Someone Like You (Blue Club Books) Read online

  Instead, the room had 4 chairs arranged in a semi circle, a variety of douche bags scattered across them. And what appeared to be the queen of the douche bags sitting in the middle.

  “Go ahead and sit down.” A man with blonde hair and a pretty boy face said, pointing to a lazy boy directly to the side of the door, facing the other chairs.

  “Thank you.” He said, sitting.

  “Go ahead and tell us about yourself.” Another man said. This one had reddish brown hair, freckles, and a body like Bruce Banner. He was soft spoken compared to the tanned gremlin at his side.

  A man on the other side of the douche bag queen added, “Yeah, tell us your strengths and weaknesses.” This man was tall, very dark, with black hair and eyes.

  The woman in the middle seemed to have a hard time, her face scrunching up before she broke into laugher.

  “Sorry, sorry guys, I just can’t do it. Stop it.” She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “Too funny.”

  Two of the guys laughed.

  “Sorry, we were just trying to make it a real interview.” The Blonde gremlin said.

  “Alright cut it out, you’re scaring off the new talent.” The lady gremlin said.

  “You’re the one scaring him.” The redheaded gremlin said.

  “Let’s just get this over with.” The black-haired gremlin said.

  Sean glared. They made a ludicrous situation even worse.

  “Your style isn’t great, but that’s kind of adorable.” The woman said, leaning back in her chair while she composed herself. She was pretty and African American.

  “Sorry.” He said. “Look I gotta admit this is really not me. I just came to check it out.”

  “Oh? Well check it out then.” She said. “My name is Hope. This is Justin.” She pointed to the blonde. “That’s Jason.” She pointed to the redhead. “And this is my business partner, Chandler.” She pointed to the man on her right. “He does our accounts, my half-brother.”

  The guys nodded at Sean in turn.

  “Justin and Jason are our most requested escorts.” She said. “They check out new candidates and can answer any questions you might have about life on the job.”

  Sean had too many questions to have any questions, so he just stared at them, blinking occasionally to look more human.

  “Basically we’re a cross between an escort agency and a Japanese host club.” She said. “Do you know what a host club is?”

  He shook his head.

  “I discovered them when I visited Japan on a business trip.” She said. “Women come in and hire the host of their choice. The hosts are good-looking, polite, and great distractions for businesswomen or other sex workers just looking for company, someone to listen to them, at the end of the night. The main difference between us and them is that we don’t encourage our members to buy and drink alcohol like the Japanese hosts are expected to.”

  The guys nodded.

  “Also, we hire out for dates. Women who came to the club expressed how much they would like to be able to take one of our men out as an escort, and after talking it over with our guys, we agreed. The men could work during the days, rather than just in the evenings, and the women could go to reunions and parties.”

  “Other things you should know? The pay is very good. We are like a family here and you will be treated with respect. Hard work, but very rewarding.”

  He nodded.

  “So at the risk of sounding like a normal job interview, I have to ask you a question. Why do you want to be an escort?

  Sean sat for a minute, wishing he had thought of something to say that wasn’t the truth. Wondering if he should tell the truth. He decided on something in the middle.

  “My friend mentioned recently that she was going to hire an escort. I didn’t even know there were agencies like this. I looked it up online, was curious, and thought I’d be a…great match.”

  Hope studied him.

  “You’d need to update your wardrobe. We have a huge selection of clothing the men here can choose from for the club and for dates, so that won’t be an issue.”

  “He’s tall. And he’s got a good face.” Justin said. “Kind of awkward though.”

  “I was awkward at first too.” Jason said.

  “You’re still awkward.” Justin said.

  Jason ignored it and turned directly to Sean, who noticed the former had green eyes.

  “Your eyes are really blue. Are you wearing contacts?”

  “No.”

  “Good, I was going to say keep wearing them.”

  “Oh.”

  “He’s a bit word-constipated.” Justin said.

  “Not every woman wants someone with verbal diarrhea.” Jason said.

  “We’ll give you a shot.” Hope said. “Come to this address tomorrow night at 6:00.”

  Sean had no idea why, but he nodded. “Fine. Do I need to bring anything?”

  “Not unless there is something you’d like to bring.” Hope said.

  “Alright.” He stood awkwardly while the rest stayed seated. They looked amused. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Good to meet you Sean.” Chandler said.

  Sean opened the door, let it swing behind him, passed the receptionist, and walked outside, feeling like the whole thing was just part of a dream, a bad dream, a drug trip. He wanted to get home as soon as possible, because maybe in going to sleep, he could wake up from the whole thing.

  Back in the Club Blue meeting room, the atmosphere was much more light-hearted.

  “I think he’s adorable.” Hope said. “And the women will just go nuts over him.”

  “Yeah, kind of exotic.” Justin said. “Dark hair, light eyes. Huge. Women like that combo. I wonder what his nationality is.”

  “Justin, we can’t even talk about that. So illegal.” Hope said.

  “I’m just saying.” Justin put his hands up and sat back again.

  “I honestly don’t even know why he signed up.” Jason said. “He doesn’t seem the right type.” He put his reading glasses on to look over Sean’s resume and picture. “He runs his own business, so it’s not like he needs the money, and he didn’t seem happy to be here.”

  “That’s what makes him perfect.” Hope said. “We don’t have anyone like him.”

  “I want to go check out his dojang.” Justin said. “Dude is ripped.” Justin checked out his own biceps for a minute. “Seems like a nice guy too.”

  “Hopefully he can lend some normality to this place.” Chandler said.

  “What do you think?” Hope asked.

  “I’m just the bookkeeper, I have no idea why I have to have any input on this.” Chandler stood to leave. “But I think you should hire him. Seems like an honest employee. Very earnest.”

  They all agreed. Justin thought it would be fun to poke at such a stiff guy, Jason thought it would be nice to have someone quiet around, and Hope thought Club Blue was never going to be the same once the new guy hit the floor.

  Nicole approached the large, double wooden doors knowing that Club Blue had to be behind them. She wrapped her hand around a brass handle and breathed slowly in, held it, and breathed slowly out.

  What was she doing here? She should just go back home. She didn’t know how she could have been so stupid. Tonight was just a free session. The last step to full membership. Meeting the men.

  But they wouldn’t treat her badly. They couldn’t, or she wouldn’t be a customer. Feeling more secure and in control of the world, a little further up the hierarchy, she pulled on the handle.

  She stared around the room. The floor was gray granite with flecks of silver sparkling across it. She crossed the threshold, her heels making a soft clicking noise. The deep blue walls rose to a glass ceiling with the night sky beyond. Blue blown glass lamps in exotic shapes hung from the ceiling by invisible tethers, floating like jellyfish in the sea. One long glass window spanned the back wall, and she could see the city, all lit up and quiet. She hoped it was tinted so that no on
e could see up here.

  “It’s tinted.” Said a voice to the left.

  Nicole shifted to look over at a blonde man on a blue velvet settee.

  “No one can see you up here.” He stood, beckoned her with his hand, and walked over to the window. “But you should see the view. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

  She walked slowly over. “It is.” She turned from the window to the man next to her. He was gorgeous, exactly the picture you expect when you think of a male escort, like he’d stepped from a Calvin Klein ad and was ready to drop his pants and pose in his underwear at any moment.

  “My name is Justin.” He said. “Would you like to meet some of the others? There’s only three of us here tonight early for your preview. Me and another top host, and a newbie we’re training. Of course I’m number one.” He winked at her and she smiled back.

  “Sure.”

  She followed Justin back to the front of the room. Next to Justin’s settee was a couch, on which a large, black haired man was sitting, and a chair, upon which a man with glasses sat balancing a kindle on his knee. Both looked up at her and smiled. Well, if you could call the grimace the black haired man made a smile. Super awkward.

  Justin waved at his settee. “Go ahead and sit here. I’ll grab a seat with-”

  “John.” The dark-haired man said, standing up and cutting Justin off before he could say his name. He reached his hand out for her to shake it. “I’m John.”

  “I’ll sit with John.” Justin said, smiling.

  The man with glasses stood up and came over and held out a hand as well. “I’m Jason.”

  “I’m Nicole.” She said, scooting back against her chair both to be as far as possible from all of them and to get the best look. The blonde was her type. Jason was the type you’d take home to mom. And John was…well…familiar somehow.

  “So what do you do for fun Nicole?” Justin asked.

  “Read. Not much.” She said.

  “Jason, you hear that?”

  “Yup. What do you like to read?” Jason asked.

  “Everything. Trashy romance novels in particular.”

  Both men just stared at her for a moment, as if waiting to see if she was serious, then laughed.

  “High standards to live up to.” Justin said, still chuckling. “So we have a challenge, hm?” He stood up and went to a counter at the other side of the bar. “Would you like a drink?”

  “What do you have?”

  “Just soda, some juice. No alcohol on the job.”

  “No thanks.” That was a relief. The last thing in the world she would want would be to be drunk with one of these men. She looked over at John, who was looking everywhere but at her. She surprised herself by moving over to his couch to the space left open by Justin.

  “So you’re new?”

  “Yes.” He spoke in a low voice.

  “You know, you remind me of someone I once knew.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes.” She said, staring into his eyes. It had to be Sean. No one could have such blue eyes. But Sean this huge? Sean tricking her like that? Impossible.

  “Who?”

  “A boy I grew up with. A dear friend.”

  “Oh.” He said. “Sorry I’m not him.”

  “Are you sure you aren’t?”

  “Pretty sure.” He said. And he meant it. He wasn’t that Sean anymore. He wasn’t who she thought he was at all.

  Justin came up and perched on the arm of the couch nearest Nicole. He put an arm up behind her.

  “So Nicole, what do you think of Club Blue so far?”

  Nicole didn’t like the arm behind her, though Justin seemed harmless enough. She didn’t want to offend anyone by scooting away or telling him to put the arm away.

  “You’re making her uncomfortable.” The black haired giant pushed Justin with one hand and toppled him off the couch and onto the floor.

  “Ouch.” He stood up, rubbing his backside. He glared at John and then faced Nicole.

  “Sorry Nicole. Next time you can tell me to stop, if only to save me from that oaf.” He sent her his best puppy dog eyes, fluttered long lashes at her, and she laughed.

  “Do you forgive me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Stop being an idiot.” John said.

  “Stop being a grump.”

  “Both of you stop embarrassing yourselves in front of the client.” Jason cut in, looking annoyed at being pulled from his book. “What would you like to do Nicole? Would you like to tell us about yourself? Ask questions about us? Would you like us to tell you about a typical night at the club?”

  “Sure.” She said. Justin went back to the settee and John slumped over the arm of his side of the couch. Away from her.

  “Well, typically you’d come in just like you did. It’d be a bit lighter, and there’d be between 10 and 12 men, and maybe 20 women, depending on the night. Coming to the club to hang out is a great way to get to know the different hosts and see whom you think would be a good fit for a date. We play games, talk, have fun, it’s very relaxed.”

  “We also flirt.” Justin said. “A lot.”

  Nicole smiled. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “Except…John.” Justin said. “He doesn’t really flirt, but that actually makes a lot of the women crazy about him. We thought we’d have to break him of his awkwardness but I guess it works.”

  “Strong and silent type.” Nicole said.

  “Sure.” Justin said.

  Sean lived up to his stereotype by not responding.

  “That’s how it works here.” Jason said. “How we are hired. Every guy is kind of a different type. Not that we are acting, it’s just how we are, and we were picked for it. I’m bookish and educated. Justin is flirtatious, and John is…well John.”

  John huffed. “I’ve only been here a week. Stop talking about me like I’m an old pro.”

  “Definitely spices the place up.” Justin said. He stood up and came around to John’s side of the couch. “So fun to mess with too.” He put his hand in John’s hair and ruffled it and John grabbed the hand and maneuvered it behind Justin at an awkward angle till Justin yelped. “Alright! Alright, I’m sorry!”

  Nicole thought she could come just to watch the two flirt. “Is it always this homoerotic?” She asked.

  Jason laughed hard at this, his kindle clattering to the ground. “I know right? I guess it always is a little bit, with Justin around.” He picked the kindle back up. “In general all the guys are really close though. And the ladies seem to love a little…spiciness between us. It’s all in jest though.”

  John harrumphed. “Not so sure about that.” He glared at Justin.

  Nicole could see why other girls found John delicious. His surliness was adorable. You just wanted to squeeze his cheeks. And also there was the feeling that he didn’t take crap from anyone, which made you feel safe. Made her feel safe. But he looked a bit like Sean. Then again maybe it had been so long since she’d seen him that she was just looking for him in other men. All he really had was dark hair, light eyes, and a handsome face that could possibly, maybe be an adult version of the Sean she knew.

  “Where are you from, John?” She asked.

  He looked at Jason for help.

  “He doesn’t like giving out a lot of personal information.” Jason said.

  “I’m from Utah.” Justin offered. “How about you Nicole?”

  “Idaho.” She said, looking at John to see any twitch from him. He just looked down at his knuckles as if there was something interesting crawling on them.

  “Potato land!” Justin said. “How are the potatoes?”

  “Dry.” She said.

  “You know, you’re a good looking gal. And you don’t seem shy either.” Jason said, studying her. “So what’s your reason for hiring a guy to take you out? I’m sure there are plenty lining up.”

  “I’m sure there are.” She said. “But they all carry a douche bag card.”

  “Pardon
?” Jason said.

  Justin leaned forward, listening intently.

  “I just attract bad men.” She said. “But I don’t like going to events alone. And I enjoy being with guys. So this seems safer.”

  “With that idiot around?” John said, pointing at Justin.

  Nicole laughed. “I guess so.” She looked at Justin’s sparkling eyes and came to the conclusion that he was a funny kid and good friend. And Jason was the type that would probably give you guy advice. And John…John was the type who made you want to get back in the dating world because he reminded you how enticing normal men without any artifice or flirting ability were.

  “So, how do I go about hiring just one of you?” She asked.

  “Just talk to one of us.” Justin said. “Tell us the date of your event, we’ll check our schedule, and if we can, we’ll do it. Hope does all the pricing, though some of us give discounts to super pretty girls.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. He wasn’t good at it so instead of waving they just went up and down uncoordinatedly.

  “It’s very easy.” Jason said.

  “What if I get turned down?”

  John looked up into her eyes when she said this, as if he knew she could only mean him, as he was the only one who appeared standoffish enough that he would say no.

  “No one would turn you down unless his schedule was full.” Jason said. “And if he did, he would help you find someone who is available.”

  “You can also talk to Hope.” Justin said. “She has our schedules and can tell you who is available on any given night, and check with the host herself if you’d like. Sometimes women prefer that.”

  “I probably would.” She admitted. She stood, brushed off her skirt and slung her purse over her shoulder. “You’ve answered all my questions. Thank you so much. I guess I have a lot to think about when I get home.”

  “Take care, Nicole.” Justin waved. “Make sure one of the security guards walks you out, unless you’d like one of us to.”

  “A guard will be fine.” She smiled. “Goodbye Justin, Goodbye Jason.” She looked at John. “Goodbye Sean.” He didn’t respond, just looked confused like the other two. “I mean John. I’m sorry. Goodbye John.”