Page 6 of Back Room Host

Now that Luca was increasingly accessible, I became more guarded and built higher walls around myself. I played with my lip piercing and bit my thumbnail.

“Film,” I said thoughtfully.

“I didn’t say I wanted to film you. Although … seeing you here now …”

“No. Filming is not happening.”

“Does that mean you’re considering it?” he exclaimed excitedly. “That’s great!”

As much as I felt drawn to the guy, my inner guard was on high alert.

In the end, it always boils down to the same thing anyway.

And then he expects something from me that I can’t give him.

This can only lead to trouble.

A heaviness settled in my chest as my attraction toward Luca grew stronger.

Get a grip on yourself!My inner guard screamed, and I listened to him. Everything else made no sense. I had learned a long time ago to ignore such feelings. They were ridiculous and would only get in the way. Love was taboo in my life; how else could I do my job?

“I charge 180 francs per hour,” I said as if on autopilot.

As if I had hit him with a right hook, he frowned. “What? Are you serious?”

“My time is valuable.”

Stay strong!

“I just lost my job,” he confessed in a charming tone.

Get out of here!My inner voice screamed, prompting me to stand up and slip into my coat. “I have to go.”Otherwise, he might figure out what’s really going on here.

I finished my beer and put it back on the counter. As I did, the glass slipped from my hand and tipped over. It didn’t break, but the last remnants of beer spilled onto the polished wood. Luca reached for a napkin at the same time. When our fingers touched, a tingling sensation shot up my arm, and I jerked my hand back.

For a moment, our eyes met.

I was no longer calm as he looked at me with slight concern.

“Just stay a little longer,” he said.

Immediately, I pulled out my wallet, placed a five-franc coin on the counter, and wrapped my scarf around me. “I have to go to work,” I said curtly, leaving him sitting there.

“Wait!”

With brisk steps, I left the bar and hurried to the bus stop, where a bus was just arriving.

Kind of a shame, but it’s for the best.

3

–––––

Luca

I didn’t quite understand what had just happened. It seemed like he was interested—until he named that outrageous price. And he didn’t even reject me outright; he just turned the tables, so now I had to consider whether I wanted to accept his offer.

As if I could afford that.

---