Page 49 of Something Like Hail

“Come now! The deserts ofNew Mexico, the mountains of Colorado. Or perhaps you would rathertravel east instead. How do you feel about Cajun?”

“The food?”

“The boys! They have acertain charm: laidback and patient at times, simmering and spicyat others. Now that you mention it, I suppose they aren’t sodifferent from gumbo.”

Noah made a face. “The green guy?”

“You’re thinking of Gumby.This won’t do at all! How can we enjoy each other’s company whenyou don’t understand my jokes? You clearly need your horizonsbroadened. We’ll start slow, don’t worry.”

“Just a finger ortwo?”

“Ha!” Marcello seemedpleased as he gestured for his phone. Once Noah returned it to him,he used it to send more texts. One must have been to Charles, whoreturned and got behind the wheel. Marcello nodded once, settingthem in motion, expression still jovial as he tucked Ryan’s letterin the inner pocket of his suit jacket. Only when the car made aU-turn did his expression grow serious, Marcello glancing in thedirection of the prison with a disdainful sniff. Another enemydefeated, Noah supposed. He felt a chill, wondering what would havehappened had he chosen to side with Ryan, but that fear wasfleeting compared to the guilt settling into his stomach. Noahattempted to drown this with another glass of champagne, once theyhad boarded the business jet, but to little avail.

“Have you given any morethought to that wish?” Marcello asked as they soared above theclouds. They were seated, their chairs facing each other across theaisle again.

Noah decided to keep his wish simple. “I’dlike to go on a date.”

“I thought we were in themidst of one,” Marcello said, winking to show he was only kidding.“If you’re still trying to prove your work ethic, there’s no need.You handled the challenges I set before you with immaculate grace.I’ll put you back to work, never fear.”

“So you really were out toget me!”

Marcello chuckled. “I was only trying toscare you away, and not entirely because of your history. I mustadmit there are aspects of this arrangement that have me ill atease.”

“Like what?”

“Statistics, particularlythose relevant to homeless gay youth, who are much more likely toturn to sex work in an attempt to survive. I find myself somewhattorn on the issue. I’ve always been a proponent of consentingadults being allowed to reach their own agreements. If both you anda client find a beneficial arrangement, then who am I to judge? Andyet, I didn’t offer you all the options that I should have. Ineeded to learn more about you first, and when I discovered yourconnection to Ryan… My apologies. That issue is firmly in the pastnow. My point is that you’ve impressed me enough that I’m willingto offer you another position instead. The pay might not be aslucrative, but there are opportunities for advancement, and ofcourse you would have an easier time explaining your work historyto any future employers.”

“What kind of job would itbe?” Noah asked.

“We’re a small studio. Wedon’t have a mail room as such, but there are alwayscorrespondences to be weeded through and either discarded oranswered. At times you might run errands for a photographer, or seeto the needs of our more demanding models. In essence, you would beat the beck and call of anyone who requires yourassistance.”

“Not so different from mycurrent job,” Noah joked. “How much would it pay?”

Marcello told him, and while it was arespectable sum for an entry-level position, it didn’t come closeto the hundreds of dollars a night that he could earn as an escort.Noah had catching up to do. Most people his age had their own placeto live, a car to get around with, and maybe even a savings accountor retirement fund. Reaching the same status would be a lot easierif he kept tricking. Besides the money, he actually enjoyed thework. Meeting new people was fun, and he liked the challenge offiguring out how to make each client happy. Whether fulfillingneeds emotional or physical, Noah ended each assignment feelinggood about himself, like he had something special to offer. He hadnever felt that way before. Now that Marcello was on his side, hewould probably get easier clients like Chester, but he felt capableof dealing with the thornier ones too.

“I appreciate the offer,”he said, “but I’d like to keep the job I’ve got.”

“It’s yours,” Marcellosaid, “although I don’t feel it constitutes a satisfactorywish.”

“That’s because youmisunderstood me,” Noah said. “Even before you tried keeping Haroldand me apart, he was usually busy at night. I was too. That’s whyI’m asking for a date. As a client.”

“You want to employHarold’s services? Why not simply request a night off for youboth?”

“Because I don’t think hewould agree,” Noah said. “I, uh… This is embarrassing, so promiseyou won’t laugh.”

“You have my word,”Marcello said solemnly.

“Harold asked me outalready. That’s what I thought, anyway. We had dinner, but it wasjust a training exercise, and worst of all, he figured out that Ithought we were on a real date.”

“Oh dear.”

“Yeah.” Noah covered hiseyes briefly, as if this could erase the humiliating memory. “Helet me down easy. Harold is generous like that, but he also saidsomething about how this job requires him to staysingle.”

“Nonsense.”

“I figured. I think I knowwhat he means though. Most people would probably have mixedfeelings about dating an escort, but I’m one too, so who better tounderstand where he’s coming from?”

“Indeed,” Marcello saidwith a nod. “I take it you’re not the jealous type.”