Page 6

“And sometimes perform.” Hakeem lifted one shoulder. “When they need me to. Or when Tabbi decides my face is useful.”

Antonio looked at him for a beat too long to feel casual.

“It probably is,” he said.

The sentence landed softly, hitting a place Hakeem would ignore until he could inspect it closely, later.

He covered it with a scoff. “Please. I’m fighting for my life out here.”

“Are you an actor,” Antonio asked, “or are you one of those people in Los Angeles who say they are until somebody asks a follow-up question?”

Hakeem laughed despite himself. “That was rude.”

“It was a real question.”

“Yes,” Hakeem said. “I’m an actor.”

Not successfully enough yet. Not in the way he wanted. But saying it plainly still felt important.

Antonio nodded once, as if confirming something for himself.

Then he said, “You’re twenty-six.”

Hakeem blinked. “Jesus.”

Antonio’s brows shifted. “What?”

“You can’t just say my age in the middle of the night like you’re announcing a cause of death.”

“It was on your housemate application.”

“Oh, good. Much better.” Hakeem rolled his eyes fondly.

“And your birthday’s next month.”

Hakeem straightened slowly, glass still in his hand. “Do you memorize lease paperwork for fun, or is this a separate hobby?”

Antonio ignored that. “Twenty-six-year-old actor in this city?” he said, finally closing the notebook. “Hope you don’t own any white lighters.”

Then he started gathering his things with calm, efficient hands.

Hakeem stared at him. “What does that mean?”

Antonio slid the loose pages neatly together against the tabletop. “Nothing.”

“That’s absolutely not true.”

“It’s true enough for tonight.”

He stood, mug in one hand, notebook in the other.

Hakeem frowned. “You can’t say cryptic serial-killer shit to me and then go to bed.”

Antonio glanced at him over the top edge of his glasses, unreadable. “You work at a horror bar. I thought you’d appreciate the reference.”

Before Hakeem could answer, Antonio turned toward the sink.

It was not a dramatic exit. That was what made it worse.