8

Is such a feeling of happiness possible? A noisy foamy seashore, bathed in gentle sun, with chaotically screaming seagulls. A light salty breeze that ruffles long hair... The pungent smell of seaweed... wet sand sticking to bare feet. Near the beloved, hand in hand and no one condemns them for this.

"It's great that you got a job at a beach cafe in such a remote place so quickly, - Daniel said happily. - Our finances are just running out, and I need funds to open a martial arts club."

"The owner Stan, didn't even ask questions at the interview, - Eliot said. - When he saw me, he broke into a smile ... I called myself Ethan."

"He was stunned by your appearance… A fairy like you will attract a lot of customers to his shabby establishment. In this resort town, everything is so outdated and run out. But there is no better place for those who escaped, although my dad put everyone on their ears. Let's change the names for safety. They are looking for us in large cities, and by the time they get here, soon we will get an official marriage, and then no one will do anything."

"Really? You still want it… the marriage…"

"Sure… I love you, my sweet…"

There were a few visitors in the open coastal cafe, and while the new employee was learning how to prepare cooling drinks and alcoholic cocktails, soon all the vacationers noticed the new bartender of attractive look and hurried to place orders, starring at him and starting conversations:

"Are you a local, Ethan?"

"No, just arrived! I love the sea!"

"Alone?"

"No, with my family!"

"You are married? So young!"

"No…"

"A-ha! And there are not many tourists here. Why did you choose this town?"

"It's quiet and not crowded here ... I like it… the nothingness."

That slender guy behind a scratched bar counter innocently flapped his lush eyelashes picking his shiny graphite toned hair in a bun, caused affection of folks around him.

"So cute!" - he often heard epithets from different people at a distance.

Strangers frequently threw a similar phrase:

"With your appearance, you can grab stars from the sky ..."

"I don't need it," - Eliot replied calmly as he carried out the order measuredly.

Satisfied with the increased profits the owner Stan, a man in his late forties with a wrinkled weather-beaten face, had to buy additional furniture for visitors and allocate money for cosmetic repairs for his street bar. Curiosity about his new employee began to crack him too.

"Who is this guy who comes to pick you up after work? Such a handsome lad. Athlete?

"My cousin Loki! He is a martial art master… opened a sportclub, if you are interested."

"And I thought he's your lover…" - the owner narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Why?… Do I look so queer?"

"Something like that, - Stan chuckled. - You look too sweet. Delicate face… big bright eyes… Long hair…"

"Nonsense!" - Eliot denied indignantly.

But Stan kept digging:

"Ethan, you could work as a host in my cafe entertaining bored ladies. I've seen them devour you with their eyes..."

"I am not a whore!" - Eliot winced, shrugging in disgust.

"Don't you need money?"

"In this way - no!"

"You're young, enjoy free sex."

"I don't want to be like this… without feelings!"

"Wow! … Still it seems to me… you are not interested in women? You don't even look at them. Do you prefer guys?"

"Stan! Please do not offer me something like that! I know exactly what I need! If I needed a lot of money, I wouldn't be here."

"Well, what's wrong to you? You are so stubborn... How old are you? I never checked your ID."

"Eighteen…"

"Right!" - Stan decided not seeking any fault with the young man anymore, from the presence of which the income from the cafe increased significantly.

Such a worker should be cherished and the owner took it upon himself to look after him as if he were a son. And Eliot was often pestered by tourists, among whom sometimes very annoying agents came across.

One handsome athletic blond with lux wavy hair, in his thirties, kept his eyes on him, waiting for his order at the counter, but the bartender pretended not to notice anything. He handed him a business card, looking into his eyes.

"Ethan? I am Sean, the owner a modelling agency and would like to invite you to photoshoot not for free."

"Here?"

"We can do it here too. I got my camera with me."

"Are you a photographer?"

"Yes, and I used to be a model too..."

"Sorry… I'm far from it! No skills!"

"It's not difficult at all! Your cold winter look will help you quickly to catch the skills of spectacular posing."

"But I'm not interested, I'm not a narcissist!"

"Ha-ha! Made me laugh, - Sean cheered. - You think that all models are soulless egoists."

"Certainly!" - Eliot answered succinctly.

For some reason, his heart shuddered from the piercing gaze of unusual green eyes with hunter glance, and like butterflies rustled in his stomach.