Page 113 of Dark Room Junkie

“So, we meet again,” he said, brushing his hair behind his ear.

“Do you like the picture?”

“Well ... um ... that’s my father.”

“Oh ... I’d better keep quiet before I say something wrong.”

“Don’t worry, everything you’re thinking is true. The picture practically drips with arrogance. The photographer did a great job.”

“Is your father here too?” I ventured to ask.

“Definitely not,” Lucien snorted disdainfully. “He’d rather play God than deign to attend such an event.”

His comment caught me off guard. I sipped my glass of orange juice, unsure how to respond.

“I’m sorry,” he said, putting on his charming smile. “I must seem like I’m in a bad mood, but I’m actually doing quite well. And you?”

I nodded and wiped my lips with my palm. “Yeah, it’s been a few crazy weeks, but I’ve survived.”

“And the guy you were thinking about back then ... you know ...?”

I cleared my throat and glanced over my shoulder briefly to make sure Alex wasn’t just around the corner. “He’s the photographer.”

Lucien raised an eyebrow, waiting for more information. “And? Does he know you’re into him?”

“We…” I barely managed to say it, as if I was afraid to speak a truth that made it all that much more real. “We’re together ... I think.” I paused at my own words. The thing between Alex and me just felt right.

“I’m happy for you, bro.”

“And how’s it going with the religious roommate?”

“Great!” Lucien beamed. “He had some sort of epiphany or something. I had already given up on him, but then he came along and ... well ... things are moving forward. At least in the right direction.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Yeah, that’s really good. He’s here. I can introduce you to him. Ah, he’s over there.”

I followed Lucien’s finger and spotted Alex, chatting with a visitor.

33

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Alex

I stumbled from one conversation to the next, thanking people for the compliments and trying not to let on too much about how draining the whole thing was for me. It was a mystery to me how Noé managed to stand on stage for ninety minutes and captivate the audience. Nonetheless, I was happy to see every face I recognized, especially when I spotted Martin. With a glass of white wine in hand, he stood in front of Noé’s photo and smiled at me as I approached him.

“He seems somehow ... relieved,” he commented on the picture.

“Relieved?”

“Yeah, his eyes. They seem to have seen a lot, and yet he looks calm and confident to me.”

I chuckled. “You’re great at reading people.”

“Did you choose the location where the photo was taken? Or was it him?”

“The same rules apply to everyone. But I must admit, I was surprised that he chose this corner.”

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