Someone Like You (Blue Club Books) Read online

  Wait. She lived in California. There had to be a way to do that. She got on the Internet, searched ‘male escort agencies in Cali’. Sure enough one came up.

  “Club Blue: Your Fantasy Awaits”

  She rolled her eyes and read further to see what she would possibly be getting herself into. She didn’t want a prostitute. But wait, would that be good to have as an option? She slapped herself across the face for even thinking it. She’d never use another human being like that. Never.

  “Club Blue provides the perfect gentleman for that special date, for a little conversation, for a protective escort, or even as a boyfriend or fiancé to fool the family.”

  Next to the description was a handsome, well-groomed man, leaning forward on his hand and winking.

  She clicked on the FAQ link at the top of the page, and scrolled down.

  “Q. Are the boys available for anything?”

  “A. Our men are handsome and the perfect date and escort. They are not prostitutes.”

  “Q. What qualifications do the men have to be escorts?”

  “A. We understand that women have a variety of tastes in appearance, dress, and demeanor, so our men run the gamut in style. However, all are chosen based on their superior looks, personality, and ability to carry themselves well in any situation.”

  “Q. How much does it cost to hire a Club Blue member?”

  “A. Prices discussed with members only. Membership is $200.00 a year and allows a customer access to conversation with all of the men in a casual, elegant environment perfect for choosing the man right for your needs.”

  Nicole’s lungs just wouldn’t fill up all the way. She breathed in deeply until she felt her diaphragm finally push down, and then closed the laptop.

  She had money now. She’d sold another book. This was perfect. She had the money to just hire someone. No one would know he was an escort, and if they did, oh well. And she wouldn’t have to worry about jerks assuming she was alone, and she wouldn’t have to worry about her date expecting sex in return for his company or politeness. Everything would be spelled out up front between them, and she’d be the one calling the shots. She would pick, and it wouldn’t matter who could see the dirty handprints or the target that seemed to be on her back.

  She laughed, setting the laptop down and laying back to soak in pictures of her out with all the different men, her friends jealous and appreciative. And the best part would be coming home alone at night to a book, rather than to an argument with a douche bag with grabby hands. And she could enjoy a man’s company without worrying when the payoff was coming or when things were going to turn bad.

  She couldn’t see a downside to this. Sure it would be pricy but not as pricy as handing out money to the idiots that wanted to date her. Sean, painfully old-fashioned Sean, had always thought that was so backwards, that the man should always pay.

  Wait, what would Sean think of all this?

  She wanted to tell him right away, and pulled the computer open again. Maybe she should be sure, should work out the details. No, he’d be smart enough to realize that it may not be ideal, but it would keep her out of bigger trouble. Didn’t he always want her to stay away from the bad guys? This was the only way she had figured so far. Someone like Sean, she didn’t deserve. Someone normal, someone nice, that just wouldn’t fly.

  She opened a new email window and started to type.

  Sean,

  I’ve found the solution to my boy problems. I can just hire male escorts! Can you believe you can do that in Cali? I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.

  Nicole

  The Sean in question sat hunched on his too small computer stool, large shoulders slumped, remembering a rainy day when he’d been much smaller.

  “Darkie. Halfie. Oreo.” The kids punctuated each kick with another horrible word, and he tried to cover his face and any other vulnerable parts with his hands. He’d known moving to somewhere like Idaho would be a mistake. Even at eleven he knew he was different from the white, rural farmer’s kids. He heard faint screaming, and wondered if it was just in his head.

  “It’s the banshee! Run!” One of the boys yelled, delivering a last kick. The other two swore, and followed suit. Sean closed his eyes and lay still.

  “You okay?” A dark face with a wide halo of frizzy brown hair leaned over him. “I chased them off.”

  Flushing with shame at being saved by a girl, Sean sat up. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” She said, squatting beside him. “I hate bullies. What’s your name?”

  Sean looked the girl over, noting her scruffy clothing, her wild hair, and her shy smile. “It’s Sean.”

  “So you’re new I guess? Grade 5?”

  “Yes. You?”

  “Grade 7.”

  “Ah.” He fidgeted. “I could have taken them if it was one on one.”

  She seemed to realize he needed her to acknowledge that he could, because she nodded. “They’re wussies.”

  “Why do they call you the banshee?” He asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe ‘cause I scream at them. Maybe ‘cause I threw them down the hill last year when they wouldn’t let me wrestle with them.”

  Sean smiled and his face hurt.

  “Listen,” she said, “do you want to be friends?”

  He just looked at her.

  “I mean, I don’t have friends, and you have enemies.” She spoke quickly, waving her hands. “I just think we could do each other some good.”

  “I’d love to be your friend.” Sean said, pushing to his feet. “What’s your name?”

  “Nicole.” She said, smiling.

  He stared at the window for a moment then back at the computer screen as if by looking away and back again the pernicious words would disappear and in their place would be ‘I’ve found the solution to my boy problems. You’ve always been there for me. Let’s try dating’. But the words were the same, so he saved the email to the draft folder and signed off. He dragged a hand through his hair. He looked down at his watch, then at the duffel bag at his feet. He breathed in, breathed out. Then grabbed it and headed out, kicking the front door shut behind him.

  At the dojang, Sean hit the punching bag hard, enjoyed the slap ringing out and the pain in his hand. He wondered what kind of background checks they did for escort agencies. He hit it again, this time with a hook that sent pain up his shoulder. How could he know that she’d be safe? He spun and hit it again with a back fist. What if she was just getting into more trouble? He pivoted for a straight left. How could these men respect her when she was hiring them? He swept around and hit with a spinning hook kick. They couldn’t possibly treat her like the princess she was. He stumbled back, then jumped a few times to reset. Got into ready stance, fists raised, then shook his head and went over to the computer to see if any dojang business needed his attention.

  He slumped into the seat, rubbed his shoulder and reminded himself not to practice when upset. There was nothing he could do. Nicole had made her choice and like a lemming off a cliff she’d stick to it till the fall. All he could really do was wait and try to repair the damage. Through letters and emails. As usual.

  At least if he was a girl, he could go in and check on things. But the only way guys got in was by being escorts. Sean set his chin in his hand and tapped his fingers a few times. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

  He stalked to the bathroom to look in the mirror. He pushed at his thick, dark hair, pulling it forward, then to the side, then stepped back and squinted. Was he too tall? He thought his face was okay. Normal, he guessed. He bared his teeth at the mirror and leaned in to inspect them. Straight. Good. He lifted up his gi and tee shirt; things didn’t seem too terrible there. How good looking did an escort need to be?

  “Oh no.” He told the idiot grinning back at him from the mirror. “Don’t even think about it.”

  He started to take his gi top off and stopped with his arms crossed over his head. Sure it was stupid, but so was waiting ar
ound forever, watching her get hurt. She’d saved him once, couldn’t he do the same for her? There was no way she would know. He didn't look anything like he used to. He could deny any of her suspicions.

  Sean finished removing his gi and stuffed it in his bag. She was so ridiculous. If any of the women in his dojang came to him about hiring an escort, he’d rain down a shower of disapproval.

  He didn’t even know what being an escort meant. He walked over to the studio computer. Sat down and eyed it for a moment. Sean hoped he remembered to delete the search history after this because he really didn’t want to answer questions from his teachers about this. He typed ‘male escorts bay area’ into Google and searched. He clicked the first link, assuming that’s what Nicole had done. When the main site pulled up, a place called “Club Blue” complete with a jaunty sleazeball winking, he felt the blood abandoning his face posthaste. No way he could do this. He put his hands on either side of his head and pulled it back around, forced his shifty eyes to make contact with that horrifying screen. He could do it for her.

  He looked down the page. So there was a Frequently Asked Questions list? Yeah, he had a few questions. What would it take for a man to do this? What kind of messed up guy would take money from women and sell himself out?

  Those weren’t answered in the FAQ. He read it a second time, less afraid that his face was going to melt while doing so. They weren’t prostitutes. Well that solved one doubt that had been crawling under his skin since he’d read her email.

  So it was just dates. That made some sense. It was too bad though that the world had come to such a low point that women had to spend money to find a decent date. One who wouldn’t take advantage. Or perhaps women just didn’t want expectations, relationships, or settling down. Maybe this was a way to have male company without breaking a man’s heart when he decided he wanted to keep you forever. He thought that inevitable when a man spent enough time with a woman.

  But then he reminded himself that Nicole’s experience proved that many men didn’t. Many men wanted whatever they could take with no responsibility. He cracked his knuckles.

  He scrolled down on the FAQ till he saw the last question. His hands felt clammy; his breaths weren’t bringing in enough air. Maybe it was too hot in here. Maybe he should have turned on the swamp cooler.

  22. Q: How do I become a Club Blue Escort?

  A: Just contact us using the above form. Tell us a little about yourself, attach a picture, and we’ll get back to you to schedule an interview.

  He put his head in his hands.

  Chapter 2: Club Blue

  Nicole’s aunt Mary entered the kitchen and looked with a disapproving glare at her niece who was slumped over the counter with a cup of coffee and an obvious hangover. Not from drinking, but from a late night of writing.

  “How could you choose this career?” Nicole said, wiping at her eyes and yawning.

  “I like writing.” Mary said. “And the longer you’ll do it the more you’ll learn to take it in moderation.”

  “I can’t help it, inspiration comes in spurts for me.”

  “I see.” Mary came around the counter and put an arm around Nicole. “Is something bothering you?”

  “No.” Nicole said. “Yes. How’d you know?”

  “You binge-write when you’re upset.”

  “Caught me.” Nicole turned to face her aunt, who pulled up a stool beside her.

  “Remember Sean?”

  “The boy from Idaho you’ve been writing forever?”

  “Yeah.” Nicole said.

  “What about him?”

  “There’s something I really want to do, and he won’t approve.”

  “So?” Mary said. “If someone doesn’t love you how you are, they don’t love you.”

  “I guess.” Nicole said. She turned and stared out the window for a moment at the beautiful sunny day. It was open just enough to let a cool, humid breeze in that smelled of flowers and grass.

  “I’m failing to see the issue here, Nicole.” Mary said. “Come back, earth to Nicole.”

  “Sorry.” Nicole said. “I’ll never get over how beautiful it is in Cali.”

  “Living in Idaho will do that to you.” Mary said, and was immediately sorry to have mentioned Idaho because Nicole’s expression changed, like she had previously been a sunny sky and now storm clouds had rolled in and smothered it.

  “So what about Sean then?”

  “Well, I guess you could say he’s always been my conscience. He’s smarter than me.”

  “Doubtful.” Mary said, raising an eyebrow.

  “Fine.” Nicole said. “Wiser? More mature?”

  “Okay, that wouldn’t be difficult.”

  Nicole laughed. “Usually he’s right. But sometimes,” She looked out the window again, and exhaled slowly, “Sometimes it’s like we are from different worlds, and his advice doesn’t apply because he doesn’t live in my world and can’t see that the choices that are good for me may not be the choices that are good for someone else.”

  Mary just listened. She didn’t want to be labeled an outsider with irrelevant advice as well.

  “I don’t want him to think badly of me. But at the same time, I think it’s come to the point where it’s inevitable. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Nicole, just do what you want.” Mary said. “I’m sure Sean means well, but you are the one who knows yourself best. And the fact that you knew that some of his advice was good, means you can tell the difference between advice that will help and advice that won’t.”

  Nicole nodded and began to drum her fingers on the counter.

  “So this time it seems like you really feel strongly about doing this particular thing.”

  “It’s not like I followed his advice even when I knew it was good advice though. It’s more of a hindsight thing. Like, if I had just listened to Sean, I wouldn’t have been in that mess.”

  Mary stood up and put her arms around Nicole.

  “I’m grateful for all your messes.” She said. “They made you who you are today.”

  “Oh, Aunt Mary.” Nicole said. “I just don’t know how I’ll ever pay you back for how wonderful you’ve been to me.”

  “Besides. Who is this Sean anyway? A boy you haven’t seen since you were 13. All you’ve done is write. Who knows if the two of you would even be friends now if you were forced to share the same company?”

  “I don’t know.” Nicole said. “But I think we would be. We had the kind of bond that just doesn’t fade with time or experience. I think it’s amazing that we’ve been in contact so long without seeing each other.”

  Mary rolled her eyes. “Technology these days keeps young people so far apart.”

  “No it doesn’t.” Nicole said. “At least in the case of Sean and me, we’d have been writing letters if we weren’t emailing. And Sean won’t even get a Facebook.”

  Mary went to the cupboard, grabbed a mug and poured herself coffee. “Good for him.”

  “And maybe I like having one guy friend who isn’t in it for anything more. Who isn’t around me and doesn’t want to come on to me, who doesn’t expect anything in return.”

  Mary had to agree that was sound reasoning. “That makes sense. You have the worst taste in guys.”

  Nicole winced, stung by the truth. “It’s not my fault. They always seem nice.”

  “Maybe boys and girls just can’t be friends.”

  “Maybe they can only if they don’t see each other so that hormones can’t run all over the place, ruining everything.”

  “I don’t think hormones ruining everything would be so bad, if some of these friends had been real friends.” Mary said.

  “I don’t know.” Nicole said. She stood and rinsed her mug in the sink and put it in the dishwasher. “Thanks for the advice Aunt Mary. You’re the best.”

  “I just want the best for you.” Mary said, standing to give her one last hug before Nicole could disappear back to her cave. “Heaven knows you deserve it, afte
r everything.”

  Nicole flinched, but hugged her aunt back.

  Or maybe, I don’t deserve it, after everything. Because of everything, she thought as she fled back to her bedroom. She would call the club no matter what Sean said.

  Sean entered the Club Blue main office feeling like a beef up for quality inspection. He’d tried to get something professional together, a blue button up shirt, with a tie that was killing his neck. A pair of pants that was probably a bit small. He was a nerd. He hoped that could be fixed later.

  The receptionist looked normal. The desk looked normal. But this place was not normal and no amount of inconspicuous equipment or people would make him forget that.

  “I have an interview.” He said.

  “What was that sir?” The blonde at the desk looked up at him pleasantly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

  “I said I have an interview.” He said louder, and the girl jumped. “Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

  “Ah.” She said. “That’s understandable, I’m always nervous before a job interview too.”

  When he looked at her askance she amended, “If you can just think of it as a job interview, you’ll do great.”

  “Ah.” He said.

  “Are you Sean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not very verbal are you?”

  “No.”

  “Well some women might like that.”

  He grunted. He had no idea what to say back to that.

  “Well see that door over there? They are waiting for you inside.”

  He looked over. They? Hm.

  “Thanks for your help.” He said, giving her a lame smile.

  He stopped at a drinking fountain to delay the inevitable. The place smelled like a dentist’s office. He looked at the door handle like it was going to bite his hand, and then turned it. He would not be intimidated by this. He had won national titles kicking other men in the face. This would be no problem. He opened the door slowly, expecting to see someone seated at the other side of a desk.