by Opal Mellon
Had he only ended up in this place because of her? The thought made him retch. The women around him didn’t notice. They continued to feel his hair, his pants, his arms, and his chest. It was their right. The privilege they’d paid for. Like the lady who’d adopted him. He stood suddenly, startling them and pulling away from their hands.
“Sorry ladies. Need a drink.” And they followed him, like he was the ringleader of a gang. He hadn’t thought dark hair would attract even more women. When he’d seen his face looking back at him with dark hair, he hadn’t thought he’d widened his appeal. Why had god given him such a useless face?
He felt bad for leaving Molly. He gave a quick look around the room. He located Nicole quickly. Where was Molly? Why hadn’t she followed him like these women did? Could it be she actually cared what he wanted, and he’d stated he didn’t want to be around her by leaving?
He whacked his head when he bent to get glasses, and before he could rub it. It was grabbed and pushed against an ample bosom while a loud feminine voice soothed him.
“Whoa, hands off!” he said, pulling away.
The woman looked at him, shocked. “Well, I never.”
“You’re here for company, not a whore, Irene,” her companion said, pulling her away. “And you’re drunk.”
“I’ll tell Hope about this.”
“In that case I’ll have to ask you to leave,” Justin said, backing away from them and rubbing his head. “I’m her right hand man. I make the calls.”
“I could tell her you touched me.”
“Irene,” he said, coming forward and putting a placating hand out to take hers. “There are security cameras.” He let go of her hand and moved back to the couch. “But we don’t need to go into that do we?” He motioned for her to sit. “Why don’t you let me bring you a snack and we can talk about your day.”
Irene sniffed. “You didn’t have to yell at me Justin.”
“I’m sorry if that’s how it sounded.” He continued to recite soothing words as she sat. Then he turned to search for something to clear out her booziness. If not he’d call Hope. Had the women always been this pushy and annoying, or had that changed recently?
He looked around again for Molly, suddenly wanting, needing to see her. He finally found her, in a corner, leaning forward and talking to, was that Jason? He bit his lip a bit too hard and felt pain. He shook it off and went to the cupboard since there was no food under the bar. As he opened the cupboard, he tried to discreetly watch them out of the corner of his eye, even though they were on the other side of the window.
He heard a giggle (Molly giggled?) and focused on the pantry. He grabbed a pack of crackers. Not elegant but should soak off some of Irene’s drunkenness. He sent Jason and Molly one last glance, then held it because both were so absorbed that they weren’t even close to noticing someone was watching. Was it that easy for her to let him go?
He handed crackers back to Irene, sat down, and heard himself reciting the same pleasing words, but his mind wandered away from them. What did she have to talk about with Jason anyway? What did she not have to talk about with Jason? They were oddly similar now that he thought about it. Introverts, smart, bookworms. Jason rarely even hosted anymore, preferring to manage and watch in the background as the hosts entertained. And he was normal. He was perfect for Molly. He should just leave them alone to live their perfect lives together, no mess, no problems, just intelligence for miles, quiet nights full of chess, or something.
But could Jason kiss her like he did? Oh, you mean kiss her, call it off, offend her, and cry on her? No, he probably wouldn’t do that, he reminded himself. She’d enjoy what Jason, the cold fish, could do better than what he had to offer probably. So it was better for him to stay here with hands sliding over him like water over seaweed. No bother for him.
But he couldn’t stop the urge to go to the corner. He wanted to sit up and watch them. But no, he reminded himself. She’s not for you.
“I know it’s a little unorthodox, but I’d love to take you out.”
Molly supposed it was unorthodox to get asked out by a male escort. Was this a way of selling? Would she be expected to pay?
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Do you want me to schedule with you? I think I should be the one to suggest that.”
Jason smiled, pulled off his glasses and set them on top of his head. “No no, nothing like that. Honestly I barely do anything other than administrative duties around here.” He looked over at Justin for a moment. “Besides, there’s something weird going on between you and Justin.” He turned back to her. “I’d like to know what that is.”
Molly felt her forehead tense up and reached up to rub it. “I think you should probably just ask him.”
“You mean you aren’t interested in making him jealous?”
“I don’t think he’s jealous,” she said.
“Are you kidding?” Jason leaned in to whisper. “Did you see him getting crackers? He was basically openly staring.”
“He is really bad at thinking he’s sneaky when he isn’t,” she said. “But honestly I don’t feel like playing tricks on him.” She sighed and sat forward. “As fun as that would be.”
“You’re a very straightforward person, aren’t you?” Jason said, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair. He looked slightly bored now that the prospect of messing with Justin was off the table.
“What if I just wanted to take you out on a date?” he asked. “What if I thought you were interesting?”
She thought she could see a slight blush on his face, which kept her from calling him an outright liar. “I guess I’d say yes.”
“I could do that.” Jason smiled, and Molly wondered how long he’d had braces. Such perfect, even teeth. Justin had a slightly crooked tooth in his lower teeth, but it gave him kind of a scampy appeal. There wasn’t enough out of line in Jason for her.
“I guess,” she said. “I don’t really even want to be here tonight.” She looked over to where Nicole was sitting.
“Well, I’m working tonight, so not much we can do about that.” He looked over where she was looking. “We can go join Nicole for a while. After you give me a time we can go out and your number.”
“Sneaky,” she said. “If I told Justin you were soliciting dates from customers, would you get in trouble?”
“Probably,” he said. He clasped his hands and rested his chin on them. Molly wished she could see behind the smooth, cultured facade. “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Fine.” She pulled out her phone. “How about tomorrow?”
Jason opened his mouth, and almost, almost showed a hint of surprise. But it was gone like wind and he was tapping his smartphone. “Six?”
“Sure.”
“Your number?”
She gave it. It felt like a business transaction. Was this how Justin felt around her? Did she appear this unflappable? She wasn’t.
“Let’s just keep this between us.” He stood, tucked the phone in his pocket, and held out a hand. She took it, noting roughness on the palms that belied his bookworm image.
“Your palms are rough.”
“There’s more to me than my host image sweetheart,” he said softly. He pulled the chairs to the side. “As there is to most of us.” He didn’t nod to Justin. He didn’t have to.
She searched for the easiest way to reach Nicole, but Jason pushed ahead and led the way. It irritated her, but she followed him.
“Room for two?” he said, smoothly moving to a couch and pulling her down beside him.
Molly decided Jason was a force, like water, and one could have the easiest time just flowing with it rather than fighting it. Even if she did feel like planting a fist in his face and its smug self-assurance. But then she looked at him beside her, politely smiling at Nicole, and realized she was just punishing him for not being Justin. Angry at Justin for giving a chance for someone else to move in. She sulked on the couch.
“Molly!” Nicole said. “Y
ou can be on my team. We’re losing.”
“Then we get Jason,” Justin said, looking up from floor where he was sitting on cushions with two other women. “Two bookworms on one team would be unfair.”
Molly opened her mouth to say it was fine but was cut off by Jason.
“I’m not playing unless I’m on Molly’s team.”
“You can watch then.”
Molly looked from Justin to Jason. Justin’s smile looked tight and mean. Jason raised his shoulders and smiled back.
“I’m not that great at this game,” she said. “I don’t think we’d be that much of a threat.”
Justin looked up at her as Jason put an arm around her shoulder. His cheeks sucked in slightly.
“I guess that’s true, after all you’re a social idiot,” Justin said the words casually, looked away from her as he said them.
Molly heard the people around her suck in air quickly at the same time she felt the words like a blow. She’d have staggered back but she was sitting. She looked at Jason, then at Nicole. Both looked at Justin, then up at her. She didn’t want to be seen like this. She stumbled up and ran for the door.
“Molly!” She wasn’t sure who called her name, but she didn’t stop. She let the door slam behind her, and strode to the elevator.
“Molly.” A hand caught the elevator. If it was Justin …
But it was Jason. For the first time that day she was relieved it wasn’t Justin.
“That was inexcusable,” he said. “Nicole’s on her way out. She told me to catch you.”
“He should be fired,” she said. “Does he really get to talk to customers that way?” She punched the parking level button repeatedly. “Or am I just lucky? How can Hope run her business that way?”
“I don’t know.” Jason held the doors, peeking around to watch for Nicole.
“Molly!” Nicole flew in and Molly jammed her fingers on the door-closed button. “I don’t know what is up with him today.” She reached to hug her but Molly pulled away and put out a hand.
“You aren’t going to blame me for that?” Nicole asked. “I don’t know what’s into him lately: first his hair, then that comment.” Nicole dropped her hands and leaned against the elevator. “I’ll talk to Hope.”
“Oh, I’m sure she saw it,” Jason said. “I’m sure she’s on it Molly. Don’t be mad at us now.”
Molly wasn’t. They all just needed to back off. She didn’t need or want their pity, their hugs, their looks and explanations for why Justin suddenly hated her. He hated her, that’s all that mattered. She’d let him in for the second time, thought that he had let her in, and he’d stabbed her. She needed space. Air. She tried to remind herself to breath. He’d been gone five years. She barely knew him. Why did it feel like when someone came back it was as if they never left? Why let someone in to hurt you again? And what had she done to make him say that to her? Did he even regret it?
“Did he try to come after?” Jason asked Nicole.
Nicole nodded. “I pushed him back.”
“Good.” Jason said. “At least he knows that was ridiculous. Totally unwarranted.”
Molly stayed silent till the doors opened at the garage and Jason held the doors for them.
“I’ll walk you out,” he said, following them.
“We don’t need it,” Molly said.
“Hey, don’t think this changes anything about our date tomorrow.”
Going out with Jason, maybe learning to like a more normal, more average man, would be better than Justin anyway.
“Okay,” she said, shrugging. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nicole waved to Jason, and got into the car. Molly followed.
When they were buckled up, Nicole turned on the car and didn’t seem to know what to say. Molly let awkwardness hang and retreated to her thoughts. When they pulled up in front of her house, she was finally ready to talk.
“I am a social idiot though, aren’t I?” Molly played with the window button. Click, click, click. “Compared to Justin I guess.”
“If you ask me Justin’s the social idiot,” Nicole said. “I still think he likes you, and it’s making him act stupid.”
“If that’s how a man acts if he likes you, no thanks.”
“No,” Nicole said. “All men act differently.” She slid her eyes to Molly without turning her head. “Some act like Jason.”
Molly thought about it. Maybe Justin not wanting to be around her was a blessing in disguise because it left her open to meeting someone new, someone normal. She’d been acting obsessed anyway.
“I guess so.” Molly bit her cheek. “Do you think he’s an upgrade?”
Nicole shifted in her seat. “I don’t really know Jason that well. He isn’t around much. I think he’s probably the most normal guy there, not that that’s saying much.”
Molly nodded. But she didn’t want the most normal. She reached for her doorknob.
“Molly, one sec.” Nicole pulled on her sleeve. “Have you considered that maybe he is acting like this because he’s afraid? I’d be afraid if I’d told someone. If he told you something important, maybe he’s acting to defend himself.”
Molly thought on it for a moment. “His pain doesn’t give him a right to hurt me.” She pulled on the door handle, then stopped, and hugged Nicole for a moment.
“None of us are perfect Molly. We’re just human and trying to do the best we can.”
“I know,” Molly said. “I’m just not sure that his best is right for me.”
“I think it’s great that you’re going out with Jason,” Nicole said. “I just wanted to say that. That perhaps sometimes damaged people act out, but it doesn’t mean they don’t care. But it still kind of takes a crazy person to want to be with us.”
“Like Sean?” Molly asked.
“Or you,” Nicole said. “Do you think I’m bad?”
“Of course not.” Molly considered. “But I’m not dating you. Do you treat Sean like that?”
“Not exactly,” Nicole said. “I’m sure I’ve made it hard though. I don’t really understand him sometimes. Sometimes he’s so normal it hurts, sometimes I don’t know what he wants from me. Or why he’s with me.”
“Because you’re amazing,” Molly said.
“Well,” Nicole said. “I’m getting way too tied up in Justin’s business. I just had to say something, just in case you did like him.”
“I know,” Molly said. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t think he wants me. I’m going out with Jason. I need to be normal. I need to protect myself.”
“Sure,” Nicole said. “But it’s a lot more fun to have someone else to watch out for, who watches out for you.”
“Not for me,” Molly said. “I need to go. Thanks for everything, doing my hair, you know.”
“I’m sorry it wasn’t appreciated like it should have been,” Nicole said. “I’ll make sure to follow up at the club with Hope.”
“No,” Molly said. She stepped out of the car, faced the house, and then turned back around. “I don’t really want Justin in trouble. I just want him out of my life for now.”
~~~
At eleven PM, Justin ushered the last of the guests out of the door and started clean up. He picked up the plastic cups left on the floor, the couch, and the tables, stacked them together, and noted the many colors of lipstick.
He heard footsteps softly over the tile and knew Jason was coming. He knew what he’d say, didn’t want to be told off. He already knew he’d messed up. What was the point? Maybe he’d get fired from this stupid job. Who wanted it anyway?
“I asked Molly out.”
“You what?” Justin said, slowly turning to face Jason. He threw the cups he’d been stacking on the ground and stalked over to him.
“You heard me,” Jason said. “I hardly host anymore anyway.”
“What were you thinking? Asking out a guest?”
“Oh, cause you didn’t?” Jason smirked. He walked past Justin and nudged the mess of cups with his
loafers. “You should pick this up.”
“Screw you,” Justin said. But he knelt and started putting pieces into other cups. He stood up to grab napkins. When he got them, he came back and knelt to wipe up the mess. “Eff this,” he said. “We should have a maid or cleaning guy or something.”
“We would have if you hadn’t always compulsively cleaned it yourself.”
“If you want a job done right—”
“Right.” Jason said. He squatted beside Justin. “Is it not okay if I take her out? I don’t want to intrude. Didn’t seem like you wanted to be around her though. Even if you do act weird.”
“I was at work,” Justin said. “How can I treat her differently?” He stood with his hands full of garbage and moved carefully to the garbage can behind the bar. “And since when is me acting weird something new?”
“You should bring that over here,” Jason said, after Justin dumped his load in the can. “Make it easier.”
Justin didn’t. He walked back over. “It’s done anyway.”
“Fine.” Jason walked with the last couple napkins and cups over to the garbage.
Justin fell back on the couch and lay, looking at the ceiling. “You should turn the stars on.”
“You should go home.” Jason said. “I don’t think you’re well.”
“Think Hope will fire me?”
Jason perched tentatively on the arm of Justin’s couch. “No. I know she won’t,” he said. “She loves you.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Why are you so constipated about emotions?”
“I have my reasons.”
“All right.” Jason said. “So any tips for taking Molly out?”
Not likely, Justin thought. “She hates ice cream. And the beach.”
“Noted,” Jason said. “Anything else?”
“She likes weird anime.”
“Ah,” Jason said. “Me too.”
“Even ones where the boys look like girls?”