Chapter 29: Second Chances
Kyle kept his hand on Roman's shoulder as they pushed through the crowd, the bass drumming up through the floor and into his chest. The neon lights painted everyone in shifting shades of violet and blue, and for a second, Kyle let himself pretend this was just another night out with someone new. Someone he might actually get to keep.
He spotted Joaquin first, already mid-move with some guy Kyle didn't recognize, arms up and hips rolling like the music was wired directly into his nervous system. Nell stood a few feet away, drink in hand, watching the dance floor with the kind of calm appraisal that meant she was clocking every single person in the room.
Kyle waved, and Joaquin's face split into a grin. He said something to his dance partner and cut through the crowd toward them.
"Yo, where'd you disappear to?" Joaquin yelled over the music. Then his eyes landed on Roman, and they went wide. "Whoa. Okay. Hi."
Kyle raised his voice over the music, leaning in close so they could all hear. "Roman, these are my friends, Joaquin and Nell."
Joaquin didn't wait for an invitation. He closed the distance and wrapped Roman in a full-body hug, loud and unapologetic, patting him hard on the back like they'd known each other for years. "Any friend of Kyle's is a friend of mine, man. Welcome to the chaos."
Roman went a little stiff at first, his hands hovering uncertainly in the air, but he recovered fast and gave Joaquin's shoulder a tentative pat back. "Thanks."
Nell hadn't moved from her spot. She took a slow sip of her drink, her gaze traveling over Roman from his tousled hair to his worn sneakers, cataloging every detail with the precision of someone who'd seen Kyle bring home more than a few questionable decisions. She raised an eyebrow, just barely.
"So, Roman," she said, drawing the name out like she was tasting it. "Where'd you guys meet?"
"We just met at the bar," Kyle said quickly, maybe too quickly. "He was standing there, and I thought he looked like he needed a dance partner."
"Is that right." Nell's tone was flat, unconvinced.
Roman shifted his weight, glancing between them with an easy, self-deprecating smile. "I'm new in town, actually. I don't really know anyone, so when Kyle offered, I figured I'd take him up on it." He shrugged. "Gotta start somewhere, right?"
Joaquin's eyes lit up like a slot machine hitting jackpot. "New in town? Oh, that changes everything. That changes the whole game." He threw an arm around Roman's shoulders, steering him a few steps toward the dance floor. "Okay, so, first things first: I'm the guy you want to know. I get into every club worth getting into, and I know exactly which nights are worth your time and which nights you should just sleep through. You trust me on this."
"Should he, though?" Nell muttered into her glass.
"Second," Joaquin continued, ignoring her completely, "we're gonna fix that whole 'don't know anyone' thing tonight. You're with us now. That's the deal. We collect strays, apparently." He said it with a pointed look at Kyle, who made a face back at him.
Roman laughed, an open, surprised sound that made something in Kyle's chest squeeze tight. It wasn't the same laugh as Roha's, not quite. But close enough that it hurt a little and felt a lot like hope.
"So you really know this city inside and out?" Roman asked, letting Joaquin guide him toward the edge of the dance floor.
"Bro, I am the city. I'm basically a landmark at this point." Joaquin gestured grandly at the neon-washed crowd. "You want the best taco spot after midnight? I got it. You want a rooftop where you can actually hear yourself think? I got that too, though I don't recommend it. Thinking's overrated."
Nell fell into step beside Kyle, walking slow, her eyes still fixed on Roman's back. "He seems... nice," she said, quiet enough that only Kyle could hear.
"He is. He's just..." Kyle swallowed. "He's new. I'm just being friendly."
"Mm-hmm." Nell didn't look convinced. "You know I've seen that look on your face before, right? And it never ends with 'just being friendly.'"
Kyle watched Roman laugh at something Joaquin said, his head tilting back, one hand coming up to brush the hair from his eyes. The gesture was so familiar it made his chest ache.
"I know," he said. "But I'm okay with that."
Nell let out a long breath, something almost like a smile tugging at her mouth. "Alright. I'll give him a chance."
Kyle felt his chest loosen. He didn't realize how tightly he'd been holding it until just then. He bumped his shoulder against Nell's as they stepped onto the dance floor. "That's all I'm asking."
The music shifted, a new track dropping in with a heavy synth line, and Joaquin whooped, grabbing Roman by the wrist. "Come on, man. You're not getting out of this. Everybody dances at Pulse."
Roman looked back at Kyle with wide, slightly panicked eyes. Kyle laughed. "He's not kidding. Resistance is futile."
And then Roman was dancing. Not well, exactly, but with a genuine, unselfconscious enthusiasm that made up for every awkward step. His arms flailed a little too much. His hips had absolutely no rhythm. But he was laughing, this open delighted laugh, and that was enough.
Kyle slid into the space beside him, matching his pace, showing him how to move with the beat. Roman watched Kyle's feet, tried to copy him, got it almost right. Joaquin cheered like he'd just witnessed a miracle.
Hours blurred together in a haze of bass and colored light. Nell found a spot at the edge of the floor and watched them all with fond exasperation, occasionally letting herself get pulled into a song before retreating back to her drink. Joaquin circulated through the crowd like a social butterfly, returning every few songs to check on his new project with an approving nod. And Roman, slowly, song by song, started to find his groove.
By the time the lights came up, fluorescent and harsh, Kyle's ears were ringing and his legs felt like jelly. The crowd thinned out, people streaming toward the exits in chattering clusters.
"Okay," Joaquin said, stretching his arms over his head as they stumbled outside. The cool night air hit Kyle's face, a welcome shock after the heat of the club. "That was exactly what I needed. My body is going to hate me tomorrow but I regret nothing."
Nell pulled her phone out, checking the time. "It's late. I should probably grab a ride."
Roman shifted from foot to foot, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. He looked at the ground, then at Kyle, then back at the ground. "Hey.... umm... so I live nearby. Would you guys want to come back to my place for a night cap?"
Kyle's heart skipped. The words landed somewhere in his chest and stuck there, too good to be real.
Joaquin didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. Yes. I'm in." He threw an arm over Roman's shoulders. "Lead the way, new friend."
Nell glanced at Kyle, something knowing and soft in her expression. She tucked her phone back in her pocket and shrugged. "Sure. I've got a few hours before I need to be anywhere."
Roman's whole face brightened, and he started walking, gesturing for them to follow. Joaquin fell into step beside him, already launching into a detailed critique of the club's sound system.
Kyle hung back a half step, watching Roman's back in the streetlight, the way his dark hair caught the glow. Every angle was familiar. Every gesture a ghost of someone he'd lost.
But Roman was here. And he'd asked Kyle to come home with him.
Kyle let out a shaky breath and followed.