Love on the Rocks (Bar Tenders) (13 page)

Yena glanced at the stack of colorful parasols in the hallway. “Which one is yours? Let me guess. Leopard print one.”

“Hah. They’re all mine. Most of them are stage props, though.”

“Stage props?”

“Yeah, to dance around with.”

“Oh, right.” Yena looked at him thoughtfully as they exited the flat and Justin locked up. “I’d like to see you dancing.”

“Yeah?” Justin beamed. “You can come any time you want.”

“Mmm.” The knowing smile on Yena’s face heated Justin’s cheeks.

“I mean, come to a show.”

“I knew what you meant.”

Justin nudged him. “Did you, now?”

“Yep.”

They shoved and chuckled on the way to the lift.

“Don’t you take the stairs down?” Yena asked.

“Pfft. I’m too knackered,” Justin admitted. “You wore me out, baby.”

This time, Yena blushed. Justin wanted to pin him to the wall and kiss him. Instead, he cleared his throat and selected the button for ground. He fished around in his head for something else to say, but nerves tightened his throat.

Wow, get a grip
.

Outside, it was indeed a sunny day. Justin was pleased he hadn’t brought his jacket. He almost offered to carry Yena’s for him, seeing as he also had a bag of cocktail implements, but he worried that would be too much. It wasn’t like they were at the holding hands stage yet.

Were they?

Justin hadn’t been in this situation before. Not with someone he liked, someone who was free to hold hands with him in public.

He led them onto the main high street, Haverstock Hill, and they walked toward Camden. There were people about, even a few market stalls selling fresh food, so there was plenty of bustle to distract from having to make conversation.

They said a few words between them. Justin was relieved it didn’t feel too awkward, but more… relaxed. Truthfully, he was still half asleep. Being outside in a busy street made him realize how tired he was, despite his napping.

All too soon, they approached Camden Road, where the bigger markets were. Yena obviously recognized where he was. “Are you coming all the way to the Tube?” he asked. “I know where it is from here.”

“Um….” Justin considered, but he wasn’t keen on navigating the even busier bustle of Camden and all its loud tourists. He’d rather say good-bye here, on the quieter street. The lock bridge loomed ahead of them, and the stables market entrance was on their right. “Guess I’ll head back,” he said. “Gonna get some food and try wake up a bit.”

“You working tonight too?”

“Yeah, unfortunately. But not until seven.”

“Lucky you.” Yena smiled.

Justin almost asked if Eric would be working tonight, but he decided against it. “So… I’ll talk to you soon?”

“Sure. Um… thanks for dinner, by the way. It was really nice.”

“Any time, gorgeous.” The words were out before Justin could overthink them. He reached for Yena’s hand, twining their fingers together. Yena smiled, but he gave a quick glance around.

Not one for PDAs,
Justin noted. He was disappointed, but he wouldn’t press the issue. Holding hands, if only for a moment, was enough for now. Then Yena surprised him by leaning in, tilting his face up. Justin met him, their lips brushing together briefly, and then Yena pulled back. A nervous smile flickered on. “Bye,” he said quietly.

Justin squeezed his hand, then let go. “Bye. Have a good shift.”

“You too.”

He watched Yena walk away, eyes drifting to his butt, before Justin forced himself to turn and walk in the other direction. All in all, that hadn’t gone too badly. Not badly at all. His heart was jumping, and he smiled to himself.

Chapter Eleven

O
VER
TWO
weeks later, Justin wasn’t feeling nearly so confident. What had started out as
promising
quickly dwindled to
unsure
with a niggling worry of
too good to be true
.

Justin sipped his mineral water as he took a seat to wait for Tam in their practice room. He took his mobile phone out. No messages from Yena. He’d
said
he would let Justin know when he was free. That was nearly four days ago.

For the hundredth time in as many days, Justin looked through their old message thread, rereading their conversation. The first message from Yena had been barely an hour after Justin had left him in Camden that day.

Justin. My colleagues are laughing at the huge love bites on my neck. It looks like I’ve been punched.
This followed by a wide-eyed face.

Oops. Sorry, gorgeous. I thought you already knew? Xxx.

Why would I know?!

Because you would’ve looked in the mirror?

Well, I didn’t.
An angry face followed this, but also some kisses.

You should look in the mirror more, Yena. You’re hot.

An angry face was sent in reply.

Justin had sent a kissing face, some hearts, and a flower symbol.

Don’t think you can suck up with stickers!

Can I suck up elsewhere?
Winking face.

Omigod. I’ve got to work. You’re impossible. Xx.

I’ll let you get revenge on me next time. Xxx.

Great. I’ll use the vacuum cleaner. That’ll show you. Xx.

Ooh, kinky
. Justin had sent more symbols, mostly with excited faces and love hearts. It was just a bit of fun, after all.

Later that same night, he’d given in and texted Yena again, asking when he was next off. When Yena replied, he’d told Justin his days off in the week coming, but their schedules clashed. Yena couldn’t commit further than that, as he’d said he needed to see family. Justin tried not to sulk.

He scrolled through a couple more messages, where he’d sent Yena a picture of a vacuum cleaner with an extendable hose. Yena had replied with a picture of fluffy leopard print slippers.

Ooh, they’re nice. I’ll buy those. Xxx.

Thought you would, Justin. Xx.

When am I seeing you? Xxx.

Justin winced as he reread that message, but impatience had been clawing at his insides.

Still was.

I have to see my parents next week
, was Yena’s reply.
Gotta swap shifts to get the days off, so not sure when I’m free yet. Xx.

Justin had tried to sound casual. Nonchalant, even. Hey, what did it matter if he had to wait another week? They could meet up the week after.

Except as each day passed without a word from Yena, Justin’s panic grew. Was he being ditched? Or was he being paranoid? Yena’s parents couldn’t live far away. South London wasn’t
that
big. What did he need so much time off for?

Maybe it was someone’s birthday, Justin reasoned, as he put his phone away. Birthdays happened. Maybe it was a big one, and Yena couldn’t get out of it.

Still. He could’ve bloody texted. Justin was very good at texting back. He knew not everyone shared the same skill. He knew most other guys sucked at it, possibly with the exception of Tam. But there was surely time in the day to send one little message. Was that so hard to do?

Footsteps pounded up the stairs, and Tam burst into the room, cursing London transport. “We’ve only got the room for two more hours,” he said, throwing off his street wear. “Let’s nail this and go home.”

Justin couldn’t agree more. He wasn’t really in the mood for dancing, but they had to get this
Ooh La La
number right or Tam would clobber him.

Boots on, space cleared, Tam put on the music, and they got into position. “We’ll have a run through as is, then we’ll do a full dress rehearsal.”

Justin was barely listening. He let muscle memory carry him through the routine, as his mind drifted back to Yena. Despite saying he wanted to see Justin perform, his schedule still clashed with Justin’s. It seemed Yena worked even more than he did.

Unless he was lying.

Justin turned the wrong way and bumped into Tam, who grunted in annoyance.

“Sorry,” Justin said sheepishly.

They kept going, but Justin’s heart wasn’t in it. When the song ended, Tam didn’t replay the music. He sat in a chair and took a drink of water. “Come on, then. Out with it.”

“Huh?”

“Justin, you’re lurching around like a zombie with two left feet, and you’ve had a face like a wet weekend for days now.
Spill
.”

“No, I have—”

“
Spill
.”

Justin sank into a chair, gazing forlornly at his own platform boots. “I think I’m being dumped.”

“What? Who by?” Tam sounded incredulous.

“Yena.”

“Oh.” Tam rolled his eyes, taking another swig of water. “Justin, you only saw him five minutes ago.”

“No, I didn’t,” Justin moaned. “It’s been like, two weeks.”

“Has it?”

“Yes.”

“Hm. Well, maybe he’s busy.”

“That’s what
he
keeps saying. I think he’s giving me the brush off.”

“What was he like last time you were together?” Tam asked.

“He was… fine, I guess. A little shy, but he seemed fine. We get on really well.”

“And what sort of busy did he say he was?”

“Um… working at the bar, of course. And seeing his parents this week. But he said he’d let me know when he was next free, and so far he hasn’t.”

“Justin, stop whining and go to his bar.”

“What?” Justin goggled at him. “I couldn’t do that. What if he doesn’t want to see me?”

“Oh, pull yourself together!” Tam waved a hand at him. “Let’s do this rehearsal, then
you
go to Soho. Go see your man.”

“I….” Justin panicked.
Go to Foxy’s?
“But what if he’s not there?”

Tam looked like he was ready to smack Justin with the water bottle. “Why don’t you
ask
? Say, I’m swinging by your way later, wondered if you’re working. That sort of mundane thing.”

“Er….” Could he do that? Justin’s fingers already twitched for his phone.

Yes
. He’d go to Foxy’s.

N
EVER
IN
his life could Justin remember feeling so nervous. Rehearsal was over, and now he sat on a half-empty tube carrying the last of the commuting stragglers and him, to south London. Over two hours ago he’d sent a text to Yena, asking if he was working this evening. Now it was half-ten, and Justin still hadn’t gotten a reply.

Well, not that he could on the tube, anyway.

If Yena wasn’t working, Justin supposed he’d go home. It’d be a bit of a wasted journey, though. To combat nerves, he’d stuck his earbuds in and fortified himself with ABBA. The tube thundered through the Underground, and Justin gazed out of the windows whenever it pulled into a station. He didn’t see anyone he knew. He was almost hoping he would, so he could persuade—
force
—them into coming for a drink.

Tam had bowed out. Another date with the mysterious booty caller. Justin felt a little jealous.

He glanced up at the Tube map above passengers’ heads. Only two more stops to go. When
Super Trouper
came on, Justin turned it up a little. He needed to thoroughly drown his butterflies. As it was his favorite song, and he and Tam performed it onstage, he couldn’t help wiggling in his seat, fluttering his hands to discreetly join in.

It was a shame he couldn’t sing. He only sang on the tube if he was drunk, though, or with friends. He hummed along, staring into nothing as he imagined himself onstage, dancing it out.

He almost missed his stop. Justin leaped out of his seat, catching the eye of the two girls seated opposite, who were grinning. One of them said something, but Justin was in too much of a hurry. He waved a good-bye, and then jumped off the tube.

All he had to do was walk out, and Foxy’s was down a side street. Barely a couple of minutes’ walk away from this tube stop.

Justin walked slowly. His heart had slowed down, thumping loud and heavy in his chest.
What the hell?
This was ridiculous. He walked up the escalator, too nervous to stand still. He swiped out through the barriers, took a right turn, and exited for Tottenham Court Road.

The night air was crisp and chilly now. The high street was busy, as always, but now with people heading to bars and restaurants rather than shopping. It was only a Thursday night. What if Foxy’s was really busy? What if Yena wasn’t even there? Justin would’ve worked himself into a tizz for nothing.

He was actually sweating. Not great, especially after he’d had a rehearsal. Though he’d sprayed on enough deodorant to rival a perfume factory, he’d rather have been freshly clean. Cars sounded their horns on the main road as a rickshaw cut them up. Justin left them all behind, and slipped through a darker little alley. Late night take-aways and off-licenses lit the pavement.

Stalling, Justin walked slowly. He took out his phone, not really expecting to have any messages.

He stopped. There was one message. He was so focused on his phone, he almost walked into somebody. “Sorry,” he said, then plastered himself against the window of a shop. The message was from Yena.

Yeah, working all night. How are you? Xx.

Justin stared at the message. His heart gave a little jump. Yena was working. Which meant he was only a matter of paces away. Justin could go in, have a drink, say hi….

God, then what? He felt like a crazy stalker.

Make it a quick drink, he decided. The bar might be really busy anyway.

Forcing himself to walk the remaining distance to Foxy’s took every ounce of courage he had. Justin suspected if it’d taken Yena so long to reply to his last message, there wasn’t much point sending another one. He rounded the corner of a building, and he’d arrived.

Foxy’s outdoor smoking area was busy, full of well-dressed men, and a few women in loud dresses. Justin tried not to panic.
Stay calm
. He took a deep breath before he walked through the smoker’s pit and then marched on, reaching the door.