Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
Trey hated not being able to spend more time with Dominic on Thursday, but Bobby threatened his favorite anatomical parts if Trey wasn’t home for a good long practice session.
They were leaving for New York in the morning, and even though they could play their set backward and forward and probably in their sleep, Bobby was in charge—and if his gentle tone during their second phone call wasn’t proof enough, Bobby also said he was willing to give Trey a second chance.
“Our little patchwork family is more important than a lie,” Bobby had said.
Trey couldn’t agree more.
And it wasn’t as if he had any more huge secrets lingering between himself and his bandmates.
He spent the morning with Dominic and his parents, taking turns visiting with Lincoln. He still slept a lot of the time, but was aware and coherent during the brief periods he was awake. Trey hoped the improvements were enough for Dominic to agree to what he’d already set in motion the day before.
Trey laid out the plan to both of Dominic’s parents in the ICU waiting room, and they both agreed that it was exactly what Dominic needed—even if he didn’t know it yet. Mrs. Bounds said she’d take care of the details on their end.
He said a quiet good-bye to Dominic around noon, promising to swing by in the morning on their way north.
Dominic was in much better spirits today now that Lincoln was improving, and he promised to call if anything changed.
And each time Trey got behind the wheel and drove, he panicked less.
He gripped the wheel a bit less tightly.
He’d always be a hypervigilant driver, especially after Dominic’s accident, but he was driving again without totally freaking the fuck out.
He called that progress.
Bobby, Danielle, and Andy were waiting for him when he got home, and they practiced until the neighbors complained—which never happened, but they’d been practicing a lot this month.
He didn’t totally blame them for being sick of the constant music.
Afterward they began to carefully pack the van with equipment, and then suitcases with clothing and other necessary crap.
Trey also made sure they left enough room in the van for one more person’s stuff.
He and Dominic FaceTimed for several hours that night, talking about everything and nothing.
An easy conversation that only cemented their resolved relationship and once again had those three words on the tip of Trey’s tongue.
Not yet. In person. So instead of “I love you,” he ended the call with a heartfelt “See you in the morning, babe.”
Morning that took forever to arrive. Trey was so wired he barely slept.
He ended up watching the recordings he’d done of himself and Dominic playing Evanescence songs together.
Those memories only helped cement his plan, and that even if Dominic was angry at first, in the end it was the right thing to do.
Andy had crashed on the sofa instead of going home, and he was already awake when Trey gave up on sleep at five and went out to make coffee.
Bobby and Danielle came out not long after the pot stopped brewing.
The plan was for Bobby and Andy to drive up in the van, while Trey and Danielle swung by for Dominic.
They’d meet up at the rest stop in Smyrna before continuing the journey north.
Both vehicles left the house with enough time for Danielle to pull up outside of Mrs. Sumpter’s house at seven thirty. She let him in, then led him to the kitchen, where Dominic was eating breakfast with his parents. The pleased shock on his face was all kinds of adorable.
“I thought you were meeting me at the hospital,” Dominic said.
“Change of plans, babe.” Trey circled the table and tugged him to standing. “Your parents and Benji will be here to visit with Lincoln today and for the weekend, if he isn’t sent home.”
“Okay.” He glanced at his parents, confusion puckering his lips. “What’s going on?”
Sink or swim time.
“We all know how important it was for you to get up onstage at Unbound and play your violin. Not only for that big fat fuck-you, but for you, Dom. To do it for yourself and take that back again. And you’re going to. Tonight.”
“Huh?”
“I called Emily Ryan after the accident. I told her that playing on that stage had very personal meaning to you, and she agreed to let you take Fading Daze’s place in tonight’s showcase.”
Dominic stared at him, eyes rapidly blinking. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“I am dead serious.”
“I can’t get up on that stage alone and play something. I’m not prepared.”
“You won’t be alone.” Trey squeezed both of Dominic’s hands in his. “I’ll be there with you, on keyboard. ‘My Immortal,’ Dom. It’s our song.”
His eyes went liquid. “We haven’t played it in weeks.”
“We both know it by heart. I want to do this for you. I want to do this with you.” This was the moment. “I love you.”
Dominic swayed gently. “I love you too.” He swept Trey into a tight hug, face pressing into Trey’s neck.
Trey held tight, heart pounding. “Come with us, Dom. Play with me tonight. Rock the world with your gift.”
His neck muffled Dominic’s response. Trey urged him to straighten, his heart skipping at the tears in Dominic’s eyes. “Yes, I’ll go with you,” Dominic said. “I need time to—”
“Pack?” Mrs. Bounds said. She stood, her own eyes wet with joy, and pulled a duffel bag out of the corner of the room near a back door. “Done. Your violin is in the hall closet waiting for you.”
“You were in on this?”
“Of course. Trey told us all about it yesterday. He even told us how we can stream the performance tonight on YouTube.”
Dominic crushed him with another hug, and Trey started laughing.
For all of the pain and stress of the last few weeks, he finally felt joy again.
Joy for the upcoming trip and for the chance to see Dominic light up the world when he put fingers and bow to strings.
And Trey would be right there beside him.
He thumped Dominic’s back. “You ready for a road trip?”
“Hell yes.” He kissed Trey hard on the mouth. “Big Apple, here we come.”
Trey was hella glad Danielle was driving, because trying to navigate the streets of Manhattan would have turned him into a shivering, blubbering mess.
He spent most of the time between going through the Holland Tunnel and pulling up to the hotel with his eyes shut.
A valet helped them load their instruments onto carts, and a festival volunteer took it off to wait for their performances, but Dominic held tight to his violin.
Their room had two full-size beds and a cot, which Andy volunteered to sleep on.
Trey quickly claimed the bed near the windows for him and Dominic, who gaped around the place like he’d never seen a hotel room before.
It wasn’t anything fancy, and the view was of an alley, but they were in New York City.
And they had hours before opening ceremonies and the showcase.
As much as Trey wanted to explore the city, he needed alone time with Dominic more.
He considered shoving Dominic onto the bed and climbing on top as a not-so-subtle hint to his roommates.
Danielle scored major best-friend points by suggesting that she, Bobby, and Andy check out the hotel, find Carnegie Hall, and see about some good places to eat.
Quick on the uptake, the guys figured it out when she didn’t invite him and Dominic along.
The door clicked shut, and Trey turned the lock bar to be safe.
He sensed Dominic behind him before hands roughly turned him around and pressed his back into the door.
Dominic grabbed the sides of his head and kissed him hard.
Trey opened to the kiss and the slide of Dominic’s tongue.
He fisted the front of Dominic’s shirt, needing him naked right the hell now.
He’d missed this so much. Missed Dominic.
A strong thigh pressed between his legs, sending happy signals to his hardening cock. Trey rubbed against Dominic’s thigh, loving the soft sounds Dominic made. He groped Dominic’s erection through his khaki shorts. “Want you to fuck me,” Trey said between hungry kisses.
“Yeah.”
Dominic released him from the dizzying kiss and sank to his knees.
Trey melted at the sight of Dominic there, tugging his shorts and briefs down, fisting his dick.
And then Dominic sucked on the crown, and all Trey could do was feel.
Feel the amazing sensation of the man he loved licking and stroking his dick, nibbling the foreskin, taking him into his mouth as far as he could, making Trey impossibly harder.
They’d come so close to losing this and Trey couldn’t even remember why.
A slick finger nudged at Trey’s hole. He opened his legs wider, giving Dominic easier access to rub and caress and slowly sink inside.
Trey groaned, not even caring if someone in the hall heard, because his boyfriend was sucking his dick like he needed it to breathe and finger-fucking him like a boss.
He grabbed Dominic’s shoulders and held on, until he realized Dominic had stopped moving, and Trey was doing all of the fucking.
Dominic clamped his free hand over Trey’s, turning over all of his trust that Trey wouldn’t hurt him.
The adoration shining in Dominic’s eyes had Trey’s orgasm cresting too soon. He tugged away from Dominic with a panted “Don’t wanna come yet.”
Saliva dribbled down Dominic’s chin and throat.
Trey knelt and licked it up, then attacked Dominic’s mouth.
Thrust his tongue inside hard, mimicking how he wanted to be fucked.
Dominic grabbed his hips and rolled him under, trapping Trey’s leaner body between his knees.
He rutted his cotton-covered erection against Trey’s, and the friction made him all kinds of crazy.
“Fuck, Dom.”