Page 9

nine

*ADEN*

F or half of the evening, I’ve asked myself ‘what the fuck I am doing here’.

I came to the bar Noel wanted me to meet him at, just to realize it’s the place he works at.

If there is one thing that’s a dealbreaker for me, it’s mind games and tests.

I have enough drama in my family, I don’t need the additional one in my private life.

However, it seems that ‘usual’ is not the fitting word for how I am handling things with Noel.

Any other guy, I would have politely told him I am leaving, and then never contacted him again. But one look at Noel when he approached me and asked me what I wanted to drink, one look into his eyes, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

From the first time that I met him, there’s been this vulnerability in his gaze, the one Sterling so perfectly captures in his pictures.

But there was more than that… there was fear.

Noel looked scared, and it stopped me from doing the usual thing.

Instead, I stuck around and watched him handle the patrons and his job.

He is diligent, I know that now. Despite his sass, he obviously works hard.

Now I am glad I didn’t leave.

“DeeDee’s food is pretty good,” I say.

Noel’s eyes light up. “Right? It’s not the fanciest stuff, but she knows what she is doing!”

“She does.”

He looks so happy now, munching on his fries. The gloominess around him is gone suddenly. This place must be one of his favorites, yet he decided to take the risk and bring me here. It means something to him. He opened up a little by introducing me to DeeDee and this place.

“Aden, can I ask something?”

“Of course.”

Noel stares at me through his deep blue eyes, but furrows his brows. “Why exactly did you decide to meet me? It’s because of Ster’s painting, right? You must know by now that I am not like the guy he draws!”

I shake my head. “You are like the guy he draws.”

“What?! I am nothing like the guy in the picture! You and Ster need to get your eyes tested, or you are completely delusional.”

I snort. “Argue all you want, but what Ster sees when drawing you, it’s there. But it’s not all there is to you.”

Noel has opened his mouth, probably to argue some more. But, he just looks at me, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just part of you that he draws, not all of you. You are still a whole person. There clearly is more to you than Sterling draws.”

“And that’s bad, right?”

His words take me by surprise. “Why do you think that?”

“Because you are only interested in me due to the drawing. Meeting me in person must be a huge disappointment.”

My God. I pinch the bridge of my nose, wondering once more what I got myself into. For a moment, I see Emil through my inner eye; he had a similar sass, but was much meeker. Something about that realization puts me at ease.

“See, I annoy you already?” Noel mutters.

“A little,” I admit. “But that’s what makes it interesting.”

“Me being a pain in the ass is interesting?”

“Yes,” I say. “For years I have only dated guys…” I pause. “Guys like me, I guess. Obviously, I wasn’t interested in any of them. Until my best friend pointed out I was just running in circles.”

“So, that’s why you are here?”

“No, it’s just what made me brave enough to finally escape the loop I am in.

” I pause. “And to answer your previous question: Just being my artist’s model would not be enough for me to meet you in private.

I was intrigued by ‘Shades of Blue’ because Sterling captured something deep and real.

It’s not been you who pulled me in, but his raw talent. ”

“Really?” Noel asks curiously. “He is good, isn’t he?”

“He is fantastic. An unpolished diamond with lots of potential.”

“So, if it’s not because of the drawing… and not just because of your friend’s comment…” He frowns.

“I approached you in the gallery because I was curious about the man Sterling drew. I gave you my number because you are the first person, in a long while, who I find interesting enough to engage with. I agreed to this date because I wanted to get to know the real you, and I am still here because you showed some honest vulnerability with me.” I pause.

“There is just something about you that makes me throw all reason aside.”

I almost expect him to get upset. I am very much aware that not everything I said is a compliment, however, Noel surprises me by nodding thoughtfully. “I guess I am throwing away a lot of reason, too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” He pauses. “Maybe part of me wanted you to run tonight.”

I figured that much. Tests like these are usually a way to keep their distance. “You wanted me to be the one to run and prove to you that no guy will stick around.”

“Maybe. But then you came and stuck around, and fuck, suddenly I felt so stupid. And weird, like I wasn’t sure anymore what the fuck I am even doing. Does that make sense?”

“It does.”

“Why did you run in circles?” he suddenly asks. “What you said earlier, about always dating the same type of guys…”

“I had an ex-boyfriend years ago, who…” My voice trails off while the usual whirlwind of emotions and anxiety grasp me whenever I think of Emil.

“Sorry for asking,” Noel says. “I didn't tell you all my secrets either. It’s okay. You don’t need to answer.”

“Maybe when I know you better,” I muse.

His head perks up, hope in his eyes, as he widens them and smiles nervously. Suddenly, he looks so incredibly adorable. I didn’t know he could look like that. “Does that mean you want to meet me again?”

“There is an exhibition next Saturday,” I say.

“I am free next Saturday! I will accompany you.”

His words make me laugh. This guy is unbelievable! “Why do you think I will take you along?” I tease.

“Why would you mention it otherwise?” he retorts. “I am obviously going to be your date!” He frowns. “Or am I?”

My amusement just grows at his attitude. He is truly unlike anyone I’ve ever met. “Yes, you are going to be my date.”

Noel grins. “I know that look. You think I am insane.”

“A little,” I chuckle. “But—”

“In an interesting way?” he interrupts. “I guess for an artist or gallerist, this is not the worst thing to say. Aden, you were an artist too, right?”

“Yes, I originally made it in the scene as an artist thanks to the help of a mentor and sponsor. Then I inherited some money and decided to open my own gallery.”

“That’s amazing! It must have been extremely risky, at that time, to start something new.”

I am surprised by his insight. “Yes, it was, but at that time I felt truly lost and just decided I needed to distract myself and do something I loved.”

“And it worked,” Noel muses. “Mateo says you have a very good eye for talent, and everything you touch turns to gold.”

I grab another piece of bread to try the second dip DeeDee prepared. “Now he is exaggerating.”

“Mateo is good,” Noel says. “He knows what he is doing. He would never say something like that if he didn’t mean it. He says you have a good eye for people and their art, and that you see beyond things, whatever that means.”

Lynn keeps saying the same. I am not sure if it’s true. “I am just doing what I do,” I say. “I am not sure if there is really that much behind it.” I pause. “You have been friends for long, haven’t you?”

“Ever since college,” he explains. “Ster and I dropped out early, but we all remained friends. We were the three weirdos.”

“It made you stick together,” I muse. “But I guess something deeper made you bond. It’s great to find friends like those.”

Again, his head perks up, and there is a sudden soft smile on his face.

Another expression of his I haven’t seen yet.

Emil sometimes reminded me of a canvas, too, but he never was as natural in his actions and reactions as Noel.

It always seemed like he wanted to appease me, as with Noel…

he just is the way he is. “They are great friends,” he explains happily.

“The best. Mateo constantly dotes on Ster and me.”

“Obviously,” I chuckle.

“Why is it obvious?” he pouts.

“Because I have met Sterling, and he is the type of artist who is clearly in his own world at times. As for you, you work at a dangerous place, and you seem to work a lot too. Obviously, a good friend would be worried about you two.”

Again, Noel surprises me by not being annoyed at my words.

It’s a weakness of mine to just say things, unfiltered.

Lynn keeps telling me I am direct by pretending I am not, and that she probably would murder me if she were my girlfriend.

Cedric, on the other hand, doesn’t mind at all.

Maybe Lynn is right, and he is my mascot.

“Makes sense,” Noel says. “But he can be a bit patronizing.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” I say. “But I bet you and Sterling know how to stand up for yourselves.”

Noel smirks. “We know, yes.”

DeeDee drops by at our table, a warm smile on her lips when she asks us what else she can bring us. Her smile grows when I order another drink, and Noel wants more to eat. I guess my first intuition was right… that he works a lot, and doesn’t always look after himself well.

“What about you?” Noel asks. “Do you have friends?” He scrunches his nose. “I mean, you are obviously nice, so I assume people like you, but you also look like the type of guy who wouldn’t let many people get close to him.”

I rest my chin on my palm, eyeing Noel thoughtfully. Where does he pull these insights from?

“Too much?” Noel asks quietly. “I overstepped, didn’t I?”

“If you overstepped, I did too, earlier,” I say.

“I didn’t mean to imply you have no friends,” he hurries to explain.

“But that I look like the type of guy who wouldn’t want too many friends?” I clarify. “Maybe you are right. I do have a best friend, though. You probably saw her during the exhibition.”

“Oh, is she the one who handled the press with you?” he asks.

I nod. “Lynn. To be honest, she probably is my only friend, so your take isn’t completely wrong.”

Noel just shrugs. “Mateo and Ster are my only true friends. I like my co-worker and my roommates, but they are just acquaintances.” He pauses. “Quality over quantity, you know?”

“That’s one way to put it,” I chuckle. “I do enjoy the silence,” I admit. “And to just spend a quiet evening at home.”

“Not the party guy, huh? Figured.”

“And you?”

“I just work at a club, but I hate clubbing.” He grimaces. “My dream place is a small cottage in the desert or at an empty shore by the ocean.”

Here it is again, the slight melancholy around him. “Hm, I can see how that would be alluring.”

At 2 a.m., DeeDee closes the bar, and we are forced to leave. It’s about time anyway. “Well then,” Noel says. “We are seeing each other—”

“I am not going to leave you stranded here,” I say. “I am taking a taxi. I will make sure to drop you off at your place.”

He furrows his brows. “Then you know where I live.”

“I also know where you work and where you hang out,” I chuckle.

Noel sighs. “You are right. I wasn’t particularly careful, huh?”

“Technically not,” I say.

“Sterling would kill you if you did something.” He shrugs before getting into the taxi. “I guess it’s okay.”

And I guess we need to have a talk eventually, about being more careful around someone who is technically still a stranger.

Well, at least I can drop him off safely now.

Noel doesn’t live too far from his workplace.

The area of the city isn’t as bad as where his bar is located, but it’s not too pleasant either.

I am glad he agreed to let me take him home.

I don’t push him anymore, however. When he gets out, I decide not to be too overbearing and accompany him to his door. He doesn’t seem like the type of person who would want that.

Or is he?

Noel walks to the door of his apartment complex slowly, turning around to gaze back at the cab. There is this vulnerable look in his eyes again. Fuck, I am goner when he looks like that, totally under his spell.

I unbuckle my seat belt. “Please wait for me here,” I tell the driver, before making it out of the car.

Noel’s eyes widen when he sees me, stopping in his tracks. Once close to him, I take his hand, gently squeezing it.

“Did you have fun this evening?” he asks.

“It was a great first date,” I say.

“So… it was a date, wasn’t it?”

I smile. “I guess we can call it that.”

To my surprise, Noel suddenly wraps his arms around me, leaning his forehead against my chest. I am not sure what made him act like that, but once again, he is being surprisingly vulnerable. I wrap my arms around him, holding him. I can feel him letting out a couple of shaky breaths.

When he draws back, he looks close to crying. I grab his face between my hands and look into his beautiful eyes. It looks like the doors to his soul are open right now. “Are you working tomorrow?” I ask.

“I have a night shift,” he says.

“Tell me when you are home safely afterwards?”

A smile curls his lips. “Yes, I can do that.”

“I am on a short business trip, but I will make sure to give you a call.”

“Are you going to pick me up on Saturday?” he asks.

“Yes, I will pick you up. I’ll send you the details later.”

I cup the back of his head, gazing at him to know if I overstep any boundaries, but Noel just nods.

It’s all I need to lead forward to capture his plump lips.

They are so soft, tasting slightly like the last drink he had.

Noel is holding onto my arms. There is a joy in his eyes I haven’t seen before.

I also can’t remember the last time I kissed someone so softly without going into action immediately. It just doesn’t feel right to do anything more tonight. I hold him for a moment longer, then I reluctantly let go, waiting for him to disappear through the door safely before I return to my driver.

What just happened?

Nothing I did tonight was like the usual me.

I came on this as a friend at best, not imagining wanting anything more than simply to get to know the guy behind the beautiful face. I was annoyed at his mind games, just to end up spending most of the night talking to him. I can’t remember the last time I just talked to someone for hours.

And I don’t remember ever following someone out of my car because I felt this suffocating urge to hold them in my arms.

My own actions are literally leaving me speechless.

Once back in the cab, my driver takes off.

I am still trying to make sense of what just happened when my phone vibrates.

It’s the private one, so either it’s Lynn or—I gaze at the display, seeing a notification pop up.

A message from one of my brothers. Kayden.

Sighing, I put the phone aside. It’s too late to deal with this, and my evening has been too pleasant to ruin it now.