Page 19 of Something Like Hail

“Fine!” Noah said. “I justhad a question about my check.”

Harold’s expression turned to confusion.“This isn’t about George? Or the uh—”

“Pineapple juice?” Noahsaid with a smirk. “I’m all right. It was a little weird, but nobiggie.”

Harold reappraised him. “Wow. Most guys arefreaked out after someone pisses on them.”

“He didn’t pee on me. Ipeed on him.”

“Yeah, but afterwards… Hedidn’t piss on you?”

“Nope!”

Harold blinked. “What thehell? Healwayspisses on me.”

“You must have one of thosefaces.”

Harold glared. Then he started laughing.“Get inside. The door’s open. I never lock it.”

“That doesn’t sound safe,”Noah said, allowing him to take the lead.

“If someone wants to breakin, a locked door isn’t going to stop them.”

But it might slow them down enough for aneighbor to notice and call the police. Noah didn’t bothercorrecting him, too happy that he was being invited inside. Theywent to the kitchen, Harold taking two Dr Pepper’s from therefrigerator and handing him one. In the interior light, he couldsee how mussed Harold’s hair was, his pale-gray dress shirt alittle wrinkled.

“How did your night go?”Noah asked.

“Great! Chester is asweetheart. You just have to make sure you’re not there in themorning. You really seem like you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” Noah said,feeling proud that he had successfully completed his task and gladthat Harold was so concerned for his welfare. “I think I’ve got thehang of it.”

“What’d you want to knowabout the check?”

“Oh!” Noah set the soda onthe counter and pulled out his wallet. “Am I supposed to give thisto you or…”

“I’m not your pimp,” Haroldsaid with a wink. “Remember?”

“Then what do I do withit?”

“You’re supposed to cashit!”

Noah shook his head, not understanding. “Ithought all the money would go back to Marcello and I would get mycut later.”

“Of your hourlyrate.”

“Huh?”

Harold took a swig, gaze steady. “You knowit’s illegal to have sex with people for money, right? Marcellodoesn’t want to get his hands dirty with that sort of thing, soofficially, clients pay a booking fee based on how long they needcompanionship. That’s your hourly rate, and yeah, Marcello takes abig cut. Any extra stuff is between you and the client, but you’llprobably never need to negotiate. Not unless they want you to leavetown or they have a special request. The members of the GAC knowthe drill. If something sexual happens, they’re expected to tipgenerously or they won’t be in the club for long.”

Noah held up the check. “This is a tip?”

“Yup.”

“And it’s allmine?”

Harold grinned. “Yeah! What are you gonnaspend it on?”

Noah was too cautious to celebrate just yet.“Marcello paid me an advance when I was hired, so maybe he’sexpecting me to give this to him.”