Page 114 of Dark Room Junkie

“Did he grow up there?”

“Yeah. He didn’t want to completely ignore his past.”

“Must have been tough.” Martin glanced around with a hint of unease. “He’s around here somewhere, right? Not that he’ll suddenly appear next to me.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, amused. “He won’t come near this picture. He’s avoiding it like the plague.”

“I like the picture you took of me,” Martin admitted. “It feels authentic ... if I can say that. Thanks for this experience.”

“I thank you for even agreeing to it. Once the book is out, you’ll be delivered a copy.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

We walked a few steps and approached the wall where his photo was hanging. A young man stood in front of it, with his hands in his back pockets, swaying slightly back and forth. I had to grin because he somehow seemed a little lost.

“May I introduce? This is Jonah, my cousin. Jonah, this is Alex, the photographer.”

“Hello, nice to meet you,” he said, smiling politely.

Martin looked at his watch, pulled a scarf out of his jacket pocket, and wrapped it around himself. “Sorry, but I have to go now.”

“Now already?” Jonah asked, surprised.

“Yeah, the surprise party. I have to be there before nine.”

Martin finally said goodbye and rushed off. Jonah and I stood silently for a moment, watching Martin leave. I was already looking around, thinking I would do Jonah a favor by leaving him alone, but he turned back to the photo and beamed.

“That’s really a good picture,” he said, peering at me.

Intrigued by his sudden confidence, I raised my eyebrows.

“Thank you. What do you like about it?”

“It’s just him. Unfiltered and honest. Where did you two meet?”

“Oh, at the hospital.” I had no idea why I admitted that, but the way Jonah looked at me with his brown doe eyes almost disarmed me.

Jonah nodded as if he knew, then turned back to the photo. “How did you manage to get him to agree?”

I laughed. “Honestly? No idea! As we talked, he eventually admitted he had a heart for artists.”

Jonah found my response hilarious and shook his head in amusement. “I understand.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, completely. He has a heart for artists. Especially for our roommate, who’s a bad boy.”

Jonah didn’t notice someone approaching him from behind. “Oh yeah?” the guy whispered into his ear with a wide grin. “A bad boy, huh?”

Startled, Jonah moved to the side. “Oh my God! Lu! Don’t scare me like that!”

Noé also stepped forward and stood beside me, while Lu wrapped his arm around Jonah’s waist and pulled him close. Jonah was embarrassed and flushed with heat, but he didn’t push Lu away; however, he was visibly relieved when Lu let him go and reached out his hand to me.

“Alex, this is Lucien,” Noé introduced.

“Hello! Nice to meet you!”

“May I ask ... how did you meet my father?”

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