviously sees you as her son or her little brother,” he says. “I find it endearing.”

“If you say so,” I mutter before gazing at him. “It’s a long story.”

“Are you talking about you and DeeDee or you and the place you are working at?”

“Both, I guess.” I pause. “I don’t like the bar I work at, and I hate the club even more. But at the moment, I don’t have many other options. It brings me the most money, and I need it.” I pause. “I am sorry, I am not sure if I am ready to talk about it all.”

“You don’t need to,” Aden reassures me. “What you said is all I needed to know.”

Mateo keeps telling me that whenever I fuck up a potential relationship my pride is what gets in my way.

Ster keeps saying the same, just with less words.

I realize I did the same tonight, I was just lucky enough to have met a guy who is polite and respectful, and apparently sees a little more in me than just the pretty shell I am.

Taking a deep breath, I gather all my courage. “I am sorry, okay?” I blurt out.

Yeah, that came out convincing. Good job.

Aden looks at me with his usual thoughtful eyes.

“For dragging you around,” I add. “And for my weird stunt earlier tonight. I know others call me complicated and dramatic, and it’s true.

So, fuck it, thank you for not running tonight.

” I feel my cheeks heat up again. Why the fuck is this so difficult?

And why does it look like I am making it worse?

Probably should have kept my mouth shut.

Aden’s gaze turns to one of surprise now, then a smile curls his lips. “Thank you for apologizing,” he says, his low voice warm now.

My god! I did it! The world’s worst apology, but hey, at least it worked.

“DeeDee is coming with our food,” I say, waving at her. I notice she doesn’t just bring the usual finger food, she also made some dips and brought fresh bread. That’s not on her usual menu; she did it for me.

“As I said,” she tells Aden. “It’s nothing fancy.”

Aden smiles at her. “It’s perfect, don’t worry.”

When DeeDee turns around to wink at me, I can’t help but roll my eyes at her. This is either the worst night of my life or the best. I am not sure yet.