Someone Like You (Blue Club Books) Read online

  He waved.

  Well, Nicole thought as she closed the door behind her, that’s that. Not going to figure it out tonight. There was probably no way he was Sean. Probably. If he was, she would make sure to root it out of him, along with the reason he was doing this. If not she’d just enjoy the company of a hot dude. Several hot dudes in fact.

  As soon as the door shut behind Nicole, Jason and Justin turned to glare at Sean.

  “John?” Justin said. “What was that?”

  “Yeah.” Jason said.

  “Do you know her?” Justin said. “Cause you were seven kinds of awkward, even for you. I mean, like, a rock has a better personality than you had in there.”

  “More welcoming too.” Jason said. He and Justin quickly high-fived then turned back to glaring at Sean. The door opened.

  “I saw it too.” Hope said. She’d been watching the whole thing from a video monitor below, as she’d assured Nicole she would, to ensure the safety of her clients. Not that she worried about any of her men, but it reassured women like Nicole, and that was worth everything in the world. She was exactly the type of client she set this up for. Women who deserved a good guy around, women who deserved to feel safe and in control for once. Women who deserved to be around hot guys, as well.

  Hope had seen all types of women, some of whom she’d turned down. She didn’t like it when they were spoiled brats just looking to use the guys for fun, or older women who hoped to use them for sex. They were like her brothers, and they provided a valuable service and deserved to be treated well for it. Yes Nicole was perfect. And Sean had nearly scared her off. Luckily she’d seemed oddly intrigued by him.

  “What exactly is wrong with you tonight?” She stood in front of him, tapping her foot. “You nearly scared her off.”

  “I did not.” Sean said. He looked at each of their faces and then shrugged and sat back against the couch. “I know her, okay?”

  “So you are the kid she knew growing up?” Jason narrowed his eyes at him.

  “Yes.” He said, blushing.

  “Oh my gosh. The rock is blushing.” Justin said.

  “Okay Sean.” Hope said. “Level with us. When you signed up you said a friend had looked into escorting, and that’s how you became interested.”

  Sean nodded, feeling trapped. Like a bear caught between three Chihuahuas. He could avoid them, but he’d never hear the end of the yapping.

  “So did you join because she made you aware of it, or did you join to be hired by her?”

  He looked up into Hope’s face, feeling guilty. She had trusted him. He felt like a big pile of poop. But he’d had to do it.

  “Neither.” He said. “I just did it to watch out for her. I did hope to be the one she hired, because at the time I thought escorts might be dangerous.” He rambled on, avoiding anyone’s face. “I was just trying to make sure she was safe.”

  He put his head down and raked his hands through his hair. “She’s been my friend since I was 11 and she was 13. We’ve been writing since then, haven’t seen each other in person. It was a stupid idea. I know I probably have to leave now and you all hate me but-”

  He looked up to see Hope smiling rapturously down at him. “Are you serious?”

  He looked at Justin and Jason. Both were smiling, one a little more maniacally than the other. Justin looked like a treasure had just been dropped in his lap.

  “That’s about…that’s seriously, really the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard.” Hope said, sitting beside him. “Oh, how cute.” Hope said. “Of course we’ll all help you. We’ll make sure everyone else’s schedule is full, right guys?”

  Jason and Justin rolled their eyes and nodded.

  “She’s wacky about romantic crap.” Justin said. “I mean, just think about the whole idea of this club.”

  Sean nodded.

  “There are plenty of clients to go around.” Jason said. “Not that I would turn her down if she asked for me specifically.”

  Sean glared.

  “Easy big guy. I just mean, she’d figure out the jig was up pretty quick if that was the case.”

  “I like it.” Justin said. “Beauty and the beast. I’ll help too. I’ll be extra flirty so you can come to the rescue. She hates men getting close.”

  “No!” Sean said. “Leave her alone. This isn’t about me winning the girl.” He shook his head. “Seriously don’t do anything to cause her pain.”

  “This is a lot more than you usually talk.”

  “Well, it’s hard to have much to say when you are plotting and lying.” He said. “Better safe than sorry.”

  “If I play along can I come to your dojang for free?” Justin asked.

  Sean groaned at the thought of this guy coming in, but nodded. “Only if you don’t tell anyone what you or I do. I’d be vilified.”

  “Of course not.” Justin said. “You think I tell anyone I do it either? Just because everyone could guess it, doesn’t mean I don’t deny it. I mean really, male escorts? Ridiculous.” He laughed.

  “I don’t want anyone to treat her bad. I just want her to be happy. Even if it isn’t with me.”

  This sobered the room up. Hope, Jason, and Justin exchanged sympathetic glances.

  “Just let us know how we can help.” Hope said. “And make sure you still serve your other clients. Everyone has to pull his weight. Even hopeless romantics who are pathetically noble.” She stood and headed for the door, and the others followed. They needed to get dinner and come back before the club opened officially for the night.

  She looked back at Sean one more time before turning right and leaving them at the elevator. “See you back here at 7:00.”

  Justin slapped Sean on the back and followed him into the elevator, quickly ducking Sean’s return swing. Jason was quiet on the ride down.

  Sean was too until he was struck with a new thought.

  “You don’t think she knew it was me, did you?”

  “Naw. Wait, she did try to call you Sean when she said goodbye…maybe it was to trick you?” Justin said.

  “Maybe it was just because I remind her of him and she slipped?”

  “No, I think maybe she had some idea that it could be you.” Jason said.

  “On that note, isn’t this going to be a big mess when she finds out you’ve been lying to her at the end of this?” Justin said, plagued by one of his rare, emotionally astute moments. “We are willing to help you with this, but maybe you should think about that and decide if you really want to go through with this or just come clean.”

  Sean was already thinking about it. If he came clean, she would hate him. If he hid it, he could keep her safe until it didn’t matter if she hated him. Decision made. Maybe.

  Chapter 3: Circles

  Dear Sean,

  Can we instant message tonight? I know you have AOL email, so you have to have instant messenger.

  Hope you get this tonight,

  Nicole

  Dear Nicole,

  Of course. My username is tkd2004. I’m on now. What’s your username?

  Nicole rolled her eyes at his username and opened her chat window.

  She clicked on his name and a window opened up.

  Tkd2004: Hi

  Nickynickchick: Hi there

  Tkd2004: So what did you want to chat about?

  N: I went to the club for the first time tonight.

  T: You did? Already?

  N: Yup.

  T: How was it?

  N: Weird.

  N: Well not that weird. Weird that it was just like you said it would be.

  T: Oh? How so?

  N: Well, there was a tanned blonde guy there.

  T: Typical. Who else was there?

  N: A guy with glasses.

  T: Cool.

  T: What were they like?

  N: Wait. There was one other one.

  T: Oh. Sorry.

  N: That’s the weirdest part. He looked like you.

  T: :S ?

  N: He did!
>
  T: Do you even remember what I looked like before?

  N: Yes.

  T: I mean I have grown up a bit in the last 13 years.

  N: You have, huh?

  T: Well, everyone does.

  N: How tall are you now?

  T: What?

  T: Why do you ask?

  N: Just wondering.

  T: you know I’m sensitive about my height Nick.

  N: You never called me Nick.

  T: Well it’s your username, so now I do.

  N: Lol.

  N: Stop changing the subject.

  T: Lol?

  N: Laughing out loud. You are a caveman.

  T: Were you really laughing out loud?

  N: No

  T: Doesn’t make sense then.

  N: Yeah, it doesn’t.

  T: Why do you use it then?

  N: It’s just what people do.

  T: And if people jumped off a bridge, you would too?

  N: If they were jumping because the bridge was on fire, yes.

  T: Ah.

  N: So how tall are you now?

  T: I’m not even sure.

  N: Haven’t you measured yourself?

  T: No. Why would I?

  N: So you would know?

  T: I'm not as tall as I’d like to be, okay?

  N: Ah, so same as before?

  T: No. That would be pitiful. But still not as tall as I’d like to be.

  Which was true, because Sean thought that he wouldn’t mind being 6’6”.

  N: Okay. Never mind then.

  T: Never mind? Never mind what?

  N: I just thought you

  N: I don’t know. Just forget it.

  T: No. What? Why did you want to know?

  N: If you HAVE to know, it’s because one of the hosts looks like you.

  T: Really? An escort looks like me? Weird.

  N: How did you know that a host was an escort?

  T: Makes sense. They are your hosts at the club, right?

  N: Yeah. Okay smarty pants.

  N: So how are things at the dojang?

  T: Pretty good.

  N: Yeah? What do you even do there?

  T: Oh the usual. Kick other men in the face.

  N: How did you get so involved in karate anyway?

  T: It’s Tae Kwon Do now Nick.

  N: Stop calling me that. Answer the question.

  T: Sigh. :/ I like calling you that. It rolls off the tongue.

  N: >:/

  T: Okay okay.

  T: Just the usual. I kick other guys in the face, and train other guys and girls to kick other people in the face for points.

  N: o.O

  T: How do you do smilies that aren’t in the little smilie box?

  Nicole smiled. There was something adorable about a man who didn’t even know how to type an emoticon.

  N: I’m not a caveman. You just type them.

  T: I know you type them, I was just wondering how you know specific faces mean different things, or do you just make them up as you go?

  N: No, definitely the same ones other people use for the most part. I guess you haven’t seen the <((_CRAYOLA_(() crayon either.

  T: No I haven’t. It’s cool.

  N: So are you good at kicking people in the face?

  T: Yup. Very. Nationally ranked.

  N: Wow. How does that work with being short?

  T: I didn’t say I was short. But I manage. It’s more about speed anyway.

  T: How is the writing going? Have any rabid fans?

  N: That’s the dream. Not yet though. I do get letters and emails from women that enjoy the books. Have you read them?

  T: I may have perused them.

  Lies. He had bought all three and dog-eared them. It hadn’t helped his over romantic side at all. If only she had the taste in men that her heroines did. Or if the men in the books could really turn from jerks into great guys when they fell in love with the right girl.

  N: …what did you think?

  T: I think they are romance novels. It’s not really my forte.

  Lying to Nicole was turning into a nasty habit.

  N: Shame on you. Your best old friend writes books and you can’t even compliment her.

  T: Okay okay. I’ve read them all. And they are really good romance novels.

  N: :)

  T: Forcing me to spill that I read romance novels. Don’t tell the dojang.

  N: K.

  T: Thanks.

  N: Although since I don’t know where the dojang is, let alone in which state, and I haven’t seen you in 13 years, I guess that’s not really an issue.

  T: I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for reassuring me.

  N: You could tell me where it is.

  T: I don’t think so. You just gave me a reason not to. My students probably aren’t ready for a master who kicks people in the face and reads romance novels.

  N: Well that’s judgmental.

  T: Shrug

  N: Hey, you’re getting the hang of this chat thing.

  T: Thank you. So tell me more about the club.

  N: Not much to tell. I met them. If I want to hire one, I just talk to him or the owner.

  T: Who do you think you’ll hire?

  N: The place is really beautiful though. Let’s just say Club Blue was a really apt name.

  T: Yeah?

  N: Yeah.

  Nicole didn’t want to talk about whom she would hire. If Sean wasn’t the escort, what would he think about her hiring the escort who looked just like him? Wouldn’t he misunderstand?

  T: So who are you hiring?

  N: I’m not sure yet. I guess it’d be kind of weird to go out with someone who looked like you.

  T: :P

  T: Why?

  N: Well you know. We’ve been friends for so long. It’d just be…weird.

  T: Okay. So who are you hiring then?

  N: Well, I might just hire the one that looks like you anyway.

  T: Why? You said it was weird.

  N: Because he’s hilarious. He's seriously the funniest, most awkward person there.

  T: How is being awkward funny?

  N: You’d just have to see it.

  T: Definitely couldn’t be me then. I’m not awkward.

  N: No?

  T: No. My students don’t call me awkward at least.

  N: Is that because they know you could kick them in the face?

  T: No.

  T: It’s because they know I could kick them in the face super fast and super hard.

  N: LOL.

  T: Did you actually laugh out loud?

  N: Yes, I did.

  T: lol then.

  N: Did you?

  T: No. I just wanted to use it.

  T: So what will be your first date? Or are you just going to hang out at the club for a while? Are there more than three guys you can pick from?

  N: Yes, I think there are about a dozen. I don’t really want to hang out at the club much. I think I’ll hire the John guy.

  T: John?

  N: The one that looks like you.

  T: His name rhymes with mine?

  N: Yeah.

  T: Weird. Maybe he’s like my long lost, really embarrassing twin.

  N: Who knows?

  Nicole was feeling quite sure that Sean wasn’t the escort.

  N: Well, that’s all.

  N: I think I’mma hit the sack.

  T: Imma?

  N: Imma = I’m going to.

  T: :/

  T: Shouldn’t a writer have better grammar?

  N: Shouldn’t a businessman have better technical skills?

  T: >:(

  T: No. I can kick people in the face. That’s all I need.

  N: Would you kick someone in the face for me?

  T: Any day! :)

  N: Super hard?

  T: Of course.

  T: Sleep well.

  N: Thanks. You too.

  N is offline.

  S is offline.

&nbs
p; Nicole closed the chat window and opened an Internet browser. She brought up the Club Blue website to look at the available men. She read their bios. She didn’t find one for the one that looked like Sean, but she knew that was probably just because he was new. She looked over the other guys. Each one smiled with too white teeth and too much hair gel. Justin’s was probably the cheesiest but having met him, that made sense. He was having fun with the whole thing. She thought it would probably be pretty gross to see one of the guys taking it way too seriously. It was supposed to be fun, according to Hope. She wished she could see a picture of John, to see if now after talking to Sean it still felt familiar to her. Either way, he was gorgeous. Stuck in her mind like a pleasant promise of something exciting in the future. She closed the laptop slowly, already zoning out before she set it aside and got ready for bed. She pulled on soft pajamas and fluffed her sheets and blanket. She was pretty sure at this point that John was not Sean, and that made it okay to think about him.

  She imagined herself at her family reunion, her family narrowing their eyes at the strong, dark-haired man beside her, and smiled.

  She pictured them together at a friend’s wedding, all eyes on her, everyone speculating about who the handsome stranger was, rather than pointing at Nicole and whispering about the latest disaster she’d had with another jerk.

  Yes the world was looking just a little easier. She knew she shouldn’t care about other people’s opinions. Maybe after she just had a little approval from society at large, she wouldn’t crave it so much.

  Sean paced in the dressing room. Nicole could be here tonight. The other hosts looked over occasionally to see how he was doing, to give an opinion on this or that tie or shirt. Sean didn’t care; part of his appeal was not being very adept at hosting.

  He stood in front of the row of blue button up shirts that Justin had said would be his best friends because they matched his eyes, and ladies loved blue eyes. But Sean was only worried about one lady, and it’d be best if she didn’t even notice his eyes. He moved to a row of red shirts instead, then to a row of black. Black was perfect. Powerful. Dark. Not like young Sean. He pulled one down and went to look at the ties. Flipped them over because he was curious about the brands. Didn’t recognize any of them but read them anyway. Stalling.

  He finally picked a purple one with black stripes. He silently held the ensemble up for Steven, another host in the dressing room, who looked it up and down and gave him a nod. Sean took it to the dressing room.