Page 41 of Dark Room Junkie

“Thanks. I’ll just grab my stuff real quick.”

He vanished behind the stage and into the staff area.

A storm was raging inside me. A voice screamed at me,“You idiot! It’s the coke that’s making you think like this!”

Of course, otherwise, I wouldn’t be so into him already.

“You’re making a huge mistake!”

Maybe, but Noé is a player. Everyone knows that. Whether we have sex at my place or Livio’s, it doesn’t matter at all.

Plus, he’s the one who asked me about my preferences on the first night, implying he was open to anything.

We don’t owe each other anything.

So it makes no difference if he comes along.

“You’re not usually so callous.”

It wasn’t just a tough week I had. The door Michael opened for me won’t close right now. And I just wanted to forget. And if Noé was there, even better.

He retreated to the bar with his bass and backpack. I finished my beer, and we set off together.

“Where’s this party anyway?” he asked as we stepped out into the cold.

“Not far. On the other side of the tracks. Just five bus stops from here.”

Twenty minutes later, I rang Livio’s doorbell, and the entrance door opened with a buzz. I went in first but kept looking over my shoulder. Noé shivered from the cold and rubbed his hands as we rode the elevator to the fifth floor. My heart was racing, and I couldn’t wait to feel Noé. But once we reached the top, my conscience reared its head again.

He deserves the truth!

“Listen! This is not a regular party,” I managed to say. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression from …”

“Hi, Alex!” Livio suddenly said behind me. “Oh, and you’ve brought someone. How nice! So you didn’t forget!”

I froze. Livio’s words came back to me.

Open House. Everyone is welcome.

My heart sank, and I was breathless.

Oh no ... This can’t be true. How could I forget that?

“Hi! I’m Livio!”

Livio put an arm around me and shook hands with Noé. I discreetly looked down at Livio. He was shirtless but at least wearing black sweatpants. Noé shook his hand and openly assessed him.

“Noé,” he said with his hot, husky voice.

“Come in! Make yourselves at home.”

I let Noé go first and closed the door behind us. Noé placed the bass next to the entrance and set the backpack beside it while Livio hung up my jacket.

“Where did you pick him up? Fuck, he’s hot!”

I was still breathless and stared at Livio wide-eyed. He no longer cared about me as he led Noé into the dimly lit living room.

Shit, no!And as if to protect Noé, I started moving. But I was too late. Noé stood frozen in the entrance to the living room, clearly not believing his eyes.

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