Chapter 19
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Dominic
While Eliah looked great in his pinstriped suit, giving off a bit of a gangster vibe, I opted for a simpler look and focused more on accessories.
My outfit consisted of dark pants, a white shirt, suspenders, and a bow tie.
Fortunately, I already had a pair of Oxfords at home, so I didn’t have to worry about shoes.
Kilian had stayed home on Wednesday and Thursday, but he was on the mend and had answered all my concerned messages. When I asked if he needed anything from the costume rental, he kindly declined.
Since I didn’t have rehearsal on Friday, we didn’t see each other for the rest of the week. That’s why it was such a surprise when he sent me a photo from the church on Saturday, showing Sebastian, his new wife, and the priest.
The church wedding had been a small, intimate affair, with mainly family and close friends, and only Jacob and Kilian had attended from the theater. But the real celebration, as Sebastian called it, was scheduled for the evening.
When Eliah and I arrived at the address shortly after 8:30 p.m., we weren’t sure if we were in the right place. But a bouncer waved us in after we showed our invitation, and soon we found ourselves in an incredibly high room with bare concrete walls and a cold cement floor.
To our right, there was a gift table and further back, a row of clothing racks that had probably been borrowed from the theater.
On the left, in the center surrounded by numerous round tables, was a bar, staffed by a red-haired woman who resembled Merida from Brave and a tattooed, bald young man.
Numerous guests sat at the tables, drinking, eating, and chatting loudly.
Towards the back, wooden benches outlined a dance floor, where at least fifty people were already dancing.
In one corner, a DJ was spinning records, switching from Queen’s “Magic” to Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America.” If I hadn’t known that more than half the guests were theater people and actors, I might have wondered why the party was so lively at this hour.
The lighting in the room was varied—not too bright, but not too dark either.
Over the dance floor, a disco ball reflected the light in every direction.
It was clearly Kilian’s doing. The lighting was simple, yet it had the same finesse I’d seen in his home.
Kilian had a knack for setting accents and creating just the right atmosphere.
Sebastian had made it clear that no children were allowed after 8 p.m. The moment the clock struck eight, the DJ cranked up the music, and the corks started popping.
These were extroverted, creative types—a group of hyperactive people who turned the dance floor into a stage. A pink feather boa was passed around, and someone raised a top hat in the air—and that was just the beginning of the evening.
“There,” Eliah said, pointing toward the bar.
I dropped my envelope on the gift table and followed Eliah to Sebastian. He was standing with his new wife, Kathrin, and three other people, chatting. We greeted him and were introduced to Kathrin.
She was a petite woman, dressed perfectly for the theme in a golden fringed dress, gold silk gloves, and a black feather boa around her neck. Her brown hair was elegantly styled in an updo, topped with a 1920s floral headpiece.
Sebastian was no less stylish, wearing a bold, dark plaid suit with a purple shirt and bow tie. The two of them looked great together and were thrilled to see us.
“Enjoy the evening! There’s pizza and a variety of cakes—just help yourselves. There’s also a drink list at the bar. And a few cocktails, too.”
Our conversation with Sebastian didn’t last long, as new guests were arriving at the door. I wondered how many people they’d actually invited, because when I looked around, there were already nearly a hundred people in the room.
“Let’s grab a drink!” Eliah suggested.
I ordered a beer, just as the red-haired bartender placed a fresh pizza on the counter. “Help yourselves if you’re hungry.”
I did just that, since I hadn’t had time to eat earlier.
“Hey!” someone suddenly called from behind us.
Before I knew it, an arm draped over my shoulder, and Vanja was standing between Eliah and me.
“I missed you guys!” she said, already a bit tipsy.
“Looks like Vanja can’t handle alcohol,” I teased, seeing she’d clearly been here for a while.
“One beer!” she called to the bartender, fumbling with the strands of her hair. “Jacob and Stephan already started with tequila shots. I should’ve come with you guys. Damn it! I hate tequila.”
“Here,” I said, gesturing to the pizza. “Have some.”
Vanja wrinkled her nose. “There’s ham on that! I don’t eat meat.”
“Margherita is in the oven!” the red-haired bartender called.
As I turned back to the pizza, I barely managed to grab the last slice, as the others had already helped themselves.
“You might want to stay here,” Eliah said. “Those pieces are disappearing fast.”
When a table next to us opened up, the three of us sat down. Vanja kept a watchful eye on the bar, waiting for her meatless pizza. It was a good spot since lots of people passed by and stopped to chat with us while waiting for their drinks.
I kept scanning the room, glancing at people sitting at the tables and watching the dancers. By now, I was well aware that I was searching for Kilian—he had to be around somewhere.
“Have you seen Kilian?” I asked Vanja, who had just sat back down with a slice of pizza.
“Yeah,” she said, taking a bite and turning her head. “He was over there with Theo and Manuela, but … not anymore.” With her mouth full, she turned back to me. “So what’s going on between you two? Is there something going on?”
I’ve always been cautious about discussing my personal life, so I just shrugged and sipped my beer.
“You two have something going on, don’t you?” Vanja pressed, and Eliah, now also intrigued, turned to face us.
“With who?” I asked, puzzled.
“Dominic and Kilian,” Vanja said, singing with her mouth full.
“What, really?” Eliah asked.
I scoffed. “There’s nothing going on.”.
“I thought you liked women?” Vanja said. “I mean … I like you.”
“You like Hamlet,” Eliah corrected her.
“Yes! The best Hamlet I’ve ever seen. Damn it! I’ve been single way too long. What about you, Eliah? Got a girlfriend?”
“No, but … sorry. Nothing’s going to happen between us.”
“Why not?” Vanja asked, scrunching her forehead.
“You mentioned that anyone who eats meat won’t make it to your bed.”
“Ugh!” Vanja rolled her eyes and took a bite of her pizza. Her frustration over her own ideology faded when she noticed how quiet I had become. “So, Dominic. You and Kilian. What’s he like?”
I opened my mouth but hesitated when I realized I didn’t know the answer.
What was Kilian like? Extroverted? Dominant? Open? Wild?
But how did that fit with what I had witnessed last Tuesday? He had looked like someone carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Tired. Drained. Sad.
Was he unstable?
We hadn’t known each other long, and I’d only been at the theater for about a month. Sebastian inviting the three of us newcomers to his wedding party clearly meant we were now officially part of this “family.” Because that’s what the theater was—a big, extended family.
We had been welcomed with open arms, and I had gotten the jitters.
“Calm down, man. No one expects anything from you,” Nico had explained during one of my panicked moments. “It just means they respect and like you. Enjoy it.”
I kept reminding myself of his words, but I still struggled to shake off my suspicion.
“Don’t leave us hanging,” Vanja called out.
“There’s not much to say,” I began, resting my chin onto my palm. “We happened to cross paths before I got the role. After that, my roommate dragged me to an exhibition where Kilian was doing a light show.”
“Really?” Eliah asked, surprised. “A light show?”
“Yeah, it’s happening a few more times. It’s totally worth seeing. I was in a whole other world there.”
“And that’s when you two got closer?” Vanja took a sip of beer and looked at me eagerly. “Come on! I’m all about love stories!”
“You’re as stubborn and persistent as Kilian,” I teased.
I expected a comment from Vanja or some reaction from Eliah, but both were staring past me with wide eyes. Before I knew it, Kilian had placed a chair between Vanja and me and sat down.
“Hey, you two!” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
The thought of shrugging it off crossed my mind, but it felt so good, and I immediately absorbed all the warmth he was giving me.
His gorgeous smile was all-encompassing, and his presence was breathtaking. I had always admired his fashion sense, but tonight, in his 1920s outfit, he took it to another level.
He wore a white shirt, a charcoal vest, and a sleek black tie. With the gold chain dangling from a button leading into his pocket, he exuded the charm of a Gatsby. He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back.
“Have you guys been here long?” he asked, his eyes sparkling as they locked onto mine.
Up until that moment, I hadn’t even realized how tense I was but just seeing him made everything feel right again.
“Not too long. What about you?” I responded, aware that I only had eyes for him.
But what could I do? Seeing him like this, back to full strength with that ridiculously charming smile, felt like a gift.
I clenched my fist and forced myself not to caress his cheek, though that was exactly what I wanted to do.
When he removed his hand from my shoulder, something inside me cried out.
God! I wanted to throw myself at him and feel his lips on mine. To breathe in his warmth and his wonderful scent.
“You look great,” he said without answering my question.
“Uh … thanks,” I replied, a bit awkwardly.
I had gelled my hair back, but a strand had escaped, tickling my temple, which I tucked behind my ear, embarrassed.
“Don’t mind us,” Vanja chimed in with a singsong voice.