Page 27 of Back Room Host

Maybe he’s with Tom, I reassured myself and headed home. Too bad I didn’t have Tom’s number.

10

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Juri

Luca was already waiting for me at the tram station. Although he seemed lost in thought, he stood out in the dreary weather like a firefly. After taking one last drag of his cigarette, he exhaled the smoke and crushed the butt underfoot. His presence made me nervous. My heart raced as I stood before the pedestrian crossing, with him just sixty feet away. He turned his head and noticed me. Once again, there was that instant when he returned from his own world to reality. A shy smile formed on his face as he tilted his head slightly.

God, the guy really has no clue how hot he is.

I crossed the street, internally shaking my head.

“Hi.”

As expected, his greeting was almost timid, but his smile was no less charming.

Get it together, I told myself, putting on an indifferent expression. After all, he wasn’t a client I needed to deceive.Actually, it’s much worse! He wants me to inspire him! Damn! What am I doing here?

“Hello,” I replied dryly, taking a drag of my cigarette—relieved that it hadn’t burned down yet. At least there was something I could hold onto.

“You came,” he said, easing his tension. “I was afraid that might be a no-show.”

“Am I late?” I asked, puzzled, glancing at my phone. It was already ten past nine. “Oh, sorry. It wasn’t intentional.”

“No problem, you’re here now. Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t care.” My indifference sounded too much like our date was a punishment for me. But in reality, it was the other way around, and I was just terribly inexperienced.

For heaven’s sake, pull yourself together! Be yourself!

But that was the snag. There was no clock ticking here. And there was no billing at the end. This was leisure time.

Shit! Stay cool. It’s not like it’s a date!

Luca’s shy glance only intensified my guilt. I gestured toward Langstrasse. “The bar over there just opened,” I said with a shrug.

“Sounds good.”

I felt awkward, yet all we did was cross the street together and head to the bar. Since it had just opened, most of the seats were still available.

“Do you want to sit at the bar or at a small table?” Luca asked as he loosened his scarf.

He had something vulnerable about him, like a helpless bunny, even though he had recently proven himself stronger than me. I had felt his muscles distinctly when I almost fell.

“Here are two stools.” I walked over to the last standing table by the window. This way, we could sit facing each other.

As I removed my coat, he was already standing in front of me with his wallet. “I’ll pay. What would you like?”

“A beer,” I said, sitting on the stool. While I waited, I checked my phone, but there was still no sign of Noé. I was really worried.

Luca returned with two beers and sat down. As he raised his glass, I forced a smile and clinked glasses with him. The gesture seemed almost too solemn for my taste. But if I remembered correctly, all I had to do was be present. He had even mentioned that I didn’t have to play the clown.

“Are recordings allowed?” he asked out of the blue.

Completely caught off guard, I stared at him for a moment, but his expression turned serious. “Really?”

“You said filming wasn’t allowed.”

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