“You know, why not?What?I don’t have to drink.”
Lon pumped his fist as if they were back in high school.“Fuck yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Ry grinned.“I guess that means I need to put on different clothes.”
“Damn straight.Let’s go get you changed.Driver’ll be here in twenty.”
Lon picked his outfit: tight jeans, boots, a button-up, and a brocaded vest.His pulse quickened as Lon helped him with the last button.No backing out now.And didn’t his therapist say he should get out?Intel and therapy goals.
A black car waited for them outside the hotel.Lon made a few calls, but his hands flew over his phone, sending a flurry of messages.When Ry asked, Lon mentioned he had to update the plans.
They pulled up to a back alley, Lon leading the way.Music rolled from the building in front of them.A man came out, dressed in jeans and a dark shirt.He had an earpiece in one ear.Lon greeted the man with a handshake and a quick hug before introducing Ry.
In moments, they were in the club.Vibrations traveled up Ry’s legs, fighting against his internal rhythm, forcing his heart to dance.The older man beckoned them to follow, leading them through well-lit rooms, up a flight of stairs, and into the dark, where strobe lights sliced through the blackness.
Sound cocooned Ry.Perfume and cologne hung in the air.He looked at the mass of people dancing wall-to-wall to the beat of the music.Sweat sprayed with each gyration.Lon pulled him away to introduce him to a few of his new friends and hangers-on.
Lon shouted over the thumping of the music.
“What?”Ry asked.There was no way he could even talk to Lon here.
Lon stuck his hand in his pocket and handed Ry two earplugs and motioned for him to put them in.The melody softened, yet the rhythmic pulse of the music continued to vibrate around him.
“These are new,” Ry said.
Lon tapped his head.“I figure if we are wearing them for our shows.”With the earplugs in, his muffled voice cut through the background noise.“Glad you could make it.”
“Thanks, me too.”
Lon then danced around the VIP lounge, talking to everyone briefly, touching an arm there, nodding at the right time.Ry, content to be alone for a moment, watched everyone.He nodded to a few of the local sound crew, but their sidelong glances and snickers kept him from approaching.
A waitress arrived, bearing a tray of full glasses.At this distance, she looked like Mindy.Lon said something to her, pointed to Ry, and then came over.Ry counted how many drinks she dropped off.
“She’s something, isn’t she?”Lon said, sighing.
Ry nodded.When her tray was empty, she sauntered to Lon.Her eyes flicked once to Ry, then back to her target.Her smile dazzled, and Ry could see why Lon liked her.
“Evangeline, this is Ry.Ry, Evangeline.”
“Call me, Eva,” she said, extending her arm, hand poised.
Ry took her hand and kissed it.“Enchanté, Eva.”
She giggled.“As am I.”She turned back to Lon and leaned against him.“And what can I get for you, the usual?”
Lon nodded.After a few long moments, she peeled off Lon and leaned toward him.“And for you?”
“Club soda, thank you.”
“Coming right up, boys,” she said, winking at them.
Lon clapped Ry on the back and then tugged him along.
Over the next hour, everyone in the VIPs had warmed up to him as he followed Lon from conversation to conversation.Nothing regarding Arend had come up.He drank his club soda, nodded along, and still no closer.How to get him alone and outside?
Lon entertained the group with an exaggerated drum solo to the music.Ry smiled, remembering how he would do much the same back in high school.Eva came into view, bringing a tray full of drinks.She set them on the low table and handed them out.
She handed one to Ry.“May I borrow Lon for a moment?”she said.Before Ry could say anything, she gently caressed Lon’s arm and beckoned him away.Shit.He sat back down.They slipped downstairs, and he couldn't bring himself to follow or risk witnessing them.
