Page 9 of Too Good to Be True

I don’t know, and I don’t need to know. He’s our client—pro bono, sure, but still a client. Besides, he’s a mess. And he’s got kids. And I have never wanted to deal with such things and never will.

“As you well know…”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Integrity, professionalism… Usual bullshit I know perfectly well. That’s not what I want to hear, and you know it.”

“You won’t get anything else from me.”

Paul snorts. “You’re no fun to hang out with.”

“Next time you go out alone.”

“I think I will take your advice.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

Paul laughs. “You are an arsehole.”

“Your fault. We spend too much time together, and I’m starting to look like you. Maybe we should take a break.”

“Like you’re capable of staying away from me. Admit it. I’m the only person you like and the only person who likes you.”

I laugh, too. Paul is not just the only person I like. He is my best friend; he is like a brother, one of the family—the only family I have.

“What are we doing here, Paul?” I ask him.

“I thought you knew.”

I turn towards the room just as Seth walks through the crowd with a tray in his hand, pointing straight at us.

I hold my breath just long enough to absorb this new excitement that runs through my body as I observe his again without shame.

Then I’m forced to part my lips and gasp for air before one of them notices my distress.

“Here I am. I didn’t spill a single drop. Yay!” He places the glass on the table, laughing.

“Will you sit with us for a while?” Paul asks him.

I really want to kick him in the shins.

“Just two minutes.” Seth takes a seat between Paul and me. “If I’m not disturbing.”

“Not at all,” Paul immediately replies. “Right, Rowan?” He then asks, turning to me.

My words hung in the air, his sensual eyes locking with mine. “Stay for as long as you want.”

SETH STAYS WITH US, thankfully, for only a few minutes.

Just enough time for a brief, innocent chat as I watch his mouth moving sensually and his hands gesturing to emphasise his words amid the noise of the venue.

Time to think about my current situation and realise I must immediately put a safe distance between myself and this case before Seth takes the stage to announce the first show for tonight.

On stage, he looks like someone else: he appears confident, proud, and at ease.

He seems to be where he belongs, and I must say he fits right in.

He has worn a jacket, also glittered, over his shorts, matching the tie he wears.

His shiny hair full of glitter catches the light with every movement he makes.

His make-up brings out his eyes, which look even more intense, as if they could dig into you.

I am hypnotised. Completely. By him. By the way he moves, the way he talks, the way he breathes. By the vibes he gives off. By the electricity and the life he gives off. And I'm… fucked. And I don’t even waste energy denying it.

“Not your type, huh?” Paul provokes me.

I take a sip of my beer. “Go fuck yourself.”

“Maybe you need something stronger…” He alludes to my drink.

“Maybe you should just mind your own fucking business.”

WhenSeth callsRegina Summers’ nameout loud, a shout of approval rises from the audience. The lights pulsate to the music as Regina Summers enters in a swirl of feathers and sequins.

Seth leaves the stage for the performance, and when Regina’s voice drifts across the room, the audience falls silent, mesmerised by the notes, their charisma, and the atmosphere they create with their movements and stage presence.

Paul and I are also swept along by the enthusiasm in the venue, and we are pleasantly impressed by the performance.

Every now and then, my gaze goes to the bar, where Seth is back, his lips moving with the lyrics, his body moving to the beat of the music.

I smile to myself, letting myself be carried away by the energy of this night and putting off any thoughts or decisions until tomorrow.

For now, I just want to enjoy the show and this moment of unexpected perfection that surprised me in the last place I thought it could happen, and thanks to the last person I thought I would meet on my path.

REGINA SUMMERS, OR BETTER, Ross, sits with us after the show and after signing autographs for the fans.

Seth also returns to the table with a second round of drinks.

This time, I opted for a whiskey like my friend.

I need something definitely stronger to cope with Seth’s closeness, especially if he keeps appearing before my eyes with those damn shorts on.

“You were stunning up there! And your voice, your charm… She was perfect, right?” He asks me, but then he corrects himself. “He was… They were…” Paul mixes up the pronouns, but luckily, Ross doesn’t mind. In fact, they laugh.

“He. I’m a man, and I identify as such, and… I obviously like men. Especially guys like you,” Ross provokes Paul, who doesn’t flinch.

“I’m flattered, really, but I have a woman waiting for me at home.”

“I suspected that,” Ross says, smiling.

“And he’s also pretty much in love,” I add, taking a sip of whiskey.

Paul shrugs. “When you find the one…”

“Lucky. In fact, lucky both of you,” Ross comments. “You don’t know what a struggle it is to find someone with serious intentions these days.”

“Tell me about it,” Seth immediately goes after him.

“Ah, you!” Ross turns to Seth. “You have this bad habit of falling for… How shall I put this?”

“Falling for men out of my league?” Seth helps him.

“I would never dare to say such a thing. If anything, you’re out of their leagues,” Ross adds. “You’re too good in this world of fakes and wolves. They swallow you whole.”

Seth smiles tightly, obviously uncomfortable.

I have no doubt about that. You can tell immediately that Seth is a good guy, maybe even a bit na?ve. An easy prey.

“Can we talk about something else?” Seth asks, a nervous hand sliding through his hair.

“Of course,” Ross quickly agrees, “we can discuss my show. You were saying…” He turns to Paul, who laughs.

Seth and I also laugh before I clear my throat and address him directly, while Paul and Ross are engaged in a conversation about the performance.

I have to get closer to talk. “Now I understand why you love working here.”

Seth pulls away from me and looks at me. “It’s the only place where… Where I can be me. And where I feel appreciated, I’m certainly not talking about my bartending skills.”

“Did you sew Regina’s stage costume?”

He smiles.

“Wow. That’s really… You’re really talented.”

He observes himself. “The barman’s uniform is my doing, too.”

I shouldn’t shift my eyes to his figure, but it would be rude not to observe his outfit.

“Oh, yeah?”

“I didn’t decide on the amount of fabric,” he laughs nervously. “But I sewed the shorts for everyone.”

“You could use these skills of yours.”

“You mean to find a different job?” The light in his eyes fades.

“I wish I could avoid it, believe me.”

He gives me a gentle smile.

“I’m trying to make you win this case, Seth. For you, for the kids.”

“Thank you.” He reaches a hand across the table, his fingers caressing my forearm. “I promise I will listen and follow all your directions.”

I nod. His fingers slowly leave my skin, but the feeling of their light touch remains.

“I will be the perfect client.” He runs a hand through his hair again, a natural gesture that is not at all seductive but has an exceedingly devastating effect on me.

“I wish you could just be yourself,” I say sincerely.

Seth barely lowers his gaze, then wipes away a tear with his fingers.

“You are too nice to be a lawyer.”

And you are too charming. And charismatic. And good. And funny. And sweetly sensitive. All things that wouldn’t hurt in a world where you and I don’t have to fight side by side to ensure your kids aren’t ripped away from you.

“Don’t get used to it,” I say, my tone flat now. “I won’t be like this in court.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to imply that…” He shakes his head softly. “Forgive me.” He gets up slowly. “I have to get back to work. It was a pleasure seeing you here and spending time together.” He turns and disappears into the club without giving me time to reply.

“I’m going too.” Ross quickly gets up. I guess to go over to him and make sure he’s alright. “Thanks for coming. I hope to see you both again soon.”

Paul says his goodbye to Ross while I remain silent.

“Did you have to be an arsehole?” Paul asks me as soon as we are alone. “What did you say to him?”

“Me? I didn’t say anything!”

“We’d better go too.” Paul stands up, seeming to resent me now.

I follow him outside, and as soon as we’re free of the din, I ask him, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“It was good, wasn’t it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Going out, seeing people… These people. Especially one.”

“I don’t know what are you talking about.”

Paul bursts into laughter. “You just can’t bring yourself to admit it?”

“Admit what?”

“That you like him. And a lot. That you liked it here, that you felt alive for the first time in a long time.”

“Now you’re really going too far.”

I walk towards the car parked on the street, a short distance from the club. Paul’s footsteps quickly catch up with me.

“You can tell me, you know.”

I turn suddenly towards him.

“You like him. And you didn’t expect it. And you wish you didn’t like him.”

I shake my head, angry.

“And the more you try to convince yourself of that, the more you become involved.”

“You don’t know what…”

“Oh… I don’t know, you say? You know how it happened between Vanessa and me. It was like… like a bump on the head!”

“I don’t think she would like how you describe your meeting.”

“I’m sure there are better ways to describe how I felt the moment Vanessa smiled at me for the first time in that club after I asked her if she had any plans for the next fifty years.”

That’s exactly how it was. I know it because I was there. I even got into a fistfight that night. Vanessa was in the company of her then-boyfriend, Paul, but Paul hadn’t received the memo.

“I knew it was her.”

“You were shamelessly lucky.”

Paul shrugs. “Fortune favours the brave.”

“Paul…”

“You haven’t taken your eyes off him all night.”

“That was because he was half-naked.”

“The other bartenders were also half-naked. All of them.”

“Really?” I ask, realising too late that I am not helping my cause this way.

Paul raises an eyebrow.

“I didn’t look around, that’s all.”

“That’s because you were focused on his ass!”

“What the hell…?”

“OK, you may have looked at something else too, but…”

“Are you done?”

“Only if you admit that I’m right.”

I ignore him and walk back to the car. Paul follows and catches me.

“Was that a yes?”

“Shut up.”

He raises his hands and remains silent the rest of the way.

The problem is that inside me, nothing is silent anymore.