Miles
I haven’t been to the club on a Friday in a long time. Years. Maybe before Noah was born. It’s busier on Fridays and weekends, so when I come to visit, it’s usually during the week.
“Don’t think I’ve ever noticed this place before,” JJ says as we walk up to the doors, bypassing the long line.
“It’s one of those places you need to know is there,” I say.
It’s down a side street off the main road, but it’s on a dead end so you don’t pass it on your way somewhere else.
“Hey, Miles,” Joshua, the bouncer, says with a smile when we reach him.
“Hey,” I respond.
“Didn’t think I’d see you here again.”
“Rudy and Maxwell can be very persuasive,” I say with a slight laugh.
He marks something off on his clipboard, then glances at JJ.
“This is your guest?”
“Yep.”
He pins his gaze on JJ for a moment, assessing, before checking something else off on the list. Then he picks up the stamp from the podium and applies the ink to my hand and then JJ’s.
“I’ll be in there later. Find me for a drink,” Joshua says as we walk by.
“Uh… okay,” I say, frowning.
“Friend of yours?” JJ asks once we enter the first set of doors.
“Not… exactly.”
“He’s definitely interested in you,” he says.
“I’m aware,” I say. “We, uh… hooked up a few times.”
JJ grunts a sound that feels like disapproval. Maybe jealousy?
I’m not sure what it is, but it makes me uneasy, so the moment we’re inside the club, I grab his arm and pull him aside, to the small hallway that leads to a set of bathrooms.
“I don’t know if it matters to you or not,” I explain quickly. “But I called it off with him. We didn’t have good chemistry.”
“You sure he understood that?” he asks.
“I haven’t seen him or heard from him in years. I didn’t know he even still worked here because I didn’t see him last time. So… yeah?”
He nods, and there’s no use in beating a dead horse, so I suggest we get drinks.
I don’t hate the jealousy. He isn’t being mean or dramatic. It feels like a normal amount of possessive jealousy. But JJ and I aren’t a couple… so that is confusing, but I don’t dwell on it. We’re out to have fun… and fun we shall have.
The music gets louder as we walk deeper into the club, stopping at the nearest bar. From here, we can see one of the smaller stages, but we have to go around the corner to see the rest of the club.
“This place is big,” he says, looking around.
“There are three stages. Rudy and Maxwell are always on the main one.”
“Will we meet them before we see them naked?” he asks with a smirk.
