Chapter Four #4
“Most people would ask.”
“I’ve been on the receiving end of invasive questions, so I know what it’s like. Not anything on the scale you deal with, but public curiosity can be…daunting.”
Of course, now Troy wondered why Brian would have garnered public attention, but if Brian wouldn’t pry, he couldn’t either. “Daunting’s a good word for it. I’m used to it after so many years, but people ask the most inappropriate shit you can imagine.”
“Well, I’d ask if you wear boxers or briefs, but I guess I already know the answer.”
Troy laughed, a wonderful calm spreading in his chest. “I guess you do. You can devote a chapter to it in your tell-all.”
Brian laughed too, that low, warm sound. “I could call it A Rock Star Wore My Underwear. Wait, what’s the band called again?”
“Next Up.” He actually loved that Brian didn’t know.
“Would be good if I could work that into the title somehow. Hmm.”
“I’m sure the publisher will have a million ideas.”
“I’ll hold out for the one that comes up with the punniest title.”
“Good plan.” Troy’s stomach still rumbled. “Guess I’ll throw on another coconut.” He went about cracking it, aiming the rock for the seam and bashing it repeatedly.
“We definitely need to fish tomorrow.”
“You know anything about fishing? Because I don’t.”
“A little. My grandfather loved it. It’s been years, but I know enough. We can find a good piece of wood for a pole and tie on the line. Use a hook and lure. Put it in the water. That’s basically all there is to it.”
“Cool.” Sweat dripped down Troy’s temple as he finally cracked the coconut and put it on the fire. “Fish would taste amazing right now. When they rescue us, I’m having the biggest burger with the coldest soda. And ice cream. Definitely ice cream.”
Brian smiled softly. “Sounds good.”
The fire crackled and sparked, the stars bright overhead now as night wrapped around them fully. The push and pull of the waves hummed beneath it all. He stared up, trying to recognize any of the constellations. The stars were remarkably bright.
When he was finally full, Troy picked up the stick and poked the fire. “I’ll get some more wood on here.”
“I think I’m going to turn in. We should really work on a shelter tomorrow.
” Brian unfurled the mosquito net and one of the other flannel blankets several feet away, then unfolded the two silver emergency blankets.
“I can sleep through anything, so don’t feel like you need to sleep right away too.
It’s still early.” The face of his waterproof watch lit up. “Not even eight p.m.”
“It’s okay. I’m beat. And yeah, a shelter.” Maybe they wouldn’t even need one. Yes, they’d be rescued soon, and sleeping under the stars wasn’t bad at all. The sky was clear for miles.
Brian unzipped a toiletry bag. “Good thing I didn’t bring my electric toothbrush.” He shot Troy a guilty look. “I don’t have an extra, though.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Troy waved his hand dismissively. Truthfully, his teeth were coated with a layer of grossness, but they’d had so much else to deal with that he hadn’t given it much thought.
“You can just use mine when I’m done. I don’t mind.” Brian squeezed a tiny blob of toothpaste onto his brush and took a swig of water from a bottle.
“You sure?”
Brushing and pacing around, Brian nodded. When he was finished spitting into the scrub edging the jungle, he rinsed the bristles and put on another blob of paste before handing it to Troy.
Sweet Jesus.
Troy moaned softly, possibly never so glad to brush his teeth in his entire life as he was in that moment.
The mint tasted incredible, and his mouth felt so fresh and alive.
It was kind of weird using another guy’s toothbrush, but they were on a desert island and he’d take what he could get.
Troy was sure to rinse it as well as he could without wasting too much water when he was done. He passed it back.
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem.” Brian poked through the rest of his bag and pulled out a washcloth. “We’ve got one little towel, at least.” He sighed. “Definitely no soap in there. Sorry.” He put his things away and got settled under his blanket, which crinkled as Brian fidgeted.
After slipping under the netting, Troy curled up with his blanket a foot away. “Well…good night.”
“Night,” Brian murmured.
Brian soon snored softly, but it didn’t bother Troy.
He’d always liked the sound of someone sleeping nearby, the heat of a body next to him.
It was one of the best things about being in the band—he never lacked for company.
He thought of Savannah with a sigh. What was she thinking now? Did she hate him?
Flicking through memories like the pages of a book, he thought of his old girlfriends.
They’d all been fun, nice girls. He’d had good times with them, and the breakups had been made easier by Next Up’s endless touring.
Probably made easier too on his part because he’d never loved them.
He’d come closest with Savannah, but when he imagined his life and the person who would fill his heart and make him complete, it wasn’t her.
He snorted to himself. He’d been singing sappy ballads for too many years.
Did love really fill anyone’s heart or make them complete?
His parents had loved each other, but it hadn’t stopped his father from self-destructing.
Troy wasn’t sure the kind of love he imagined—passionate, strong, and peaceful too—actually existed.
Brian rolled toward him, mumbling in his sleep.
His silver blanket had slipped down, and Troy eased it up over his shoulders again.
Brian’s mouth was slack, and the furrows in his brow were smoothed out.
Troy hoped the headache would dissipate soon.
The bruise on Brian’s forehead was still an angry purple shadow in the darkness.
He said a quick prayer that it would heal soon.
Flattening out on his back as Brian breathed deeply beside him, Troy watched the stars, giving the unfamiliar constellations new names.
“What?” Troy rolled over and opened his eyes, kicking the blanket. Wet splotches hit him, and he blinked at the sky. The stars had vanished. “Shit. Shit!”
As the sudden rain intensified, Brian bolted up. “Water. Quick, the bottles.” He tugged off the net.
Troy shook the cobwebs from his mind, made easier by the surprisingly cold rain now pouring down. Brian had left the suitcase lid open, and water splashed into it. They’d also collected all their empty plastic bottles, and now burrowed them upright in the wet sand.
“What time is it?” Troy asked.
“Just after eleven.”
“Is that all?” It felt as if it should have almost been morning.
“Afraid so. You want your poncho?”
“A little late now.”
“Indeed. We definitely need to work on a shelter.”
“Maybe they’ll come in the morning.” Troy wiped water from his face, shivering.
A minute or so later, the rain stopped as if a giant faucet had been turned off.
They screwed the caps back on all the bottles, and Brian zipped the suitcase, which was almost full.
With the fire extinguished and the stars and moon blotted out, it was dark when they crawled back under the dripping net.
Shivering, they huddled closer together, only a few inches separating them. As the night wore on, Troy wished the stars would return.