Page 120 of Back Room Host

I snatched a few earplugs from a box and made my way into the club. Loud rock music hit me. Heavy guitar riffs, a deep bass, and drumming that sounded like a thunderstorm. Then I heard Noé’s voice. The guy could sing, that was for sure. Plus, he had absolute control over the audience and put on an impressive show.

When I spotted a black mop of hair at the edge of the stage, my eyes fixated on Juri, photographing the band with a camera. He appeared so focused as he took the photos. He changed positions a few times, then slipped away. Over the heads of the crowd, I saw him approach Alex, who was sitting at the end of the bar, also holding a camera. They examined the photos they had taken together on the small screen. The way Alex was talking to Juri, it seemed like he was giving him some tips.

Just seeing Juri made my heart swell. His smile and the sparkle in his eyes were unique. I was so happy he had found something he liked, something he was good at, and also gave him the opportunity to leave behind the gay escort business. As he had told me, Alex was willing to pay him a very good internship salary, so Juri hardly had to dip into his savings. And then he had also fallen in love with me. With me!

“Hey! You’re here too?”

I turned my head, and there was Clé. He held a half-full cup of beer in his hand and grinned at me. The last time I had seen him was at the Gothic Party. Last year.

Damn, that was a long time ago.

He had been at my place on New Year’s Eve, but I was already at work then. However, since I had found out that he had supplied Juri with drugs, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. But now he stood there, beaming at me from ear to ear.

Of course, Juri must have told him a thing or two.

“Hey,” I said cautiously. “Nice to see you again. How are you?”

“Oh … I’m great. And you?”

I didn’t know the guy well, but I was almost certain that, since he was Juri’s friend, he was probably friendly to me. Still, suspicion rose within me. With a nod, I quelled it. “All good,” I replied stiffly.

Clé arched his eyebrows. “Are you sure? You look like you just got into a fight with someone,” he said, gesturing to his own lip.

“Oh, that … yeah …” My fingers went to my mouth, but I managed to resist touching the split. “I had a competition. Kickboxing. I won.”

“Congratulations. That probably also explains your ninja move at the Gothic Party when you threw Juri down the stairs.”

“I’m not proud of that—if that’s what you mean.”

His smile held a sense of reconciliation, prompting a smile of my own.

I let my gaze wander back over the crowd, searching for Juri. He was still standing with Alex at the end of the bar.

Should I go to him?

Well, he’s working, actually.

It was almost eerie how he affected me. Everything about him drew me in like a magnet and tested my self-control. But I didn’t want to distract him from his work. It was important to him and meant a lot to him. Still, I wished I could just hold him in my arms.

I tried to enjoy the concert, but it was difficult. As good as the band was, as charged as the atmosphere, seeing Juri up there taking photos threw me off balance.

It was crazy how things had turned out between us. And if it weren’t for Clé … I turned my gaze to him and studied him from the side. This time he wasn’t wearing a dog collar. But he was also dressed all in black. He had styled his brown hair with gel and didn’t appear bad at all.

He’s into women, I reminded myself and was almost embarrassed. At first, I had actually thought Juri and him were a couple. Now I laughed at myself about it. I still kind of resented him for supplying Juri with drugs on New Year’s Eve, but another feeling outweighed it now.

At some point, Clé looked at me, puzzled. “What’s up?”

“Thanks,” I said. “Thanks for convincing Juri to meet up with me.”

“It’s nothing.”

“But it is. Without you, none of this would have happened.”

“Well, you probably wouldn’t have thrown him down the stairs like a ninja either.” He deflected the accusation with a mischievous smile.

“No, but … I mean it. I’m really grateful to you. Through him, I realized what an idiot I was.”

“Don’t let it get to your head. It was about time he hung out with people his own age. Always those old geezers.”

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