Page 25 of Out of Nowhere

“Ready to go?” Seo-jun asked when the beat of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” reverberated through the club.

Dex nodded, unsure what to think of the fact that Seo-jun didn’t let go of his hand as they made their way through the crowd and out of the building.

Taking in a deep breath of the night air, Dex’s head began clearing of the slight buzz his drink had given him. “Thanks for that. Requesting the song and the dance. It was really nice.”

“Have you ever danced to that song with anyone before?” Seo-jun asked.

Dex shook his head, thinking,even if I had,it wouldn’t compare to dancing to it with you.He would remember it forever.

“Another job successfully wrapped up,” he joked when Seo-jun slid behind the wheel of his car. “That’s two for zero. We’re a great team.”

Seo-jun smiled as he started the engine. “Do you want to go to the Waffle House?” he asked as he backed out of the parking space.

“What? Like, now?”

Seo-jun shrugged. “That’s where I used to go with my friends after a night of clubbing.”

“Okay. Sure. Waffles sound good.”

“You have a headache?”

Dex realized he was rubbing his temple.

“A little.”

Reaching over the console to rest his cool hand against Dex’s neck, Seo-jun began to message the tension out of the muscles there.

Closing his eyes, Dex dropped his head and grunted. “Feels good.”

When Seo-jun stopped rubbing a minute or so later and turned back to the wheel, Dex missed his touch.

It was barely midnight when they walked into the restaurant, and only two booths were occupied. Seo-jun ordered an eggs, waffles, and bacon plate, and Dex told the waitress to bring him the same.

“I’ll bet you were shocked to nab a woman in her eighties in the bathroom stall,” Seo-jun said.

“Yeah, I was. But not as surprised as I bet Mr. Hendrix was that the person who’d been vandalizing his club was his mother.”

“Tell me what happened.” Crossing his arms on the table, Seo-jun leaned in, watching Dex intently.

“I, uh, had just finished using the bathroom when I heard someone come in. Then I heard them writing on the wall. So, I waited outside the stall door until they came out. I was preparing to deal with someone a lot larger, that’s for sure.”

Seo-jun chuckled. “I’ll bet. Did she give you any trouble? Try to deny it?”

Dex shook his head. “When I asked to see in her purse, she proudly held up the marker. I guess she’s not too happy that her son owns a gay club.”

“I guess not,” Seo-jun agreed. “Probably had something to do with her husband leaving her for a man.”

The waitress arrived to pour their coffees and then left again.

“Until I saw her, I was getting ready to break out some of the moves you’ve taught me,” Dex said. “It was kind of disappointing.”

Seo-jun’s eyes danced with humor. “Didn’t want to bust a Naeryeo Chagi on Granny?” he asked, referring to the axe kick he’d taught Dex.

Grinning, Dex shook his head.

After the waitress brought their food, Seo-jun picked up his fork and surprised Dex yet again. “Tell me something embarrassing you’ve done.”

After thinking for a moment, Dex remembered an incident a few years prior. “Once, when I lived in New York City, I was walking into a public building that had one of those revolving doors. You know, the ones that are sectioned off?” When Seo-jun nodded, he continued. “Well, I’d noticed this really hot guy walking in front of me. I was so busy watching him, when we got up to the building, I accidentally stepped into the same section of the revolving door as he did. There wasn’t anything to do about it but to keep going. Stopping would be even more mortifying, right? We were only, like, an inch apart in that tiny space. I swear, it seemed to take forever to take those few steps. I remember when we came out inside the building, he turned and looked at me, like,what the hell, bro?”

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