1Callum
Another day, another interview, another rejection. Callum had been wrong to think things would be any different in Leeds. Nothing had changed the last time he’d moved, why had he been stupid enough to think things would be any better this time?
He pushed open the door to Ink Envy, gritting his teeth at the irritating cheerfulness of the little brass bell that rang as he entered. On this occasion the bell was unnecessary because the small reception and waiting area was packed. Granted, it didn’t take many people to fill it up. He guessed that Saturday was probably one of the busiest days for the tattoo and piercing parlour. Callum’s uncle, Ezra, was chatting with a customer who had an entourage in tow. The blue-haired owner of the business, Faye, was staring at the diary, her pen poised just above the surface of the paper.
Callum sat on the narrow bench, waiting. He took off his plain grey tie and undid his top button. He hated the stuffy clothing. The last time he’d worn a shirt and tie, he’d been in court.
“How did it go?” Ezra asked, once his customer and their small group of friends had left.
“I didn’t get it.”
Ezra gave him a sympathetic look. “Better luck next time.”
Callum shrugged. There were only so many times he would be able to cope with being told he ‘wasn’t suitable for the job’. He undid his cuffs and rolled his sleeves up to just above the elbows, revealing the tattoo of two koi carp that covered his right forearm. His tattoos weren’t the reason no one wanted to hire him—his criminal record was. In around eighteen months, his juvenile conviction would be spent and then he would no longer have to declare that he had a criminal record when he applied for jobs—most jobs, anyway. There were some positions where his record would always haunt him, but he didn’t think he wanted to work with kids or vulnerable adults. Eighteen months felt like an eternity, especially when he needed a job to sort himself out.
Ezra looked to Faye. “I don’t suppose there’s any odd jobs going here? Someone to man the reception at peak times?”
Callum’s cheeks blazed with heat. Having his uncle give him a place to stay was one thing but calling in favours to get him a job was another.
“I’m afraid not,” Faye replied, looking up. She smiled at Callum. “I’ve already filled my waif and stray quota.”
Callum frowned at that.
“Speaking of which…” Ezra began, as a young man came down the stairs. “Jared, have you met my nephew, Callum?”
It was a stupid question because they hadn’t met, and Ezra knew it. Callum had never understood why people made statements like that. He knew it was a rhetorical question, but honestly, what was the point?
“No,” Jared said. He smiled warmly. “Hello.”
Two words were enough for Callum to peg the guy’s accent as posh. It was hard to figure out Jared’s age, he had a curved youthfulness to his face, but if Callum had to guess, he’d have put the guy at maybe a year or two older than him. Callum had always regarded himself as slim, but Jared was even skinnier. Was he the waif and stray that Faye had referred to?
“Callum’s staying with me for a while,” Ezra said. He looked between the two young men, his eyebrows raising as though he were having a lightbulb moment,
Callum slumped down on the bench, not wanting to hear his uncle’s idea.
“Jared could show you around the city and introduce you to some friends.”
That was another thing Callum had never got—the need for people to volunteer someone else for a job, without asking them first.
“It’s okay. I can find my own way around.” He didn’t want anyone to feel forced into helping him.
“Callum’s looking for a job,” Ezra went on, before Jared had a chance to reply to either of them. “I don’t suppose there’s anything at the club, is there?”
Jared shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, but I can ask Kyrone.”
“What club?” Callum asked.
“The Heaven and Hell Club,” Jared explained. “It’s the gay pole dancing and strip club my fiancé works at.”
Callum stiffened as he imagined how his family would react if he were to get a job there. It wouldn’t be good. “I don’t dance.” He didn’t really want to strip for anyone either, regardless of their gender.
Ezra laughed loudly. “They have other jobs—bar staff, bouncers—”
“You’ve been?” Callum hadn’t meant to sound so shocked.
Ezra pursed his lips, pausing as though he were debating whether or not to answer Callum’s question. “Once or twice.” He tapped the side of his nose. “That’s between us, okay?”
Callum let that sink in. Was Ezra gay? He wasn’t entirely surprised, but he was a little bit disappointed that he hadn’t known. Not that he and Ezra were close, so what right did he have to expect to know about his uncle’s private life? Still, if Ezra was gay, it was a pretty big secret for him to keep from his sister. Although Callum understood why his uncle wouldn’t want to tell his mum, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hold the secret in his hands.
