Baseball Fever (91a/91b): Don and Charlie go to a baseball game then explore the city
Title: Baseball Fever (91a/91b)
Summary of the story (only updated through chap 42)
Full Chapter List (up to date)
Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing/characters: Don Eppes/Charlie Eppes
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Charlie discovers some unexpected things about his sexy older brother.
Part 91: Don and Charlie go to a baseball game then explore the city
Over a year after Don's admission of love in the locker room, Charlie and Don are happy, committed, and visiting New York City together.
Word Count: 10,295 (cut in half since too large for LiveJournal)
Notes/Warnings: Sibling incest
On April 17th, 2012, I posted the first chapter of this fic to LiveJournal with the optimistic note: "I've already got 4 parts written, so you don't need to worry about this being a WIP that never gets finished, though it's probably going to be a long one." Over 11 years, 91 chapters, and 207182 words later, Baseball Fever is finally finished! *cheers* I love this fic and all the twists and turns it's taken. I'm so glad that I was able to give this Don and Charlie a happy ending!
Part 91a: Don and Charlie go to a baseball game then explore the city
"Another hotdog, Charlie?" Don asked as Charlie made his way past the row of people to the folded seat next to Don.
Charlie teetered on the edge of his seat, balancing a plate of food and a cup of beer. Don grabbed the beer and held the seat open for Charlie.
Charlie dropped into his seat with a sigh of accomplishment. He grinned at Don. "I see you rescued the beer."
"And you," Don said, trying to look heroic, but he was already sipping the beer.
"And this," Charlie pointed to his plate. "Is no 'hot dog', it's a sweet Italian sausage with peppers and onions. And that is a Pinstripe Pilsner. I had to go all the way around the stadium for both."
"I was wondering what to you so long," Don teased. He leaned close to Charlie and said, "I missed you."
Charlie flushed and smiled and Don had to resist the urge to kiss him. They wouldn't want to get caught by a Kiss Cam.
Don toasted Charlie with his beer cup instead.
"What did I miss?" Charlie asked, eagerly looking down onto the field.
"Not much," Don said. "LA had three up, three down." Don let his eyes dwell on his brother for a moment before looking down to the field.
Yankee Field in New York City was looking its usual legendary self, with a good sized crowd for a midweek afternoon game. The air was filled with chatter, an early September chill, and the buzz of the Yankees maybe making the playoffs. Don had been here a few times before in his life, but it had never looked so picturesque, like a movie about baseball then and now.
Or maybe the glow was because the man who was sitting next to him, enjoying a messy 'sweet Italian sausage with peppers and onions.' Don shifted the large stadium blanket covering them and slid his hand over to rest on Charlie's knee.
Don found it hard to remember not being in love with his brother. It was as if the lifetime of pain and loneliness had been purged by the last year plus a couple months since the moment Don discovered that love on the cold tile floor of a locker room.
Damn, it had been a good year.
Don squeezed Charlie's knee. Charlie tossed him a smile then went back to eating and watching the game.
Very few people, of course, knew the real reason why he and Charlie had taken this trip across the country. For Charlie, it was obvious - he was presenting a possibly ground-breaking K-theory paper to a big Math and Physics conference. Don didn't understand much of it, but Charlie's rivalry with Professor Masterson, which had started when Masterson had addressed Charlie's Number Theory class while Charlie was taking care of Don's broken ribs, had birthed something big. Masterson had first angled for her name to be put on the paper, but Charlie had successfully argued that it was all his ideas - plus journals would be clamoring for Masterson's response to the paper. Charlie's fresh ideas about K-theory apparently had significant implications in physics and string theory. Don was just thrilled to see Charlie so excited about Math again.
When Don said he was going with Charlie, most people swallowed the idea that Don was there to make sure Charlie didn't get lost, but really to watch the Los Angeles Angels major-league baseball team play the New York Yankees. Many people had commented over the last year how nice it was that the two brothers had gotten so close. Heads would have exploded if they'd known how close they were. And that Don and Charlie were mostly in New York to be anonymous, so they could show their affection in public, and not have to be so careful to hide it.
They had taken some precautions - their hotel wasn't near the hotel where most of the conference attendees were staying, and they'd booked under "Mr. Wallis and Mr. Euler". Being able to hold hands while checking in had felt almost as good as the 'we made it to New York' sex that had followed shortly thereafter.
Their dad and his girlfriend knew about the lover's getaway, of course. Their relationship with Alan and Penny had gotten better over the year, as Alan saw the continuing improvement in Don and Charlie's health and lives. Alan had said, multiple times, that all a parent wanted was to see their children happy, and he could see they were. Penny mostly liked to tease Don and Charlie until they - and Alan - were blushing.
Sometimes Don wondered if David and Liz suspected the truth of his and Charlie's relationship. There had been a few knowing looks between them when Charlie visited the office. They didn't seem particularly upset about the idea, but Don still worked to cover it up. Don didn't want to put them in a situation where they would have to lie. But Liz and David made it clear they approved of the year's improvement in Don's health and mental state. The rest of Don's team, Vincente and Nikki, seemed oblivious and Don planned to keep it that way.
Dr. Sandra Sullivan - Sandy - of course, knew. Both he and Charlie had done a lot of work in therapy over the last year, though there was a lot more to work on. She had just recently started to see them in couple's therapy, another exception to made to her usual rules about not seeing clients separately and together. Sandy had gone from hoping they moved on to other less incestuous relationships to being a complete supporter of them being together. It felt amazing to have someone fully in their corner.
There was one more person who knew, someone unexpected.
Some peppers and onions slid off Charlie's plate and landed on the stadium blanket.
Don teased, "Maybe I should have brought Amita. She's neater."
Charlie wrinkled his nose at Don. He scooped up the stray peppers and onions and popped them into his mouth.
Don chuckled and took another sip of his beer. It would have seemed right to people if Don had brought Amita to New York. She was his girlfriend, after all.
After that amazing evening over a year ago in the locker room, followed by an amazing night at home, Charlie had told Don what Amita had said at the baseball game earlier that day. It had been hard to take in. Don's life had been driven by sexual attraction - how could someone not feel any attraction to anyone?
Charlie had assured Don of Amita's sincerity. This had made Don so curious that he'd invited Amita for coffee. They had talked for hours, though it made both of them late for work. Amita had made a study of attraction all her life, trying to understand something which seemed so important to people but that she didn't feel. She seemed to have come to a point where she was comfortable with her asexuality - though she still hadn't told anyone but Charlie and now Don. Amita had confessed that partner sex was distasteful to her, and she got more satisfaction with herself. She experienced close friendship and what she called 'intellectual love.' She'd said she'd been in intellectual love with Charlie for a long time, delighting in challenging conversations and cerebral interactions, but knew that wouldn't match most people's definition of love. Amita had given Don some vocabulary to describe her preferences but most of it was over Don's head. What was clear was she saw the damage that attraction caused in people's lives and was happy to be free of it. Disarmed by her confessions, Don had ended up telling her some of the things he'd done in service to attraction. Though of course he hadn't told her about his very non-intellectual love for Charlie.
A friendship had been born that morning, much more than they'd had before. They'd met again a few times, for dinner or a drink. Someone at the office had teased Don about dating Amita - and a wild idea had formed in Don's mind.
"Don?" Charlie asked. "You okay? You aren't watching the game."
Don looked over to see that Charlie had finished eating and was now looking at him in concern.
Don smiled and reached under the blanket to take Charlie's hand. "Yeah, buddy. I'm just thinking about stuff. People."
"Oh," Charlie said. "I hope I'm in there."
"You are all the stuff," Don said warmly, squeezing Charlie's hand. "The best stuff."
Charlie flushed a little and squeezed Don's hand back. "Okay, just don't miss the game."
Don looked back to the baseball diamond, but his mind went back to Amita.
After talking about his wild idea with Charlie, Don had invited Amita over to their house for dinner with the two of them. Don still remembered every part of that terrifying conversation.
They'd first sworn Amita to secrecy, by everything she held dear. Then after quite a bit of stammering and talking around it, Charlie had told Amita about Don and Charlie's romantic relationship.
Amita had been quiet for a long moment, eating her food which had sat like lead in Don's stomach. Charlie had reached out to hold Don's hand. Amita had noted Charlie's movement thoughtfully.
Eventually she had said that she found their incestuous romance no less unfathomable than any other romance. She could see the societal reasons for the taboo but that it didn't really apply here. That she would keep their secret and wouldn't think less of them for it.
Then she had asked why they had told her.
Don had cleared his throat and said that they might be able to help each other. Amita was being pushed into unwanted relationships by her parents. Don and Charlie had both historically been active daters and didn't want anyone to wonder why they'd stopped now that they lived together.
"I could be your boyfriend," Don had said to Amita. "For public, in name only. It would get your parents off your back, even if they don't like me, and it would help me stay in people's minds as a typical heterosexual guy."
Amita had looked interested yet skeptical.
Don had plowed on. "We could make a schedule beforehand for the week or month, mainly things where we'd be seen by others. I would never touch you or want anything from you. We could go on, living our lives how we want, without others bothering us about our romantic relationships."
"Tempting," Amita had said. "Let me think about it."
And she had thought about it, all the way through dessert. Don and Charlie had talked awkwardly around her silence, resisting the urge to make more arguments in favor.
Finally she had said, "Let's try it. If someone sees through us, I can just say it was my idea, to deal with my parents, and deflect from you and Charlie." Then she had nodded at the two of them. "I may not know attraction, but I can see it in others, and you two have it for each other. But also you have a good relationship and I think you're really good for each other. I've never seen Charlie so happy, but I didn't know what to ascribe it to. And I know a little of Don's history, and I'm glad he's found a partner who treats him well."
"It's not just physical," Don had said firmly. "I love him."
"And I love him," Charlie had added. "Always have, though I didn't realize it until recently."
She had smiled and said, "I'm so glad I can break up with that man my parents made me date! He's getting all wrong ideas." Then her smile had turned impish. "Okay, Don, first job in your new role as my 'boyfriend' is break out your tux. You'll be my plus-one for my cousin's wedding next week."
"Whoa," Don had said with half-relief, half-fear. "Nothing like jumping right into the fire."
"You have no idea," Amita had laughed. "We are going to need to get every detail of our 'romance' straight or my family will see right through us."
And Don and Amita had gone to that wedding. And had a reasonably fun time. All of Amita's family had said she must be in love since they'd never seen her so relaxed. Then Don had gone home to Charlie, shared funny stories and smuggled wedding desserts, and Don had taught Charlie some of the dances Amita had taught him. It had been one of Don's favorite nights that he could remember.
"What are you smiling about?" Charlie asked. "Not the game."
Don looked at Charlie, who had that worried expression on his face again.
Don said, "I was thinking about you and me, doing Bollywood dance moves in the kitchen, hyped up on wedding cake and those sweet, sticky things that we didn't know what they were, but they were delicious."
Charlie grinned and relaxed. "That was a good night."
"A very good night."
Don picked up his beer and toasted Charlie with it. "You know I don't actually wish I had Amita here."
"I know," Charlie said. "But sometimes I don't know know."
"I'm going to have to work harder to impress that on-"
A sudden roar from the crowd and their attention went back to the game. They cheered quietly as LA scored with a close play at home plate. They didn't want the Yankees fans around them to single them out for unwanted interest.
After things settled down again, Don leaned over and cupped his hand around Charlie's ear. He murmured, "If it wasn't for cameras, I'd be under this blanket, on my knees, unzipping your fly. Then I'd show you how much I'm glad you're here and not Amita. And it's not just that you have a cock, it's because nothing makes me feel good like making you feel good."
Charlie's cheeks went pink and he grinned at Don. "Later, Donnie, later."
Don chuckled and settled back in his seat. He squeezed Charlie's hand under the blanket. They'd had sex this morning, lovely shower-to-wall-to-floor sex, so he should be able to hold out until later. An in-person close game between the Angels and the Yankees should be plenty to keep his attention.
His mind wandered again, though, back to the life that he and Charlie had been building together. Their father was happy, too, with his girlfriend, Penny, in Santa Barbara. Alan hadn't seemed so happy since their mother had died. He seemed to still be holding onto the hope that they'd move on from each other, but he hadn't mentioned it in a year. Don had made very clear the artificial nature of his relationship with Amita.
Not completely artificial, since Don liked Amita but she wasn't who he wanted to spend his time with. She was also biding her time with him, as she searched for the perfect partner for her -- an Indian man, who lived far away and was only interested in a romance of the mind. Don wished her well but was glad to be her 'beard' as long as she was willing to be his.
Early on, after Don and Charlie had become a committed couple, they'd made a point of regularly going out with friends, separate from each other, but Don was never able to stop thinking about Charlie. From Charlie's reactions when Don got home, he felt the same.
Lately, they'd been going out as a group with the two of them plus Amita and Alexei. Surprisingly, the four of them meshed well. They told other people that they were double dates, though Alexei knew that his days of dating either Eppes man were past, even if he didn't know why. Amita loved to talk with Alexei about his documentaries and the four of them made a killer trivia contest team. They were on the edge of getting banned from their favorite bar's trivia contest for winning too often. Spending more time with Alexei also had the happy side-effect of making Charlie mostly comfortable with Don and Alexei working out together. Don had vowed to never get in bad shape again and he also was keeping to his two-alcohol-drinks a day restriction.
Between Alexei and Sandy, Don had never felt healthier in body and mind. But the peace and joy of his soul… That was all due to his ever-amazing little brother. He wanted to put his arm around him, kiss him, and whisper his love into Charlie's ear.
Instead, he told himself 'later' and turned his attention fully to the game.
As they made their way out of Yankee Stadium after the game, Charlie tried to keep the smile from his face. Los Angeles had pulled off an exciting, come-from-behind win, and Charlie didn't want the Yankee fans around them to notice his excitement. He looked over at Don, walking beside him. Don wasn't hiding his smile. It had been a great game, and once Don had stopped staring into space, they'd enjoyed the game and the venue.
Don crooked his elbow around Charlie's neck and placed a kiss on Charlie's cheek. Into Charlie's ear, he murmured, "Are you sure we don't have time to go by the hotel before dinner? After baseball sex is the best."
Charlie flushed with the kiss but said, "The hotel is in the wrong direction. No way we'd have time to get there and back before our reservations."
"A shame," Don said, but he was smiling. He gestured with the blanket in his other hand. "We could just find a spot to spread out this blanket."
"Uh," Charlie stammered, trying to come up with pros and cons for that action while Don's face was still inches from his.
Don released Charlie's neck but took hold of his hand. "There's a cab! You never see a cab here."
"I thought we were going to take the subway -"
Don pulled Charlie towards the cab. "New York City Cab, part of the whole experience!"
"So is the subway," Charlie replied, but there was no way he could resist Don in this mood.
They beat a pair of unhappy Yankee fans to the cab, and Don threw the blanket inside and dove after it. Don gave the name of the restaurant and the cab took off while Charlie was still shutting the door. Don grinned at Charlie, looking gleeful at the cab's dive into traffic. They both buckled up their seatbelts.
"I bet they thought that-" Don started, but his phone chimed. Don's face fell. It was the sound of a new email and there was only a handful of people that weren't muted for this trip. Most of those people were FBI.
Charlie said hopefully, "Maybe it's Dad, about the game."
Frowning, Don unlocked his phone and checked his email. "It's from Ian."
"Edgerton?" Charlie asked. He didn't know that Ian was on Don's select list.
As Don read the email, his frown deepened.
"What is it?" Charlie asked anxiously.
Don silently handed his phone to Charlie.
Charlie read:
From: Agent Ian Edgerton @ Quantico
To:
As you asked, I've kept an eye on your former co-worker. He's had some relationships here where I debated stepping in (which would have cost you favors for life). But in the last six months or so he tried his moves on an instructor I know and respect. That man ripped your co-worker's head off, scrubbed it out, and put it back on straight. It was rough for a while, and there were bets on whether they'd just flat out kill each other. They lived and stayed together and seem happy now. They seem to be okay, with none of garbage that happened in LA. I'll keep my eye on it, in case it goes sour, but I don't expect it to.
This makes us even. If you ever refer to this favor or this email, I will deny everything. Then I will stalk you for the rest of your living days.
Charlie looked up. "Um… Good?"
"Sure." Don took his phone back, then turned his head to look out the window.
"Don?" Charlie asked.
Without turning his head, Don reached his hand towards Charlie. Charlie took it in his.
Don said, "Just give me a minute, okay?"
Charlie opened his mouth and shut it again. The euphoria from the game had completely evaporated. He looked out his window and tried to look at the city rushing by.
Fortunately, the restaurant they had reservations at wasn't too far away from the stadium. While it felt like a long ride, it was just a few minutes until they pulled up outside a fancy-looking restaurant. When the cab came to a stop, Don let go of Charlie's hand. He got out quickly, leaving Charlie to pay the driver and grab the stadium blanket.
Charlie came puffing up the sidewalk to find Don already talking with the restaurant host.
"Do you have a booth?" Don was asking.
The host answered, "Yes, we do. We can seat you right now if you like."
Don nodded and the host turned to lead him into the restaurant. Charlie hurried behind.
The host showed them to a U-shaped booth. Don and Charlie sat down on opposite sides of the U and received the menus from the host. They thanked the host and watched in silence as they walked away.
Don set down his menu. He leaned forward and whispered, "Is this place…safe?"
Charlie blinked and set down his own menu. "You mean, for two men to be a couple?"
Don nodded tightly.
Charlie said, "Should be. I got it off the same recommendation list of LGBTQ+ welcoming places that I got our hotel from."
"Good," Don said, and moved towards the back of the U bench. He reached for Charlie. "C'mere, buddy."
Charlie quickly scooted towards Don. They met and Don folded Charlie into his arms then hid his head between Charlie's shoulder and head.
"Don, are you-" Charlie started, but he was interrupted by a professional voice.
"Good evening, I'm-"
Charlie looked up to see a handsome man in a black waiter's uniform. He could see when the man stopped his usual greeting to take in Don and Charlie's position. Charlie watched him nervously, but instead of getting angry, the waiter's eyes softened.
"Is everything okay?" the waiter asked.
Charlie gave him a strained smile. "He just got some news." Before the waiter could get the wrong idea, Charlie added. "Not bad news. About an ex. It's good news. For the ex."
"Oh dear," the waiter said, sounding sympathetic.
From where his face was buried in Charlie's shoulder, Don rumbled, "And when that ex was an abusive bastard when he was with you…"
The waiter's face turned completely from professional to their new best friend. "Hon, I'm so sorry," he said warmly. "You just hold your new man and feel all the feels. Can I get you a drink?"
"Just a Coke for now," Don said, his voice sounding lighter.
"Right away." The waiter looked at Charlie.
"Just water," Charlie said.
"You got it." The waiter smiled. "I'm Zhake. Just sit back, take your time with the menu, and we will make sure you two have a wonderful night tonight."
"Thank you," Charlie said, a little nonplussed.
After the Zhake left, Don said dryly, "I think we can count this as a safe place."
"Yeah," Charlie said then turned to Don. "How are you?"
Don released Charlie but kept one arm around Charlie's shoulder. He gave a shaky sigh. "'Feeling all the feels,' as Zhake said."
"Like what?" Charlie said.
"Well, embarrassed for one. I never wanted anyone, let alone Ian, to know about… Colby and me." Don's eyes sharpened. "Did you contact him?"
"No!" Charlie said, then felt compelled to add. "I might have, if it had occurred to me."
Don hmmed. "Probably David or Liz-Probably Liz."
"Probably. He obviously didn't want you to know who and didn't want the person to know that he'd contacted you."
"Hence, the threats," Don said dryly.
Charlie gave a shudder of the idea of Ian stalking Don 'for the rest of his living days.'
"Okay," Charlie said. "What other feels?"
Don sighed and sat back against the back of the booth. "Stupid. For letting Colby…play me like that. Letting him use me like that." He shook his head. "Weak, because someone else was able to make him back down. To 'rip off his head, scrub it out, and put it back on right.' I couldn't do it, couldn't make him see what he was doing to me, to himself. Someone else was strong enough to do that."
Charlie bit his lip to avoid arguing that Don was the strongest person he knew.
Don continued, "I feel a little worried what I would do if I met Colby again. Would I cave? Probably laugh uncomfortably and pretend there had been nothing between us."
Don took Charlie's free hand with his. "But the biggest feel is… a whole mess of feelings about what if I had been able to work it out with Colby? What if I had missed you? It hurts to think about it. It makes me terrified, angry, something like a kick to the chest that I might be with him or with Alexei and not with you."
Charlie gasped softly, tears coming to his eyes, as he realized that he'd been afraid Don had regrets about Colby, even wanted to get back together with him now that he'd been 'scrubbed out.'
Don tightened his arm around Charlie's shoulder. "I love you, Charlie. I am so lucky to be with you, to have you love me back. I can't imagine anyone I'd want to be with more than you. If it weren't for… the I-word, I would tell everyone, trumpet from the mountains that I am so happy that things didn't work out with others so that I could find real love with you."
Charlie gave him a watery smile. "I love you, too."
"I was having a great time today," Don said. "Then Ian's letter made me realize how…unlikely my life and my happiness is. How I almost missed it."
"Well, you didn't," Charlie said.
"No, I didn't," Don said softly, releasing Charlie's hand to cradle his cheek.
Charlie took a quick glance around, then leaned forward. They kissed for a brief, tender moment. They pulled back and Charlie knew that there was desire in his eyes that mirrored Don's.
"Okay," Don said, his voice a little husky. "We should look at the menu."
"It's just food," Charlie protested, but he turned away from Don and picked up his menu.
The waiter, Zhake, swept in with two waters and a Coke. He'd probably been waiting for the right moment.
Don glanced quickly at the menu. "We'll take the rustic bread and the cheese plate for appetizers."
"Excellent," Zhake said. "I'll put that in for you."
He gave them an approving smile and hurried away.
"He's gonna get a big tip," Don predicted.
"Yeah."
Don grinned at Charlie. "He thinks I should hold tight to my 'new man.' Don lowered his voice and said, "I wonder if he would be so friendly if he knew that I've known my 'new man' for every day of his life. Changed his diapers, even."
Charlie wrinkled his nose. "I'd rather not think about that."
Don made an exaggerated grimace. "Me too."
They both reached for their water glasses and drank.
Don put down his glass with a thump. "Now, at your big paper presentation tomorrow, are there any particular points where you want me to cheer or should I just applaud throughout?"
Charlie smiled. "Please no cheering. Polite applause at the end is okay."
Don leaned towards him, looking mischievous. "Polite applause? I just warmed up today. You heard me when the Angels got that last hit earlier."
"Almost blew my ear off," Charlie teased. "The Yankees fans around us looked ready to rip our heads off."
"I'm going to stand up in the middle of your presentation and start hooting!"
Charlie shook his head, still smiling. "That would give some of the attendants a heart attack. Though it would be worth it to see you dragged out by security."
"Still shouting, 'Way to go Eppes! Now that's K-Theory! Woo-hoo!'"
Charlie laughed, somehow being able to picture the whole thing - including the horrified looks from the high-strata of academia…and the appreciative giggles from a few less stuffy colleagues.
"You'll just have to cheer silently," Charlie said. "Think of the entire audience as rabid Yankee fans and I just stole the World Series from them."
Don's eyebrows shot up. "Your paper is really that controversial?"
Charlie had to smile gleefully. "The old-timers are going to have to get off their asses and do some new math for once."
"My br-" Don started then changed it to- "My lover, the rabble-rouser."
"Feels good," Charlie admitted. "Just to think that, not so long ago, I couldn't do the simplest math."
"No, no," Don said, grabbing Charlie's hand and squeezing it. "That was terrifying and I never want to see you like that again, ever."
Charlie looked down at Don's hand and said, "You won't."
They smiled at each other, then turned to the menu again.
The meal passed enjoyably, with excellent food and easy-going conversation. The bread was crusty and hot from the oven and the cheese plate included regional cheeses, dried fruit, and a spicy mustard. Don had what he said was the best steak he'd ever eaten, with locally made spaetzle. Charlie loved his lobster-stuffed salmon and was glad it wasn't a huge portion because he'd have eaten it until he was rolling. They split a raspberry-lemon tart for dessert.
Their waiter, Zhake, brought out small coffees for each of them. "Planning on going out on the town tonight?" he asked. "I have some suggestions, if you're looking for ideas."
"Well," Don said, looking at Charlie. "We were planning on going to go…get a drink." He gave him the name of a gay bar near their hotel. They were both looking forward to more public hand-holding and generally being a gay couple in public.
"That's okay," Zhake said, "But if you really want to feel the local scene, you should go out dancing."
Don raised his eyebrows and Charlie chuckled, thinking of them dancing in their kitchen at home after Don went with Amita to that wedding.
To Charlie's surprise, Don said, "That could be fun. Suggestions on where to go?"
Zhake gave them a name of a club and said, "It is the place to see and be seen in the gay scene around here. You'll get lots of celebrities and fun dancing."
"Uh…" Charlie said, exchanging looks with Don.
Don said, "We came all the way here from LA to not be seen."
"Ah," Zhake said. "I know the perfect place. Great music, decent drinks, and no risks of being in someone's selfie."
"Sounds good," Don said. He turned to Charlie. "Shall we go dancing?"