MATT

When I ended up at this place, after one of the most unfortunate days of my life, I never thought I would get a spotlight on my face and that the band's singer would dedicate a song to me. I've never been here before, so I don't know if this is something she usually does, but the passionate way she sings makes me smile. Which is a whole lot better than the feeling of anger I had a while ago.

A few hours earlier, I had wrapped up a shoot at my studio earlier than expected and headed home. I was in the best of moods since I got a brief for a new commercial shoot in the meantime. I felt like celebrating and my plan was to ask my girlfriend to join me for dinner at a fancy place.

As soon as I opened the door, I heard Wendy's laughter while talking to someone. I didn't think much of it as she's always laughing and chatting with her friends on the phone. The stack of post on the kitchen called my attention and while browsing the envelopes I heard a male voice, and it wasn't coming from a speaker. To my surprise, it was also a well-known one... Wyatt.

My steps were silent as I walked to my bedroom, where I opened the door slightly wider with a small push. I found my girlfriend naked in bed with one of my friends. I leaned on the door frame and waited, curious about how long it would take them to figure out I was standing there. It wasn't long...

"Matt!" Wendy shouted while grabbing the bed sheets to cover herself.

"Having fun?" My voice came out in the flattest and most uninterested tone, yet inside I was trying to control the fury I felt and the urge to beat Wyatt into a pulp.

"I can explain! She invited me here!" Wyatt said while trying to put on his boxers.

"I doubt there is much more to explain. You fucked my girlfriend."

"It was only one time!" He looked like a trapped animal as I was still standing by the door.

"It's your fault, Matt! If you didn't spend so much time working with your stupid cameras, none of this would have happened."

I didn't fall for her fake tears. None of that was reason enough to cheat on me.

"You know, it's curious. When me and the money I earn with my stupid cameras buys you stuff you don't seem to have a problem with it. But since you rather fuck Wyatt, my stupid cameras and I would like your things and you both to be out of here by the time I come back."

As I was about to leave the apartment, I turned back and searched throughout her purse. I took my second set of keys away and her phone. After putting the keys in my pocket, I smashed her phone on the floor where it flew into pieces all over the living room. I pay for that one, so now she can ask Wyatt to buy her a new one, which will be tricky since he's jobless and lives in his brother's basement.

I didn't know what to do and just went back to the studio. I tried to spend some time reviewing the day's photos but I couldn't concentrate. Why the fuck did she cheat on me when all I've ever done is take care of her? I even thought of asking her to marry me, which I'm glad now I didn't. I took a deep breath and didn't let the tears spill. Confrontation and disappointment have never affected me, but this was so low and unexpected. The walls felt as if they were closing on me and I was on the edge of getting a headache so I closed the studio again and went on a walk. The fresh air felt good. It didn't clear my head but it distracted me. Ahead of me, I saw people making a line to enter Moonlight House and decided right then and there that I could sulk in a crowded place with a fresh beer.

Then she arrived and walked past me. She greeted a few people in the line with a hug and told them she was looking forward to see them inside. As people left the club, I was eventually allowed to enter. The band was playing and I took the opportunity that people were dancing to occupy a stool at the end of the bar. That's when I saw her again, purple hair, an amazing voice and being so energetic that the stage seemed too small for her presence.

I ordered a beer and continued my pity party. The music was good and from time to time I would forget the reason I ended here. Then just when I received my second beer, the band took a break and then I felt the misery again. I stared at the bubbles in my drink looking for comfort, but the recent events kept replaying in my head.

"Hi, I'm Erin," said the girl with the purple hair while offering me her hand.

"I'm... Matt," I shook it and felt confused as to why she was talking to me.

"Why are you so sad?" Erin asked with genuine concern.

I considered lying but it would have made me feel worse. "I just caught my girlfriend naked in bed with a friend."

"I'm really sorry to hear that. No one deserves that kind of situation. It gets better, you know? You will find someone who will truly appreciate you."

Erin's kind words made me smile. She then asked me if I had been to the club before, to which I replied that I had not.

"You are now in our house. We'll take good care of you," she placed a hand on my shoulder in a comforting way.

I felt grateful for her words and her company even if it was for a short time. She made a hand signal to one of the bartenders and he nodded. Then time came for her to continue the show and I thought about heading home to see if Wendy had left already, but then a spotlight was on my face and she sang to me. Some women batted their eyelashes at me and it felt flattering but weird.

The band finishes the set and Erin heads to talk to a chubby guy with blonde hair and glasses. He nods and as I take my wallet out, she walks towards me.

"On the house. Would you like to have a chat in a quiet place? When was the last time you ate? You look like you could eat something. I'm sure Sam left food I can reheat for you."

"Won't you get in trouble?"

"Not at all. You see the blonde guy with glasses and the mean stare, the skinny bartender, and the tall blonde guy who plays with me in the band? Together with my best friend Samuel, who is our chef, we own this club."

That's a lot of information to process in such a short time. Erin holds my hand and gives me a gentle pull towards a side door. The large kitchen is quiet and you can only hear the music when someone opens the door we came through. Erin rummages through the industrial-sized fridges until she finds whatever she's looking for.

"I found treasure. It's bacon-cheddar potato soup and it's enough for two people. Are you up for it?" I just nod and she continues. "I'm starving. I ran some errands and then went to the hair salon. It took longer than I thought it would and my dinner consisted on a pretzel from a cart. Don't tell Sam I did that, he hates the pretzel cart," she chuckles as she punches something in what looks like a giant microwave.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I'm not used to the kindness of strange people.

"Because you had a bad day and could use a bit of care right now," she shrugs while she gets two bowls and spoons.

I can't reply. No one has ever taken care of me. It's always been the other way around.

Erin checks on the soup and lets it go on for longer. She tells me about the club and her business partners. Out of them all she seems very fond of her brothers.

"You can join me here at the workbench," she says as she places the soup on it. "Tell me, Matt, what do you do for work?"

"I'm a commercial photographer and I own a studio about four blocks away from here. My work is mostly about food, beauty products and merchandise for advertisement. I've done other types of photography work and have a few pieces in local galleries, but my commercial work is the one that pays the bills."

"That is fascinating! So you take those fake photos of food? Is it true that glue is used instead of milk for cereal ads?"

"Among other tricks," her interest makes me smile. "And besides owning part of this place you sing in the house band."

"That's only what I do in the evenings. I'm in charge of the operations and procurement around here; I take it as a personal challenge to find the best prices. Everything from supplies to food ingredients. But in a place like this there's always something to do, so we clean, take orders, or fill in for a sick employee, like my brother, the blonde guy with glasses, is doing today. Our goal is to keep the place running and to make people happy."

"It shows with how full the place is. Your brother works here too, how does it feel to run a family business?"

"I guess it's not much different than other types of businesses. Adam is also my twin, but besides that we share the same birthday, our characters are different. Adam thinks in a more logical way than me, and works hard to the point of exhaustion at times. I'm led by my feelings, and I'm less structured than him. Yet when it comes to make a decision, we are quite aligned and our other partners trust us."

"He didn't seem to like the idea that you brought me here. Does he allow you to date?" I tease.

"He has no say in my romantic life," she laughs.

"No interest in your business partners," I state.

"One of them is my younger brother, so, ew, no. Sam is as close to me as Adam and Rory, so we see each other as siblings. And Noah... I had a thing for him in my teens, it was hormones, I guess. We'll never be anything more than friends."

A door slams behind us and she stares at it.

"What was that?" I look from the door to her concerned face.

"That was Noah."