Page 28 of The Moon Also Rises
“Problem?” I ask.
“Oh, hi. Sorry, I didn’t see you there, Rami.”
“Looked like you were busy with something.”
“Yes, terrible news. My cousin’s wife has just gone into labour,” he says with sinking shoulders.
“That’s terrible news?”
Luigi shakes his head. “No, of course not. But the thing is, he’s our DJ. Or he was supposed to be. Have you heard of Maximiliano?”
“Maximiliano is your cousin?” Maxi’s a young DJ from Milan that had a huge summer hit about eight years ago. Although his techno-influenced brand of EDM isn’t my cup of tea, I’ve read some articles about him and respected how he managed his quick rise to fame when he was only in his late teens. I suppose he must be approaching thirty now. Funny how quickly time goes by, especially when you’re locked away from the rest of the world in the desert.
“Second cousin, technically, but yes. He was going to be DJing later but now he can’t. So, we are down a DJ. I’m pretty sure I could pay the band to stay for another hour or two, but all our pals were so looking forward to busting out some mega moves with Maxi.”
I press my lips together to ensure I don’t laugh at Luigi. I can only imagine what he and his pals look like busting out those mega moves.
“How long do you need a DJ for?” My back straightens as I ask, the words feeling like a risk.
“Well, if the band can take us through to midnight, I suppose just two hours. Everything needs to be shut down by two o’clock anyway.”
I pull in a deep breath before I reply. “I could do it,”
“You? But you’re not a DJ. Are you?”
Not anymore.“Not exactly, but I do have some experience.”
Luigi cocks an eyebrow as he studies me and I wonder for a second if he sees through my lies, or worse, he recognises me. He did say I looked familiar in the garden, after all. “Would you really not mind? What about Jake?”
“Oh, he’ll be bored of me by then.” It amuses me that Luigi thinks I’m joking when I’m telling the most truthful thing yet. “He’s already warned me he’s going to be social butterflying all day and night.”
“Ha! Yes, Lionel says he can work a room like no other. You know, I hope you don’t find it awkward us inviting you both when Lionel and Jake have… you know, history. We thought it would be the best possible way to break the ice, so to speak. Lionel was so happy when Jake told him he’d met someone, you!”
“Was he?” I try to ignore how I feel at this shift in the conversation. It feels wrong to talk about Jake when he’s not here.
“Oh, yes. Lionel really doesn’t want any bad feelings.” Luigi’s eyes are dark and serious again.
“I think Jake feels the same way,” I say even though none of this is adding up quite right in my mind.
“Well, hopefully, we can put it all behind us soon. Considering we all live in London, it would be fabulous to be chums.”
Chums. I’ve never had a chum who used the word chum before.I smile thinking how I should repeat this joke back to Jake later.
“That would be nice,” I say before realising the full implications of what Luigi is suggesting. Us all being friends in London would mean Jake and I continuing to pretend to be boyfriends. What’s more terrifying than the prospect itself is how it doesn’t completely terrify me. It almost excites me.
“So, what do you need to know or look at before your set?”
“My set?” I frown. I haven’t heard those words in a long time.
“DJing for us? Later?”
“Oh, right. Yes. Well, do you have the gear set up already? I can just have a look at it, and I have my laptop with lots of music on it with me so that should be all I need to bring.”
Luigi points to some double doors leading off the bar and I reach for Jake’s drink. As we walk in that direction, I feel Luigi’s large hand clap me on my upper back, jolting me forward.
“Jake’s a very lucky man, Rami,” he says.
“He’s something,” I reply, completely clueless as to what exactly that is.
