Page 6 of On Your Knees

He lets me go.

And though he has to, and though I’m used to being let go, I still find myself feeling like I’m going to cry as I follow the other servers from the ballroom.

* * *

It’s over.

Finally, it’s over.

After the dinner, there was an auction then drinks. The drinks went on forever, especially because I lost track of Ethan right after the auction. I think he left.

I’ll never see him again.

I don’t know why that thought weighs so heavy, given that I generally avoid people. Case in point, I’m stepping out into the alley so I don’t have to walk through the crowd of servers talking and smoking at the back doors.

At least I’m back in my own clothes. I hated all that restriction, especially having my feet crammed into shoes that were too small. But that’s me, I guess, always existing places that I don’t fit.

Fuck, why am I depressed?

I’m not, I tell myself. I’m just tired. Everything will be fine tomorrow. Fine enough anyway. Back to normal.

Pointless.

Stop it. Get the hell over yourself.

I stuff my hands into the pockets of my old bomber jacket, partly out of habit, partly because the September evening is cool, and I start walking.

“You know, you really should pay attention to your surroundings.”

I yelp and wheel around to see a dark figure moving toward me through the alley.

THREE

Levi

“You scared me,” I gasp as Ethan emerges from the shadows.

“You should take more care.” His tone is sharp, like he’s angry with me.

I don’t know what to say, so I shrug. “I’m just heading home.”

“On the subway?”

“Yeah.”

“No. I’ll take you.”

I stare at him, too stunned to form a response. With his features smudged by the dimness, I can’t read his expression, but his body language is stern and intimidating.

“Walk with me first,” he says. “I want to talk to you.”

I follow him to the mouth of the alley and onto the sidewalk. Despite his words, he doesn’t actually talk to me.

He’s angry. I’m sure of it.

“I thought you left,” I say because the silence is uncomfortable. At least, I think that’s why I say it, but it comes out like I’m upset about it. It makes me feel dumb, so I quickly add, “I mean, you’re still wearing your tux.”

He replies coldly, “I did leave.”