Chapter 33 Kellan
Kellan
I pad downstairs into Micah's kitchen, shirtless and feeling more relaxed than I have in months.
The morning light streams through the windows, illuminating the cozy space that's so different from my sterile apartment.
This kitchen actually feels lived in, with mismatched mugs and a well-used coffee maker and magnets holding up old photos on the fridge.
I open the fridge looking for something to drink and I'm surprised to find Dr Pepper sitting there on the shelf.
A whole six-pack, like Micah went out and bought it specifically for me.
The gesture makes something warm bloom in my chest, this casual thoughtfulness that shows he was thinking about me even when I wasn't here.
I grab one and crack it open, taking a long drink as I look around his cute kitchen.
Everything is worn but well-maintained, the counters showing years of use but scrubbed clean.
A bowl on the counter catches my eye and I move closer to investigate.
Tootsie Rolls. A whole bowl of them, just sitting there like a candy dish at a grandma's house.
I snort, charmed by this detail. Micah and his Tootsie Rolls, that simple pleasure he gets from cheap candy. It's so different from the expensive catering and craft services at the label, where everything is artisanal and overpriced.
I hear footsteps on the stairs and turn to see Micah coming down, his hair still messed up from sleep and sex. He's wearing just sweatpants, his chest bare and showing the marks I left last night. The sight makes possessive satisfaction rush through me. Mine. My Beta, wearing my marks.
Then he sees the Dr Pepper in my hand and his nose scrunches up in that adorable way it does when he's annoyed. "Really? First thing in the morning? There's a perfectly good casserole in the fridge that my neighbor made yesterday."
I shrug, grinning at him. "Maybe I like the way your nose scrunches up a little bit when you find me with my favorite soda. It's cute."
"It's unhealthy." But Micah's fighting a smile as he moves closer. "You're going to rot your teeth and destroy your stomach lining."
"Worth it." I take another sip just to watch his expression.
Micah pads over and starts kissing my cheeks, soft affectionate pecks that make me melt.
Then he moves to my neck, his lips finding the sensitive spot just below my ear.
His hands touch me softly, running along my sides and across my chest. I respond immediately, setting the can down to pull him closer.
"Trying to distract me from my terrible breakfast choices?" I murmur against his hair.
"Is it working?"
"Definitely—wait, fuck, shit." My phone starts buzzing insistently from where I left it upstairs. The sound carries down, impossible to ignore. "Hold that thought."
I reluctantly pull away and jog upstairs to grab it. The screen shows several missed calls from Tom and various PR managers whose numbers I recognize. The group chat with my bandmates is going off, message after message with increasing urgency.
Rex: Kel where the fuck are you
Jordan: Tom is losing his MIND
Liam: Get to the company NOW
Rex: They saw your post
Jordan: Legal is involved
Liam: Seriously get here
My stomach drops. I call Jordan immediately, putting him on speaker as I head back downstairs where Micah waits with concerned eyes.
"Kel, we're doing this today." Jordan's voice is tight with stress.
"Right now. Tom called an emergency meeting and they're threatening legal action against both you and Micah for not following the contract terms. The breakup was supposed to happen last night and instead you posted that you're keeping him forever. "
"They can't do that." I lean against the counter, my good mood evaporating. "The contract was written for a flexible timeline anyway. One month maximum, and we're not even close to that yet."
"Just get your goddamn ass down here." Jordan's tone brooks no argument. "Bring Micah too. This affects him and he deserves to be present when we blow everything up."
The call ends and I stand there staring at my phone. Game time, I guess. Everything we talked about, all the plans we made, they're happening right now whether we're ready or not.
"How bad is it?" Micah's voice pulls me back to the present.
"Well, there isn't going to be a romance album, that's for sure." I try for humor but it falls flat. "But hey, it means I get to show off my boyfriend to everyone at the label. Silver lining?"
Micah moves closer, his hand finding mine. "We'll figure it out. Whatever happens, we'll handle it together."
We head upstairs to get dressed, both throwing on clothes quickly. The drive to the company building is tense, my hands gripping the steering wheel too tight. Micah stays quiet beside me, just his presence grounding me enough to keep breathing.
When we pull into the parking lot, I can see the tension radiating from the building. "Stay in the car," I tell Micah. "At least until I know what we're walking into. No point in both of us facing Tom's wrath immediately."
"Be careful." Micah kisses me quickly. "And remember, you're not alone in this."
I head inside and take the elevator up to the conference room where these disasters always happen. My bandmates are already there, along with Tom, several PR managers, legal representatives, and the CEO of the label. The room feels like a pressure cooker about to explode.
"Nice of you to join us," Tom says, his voice dripping with false civility. "We've been waiting."
"Traffic was terrible." I take my seat next to Rex, who gives me a subtle nod of support.
The CEO leans forward, his expression grave.
"Mr. Hayes, your post last night violated the terms of your promotional contract with Mr. Davis.
You were supposed to stage a public breakup, not declare him yours forever.
The PR team has been scrambling since three AM trying to figure out how to salvage this. "
"There's nothing to salvage." Jordan speaks up before I can. "We're here to formally dissolve our contracts with the label, effective immediately. All four of us."
The room erupts. Tom shoots to his feet, his face going red. The legal representatives start talking over each other. The PR managers look like they might faint.
"You can't be serious!" Tom's voice rises above the chaos. "You're throwing away everything we've built over some Beta you've known for two weeks?"
"We're serious." Liam's voice is calm but firm. "We found the clause in our contracts that allows simultaneous termination with minimal penalties. We've all discussed it, had our lawyers review it, and we're unified in this decision."
"This is because of the timeline changes," Jordan adds. "The way you manipulated Kellan and Micah's relationship for publicity. The constant control over our creative direction. We're done being products you can manipulate."
I lean forward, my eyes locked on Tom. "You would have ripped the one good thing that happened to me away from me. For what? Album sales? A narrative that fits your vision? Fuck that. I have a good, strong man at my side and I want to keep him. I'm choosing him over this."
"He signed the contract!" Tom slams his hand on the table. "A legally binding agreement that he's now in violation of!"
"That you conned him into," I shoot back. "You told him it was an NDA and had him sign before he could read it properly. Then you soft-launched our relationship with a stolen security camera photo before he even knew what was happening. You manipulated both of us."
Tom opens his mouth to argue but the CEO holds up a hand. "Gentlemen, let's not make this uglier than it needs to be. If you're determined to leave, we can't stop you given the contract language. But let's discuss the logistics."
"You've had three years to make things better," I say, my voice hard. "Every time it came down to money or our desires, you chose money. Every time we pushed back on creative direction, you overruled us. We're done compromising. So yeah, we're leaving. Bye."
The CEO's expression hardens. "You realize as part of this contract termination, you lose everything the label provided, right?
The houses we bought for you, the cars we lease in your names, any equipment or instruments that belong to the company.
You walk away with your earned income and nothing else. "
I immediately pull my car keys from my pocket and throw them on the conference table. Rex, Jordan, and Liam do the same, the metallic clatter loud in the tense silence.
"I'll move out of the apartment by the end of the week," I say. "Pack my personal belongings and leave the rest. Same with any company equipment."
"Wait, let's not be too hasty!" Tom's tone shifts, desperation creeping in. "We can renegotiate. Adjust the terms, give you more creative control. There's no need to blow everything up over one relationship."
"Too late." I stand, done with this conversation. "But I do expect the entirety of my final check by the end of the month. Not a penny short. That money was earned, not gifted, and I want every cent I'm owed."
My bandmates stand with me, a united front. The legal representatives are already pulling out paperwork, probably figuring out damage control and how to process simultaneous contract terminations.
I walk out of that conference room feeling lighter than I have in years. Yes, I'm losing my apartment and my car and the financial security the label provided. But I'm keeping Micah. I'm keeping my integrity. I'm keeping the music that actually matters to me.
Outside, the morning sun is bright and warm. I head for where I left my car—except it's not my car anymore, I guess. Just the car I drove here that belongs to the label now.
Micah stands against it, and I notice he's holding a small flower he must have picked from the landscaping and a Dr Pepper he brought from his house. The sight makes me grin despite everything. He waves as I approach, that soft smile on his face that makes everything worth it.
Then I notice a few people approaching him, fans who must have recognized him from social media. He looks suddenly overwhelmed, his shoulders tensing as they get closer.
I jog up, hearing their voices as I reach them.
"You're Micah, right? Kellan's boyfriend?"
"Oh my god, you're so pretty in person!"
"Can we get a picture with you both? You guys are literally perfect together!"
"Kellan's never been this open about a relationship before. You must be really special."
The attention clearly flusters Micah but he's handling it well, smiling and nodding. I slide my arm around his waist, pulling him close.
"We'd be happy to take some pictures," I say, and we pose for a few quick photos with the small group of fans.
As they leave, practically bouncing with excitement, I turn to Micah. "How about a date? A real one, no contractual obligations. Just me taking out my boyfriend because I want to spend time with him."
"I assume the meeting went well?" Micah's tone is teasing but there's real concern underneath.
"Fuck no, it was a disaster." I laugh, the sound slightly manic.
"They're definitely going to try and sue us.
Tom's probably already on the phone with attack lawyers.
But right now, I just want to eat down-to-earth food that I can pronounce with my boyfriend.
Tomorrow, we'll tackle the hard stuff. Today, I just want to be with you. "
Micah steps a little closer, his voice dropping lower. "What if I want to tackle something hard tonight?"
I snort, desire spiking through me at the suggestion in his tone. "I would say get your sexy ass in the car, but it's technically theirs now, so... want to walk? There's a diner about three blocks from here that makes the greasiest burgers in the city."
"Walking sounds perfect." Micah threads his fingers through mine. "Lead the way."
We start walking, leaving the label building and Tom's fury and the complicated mess behind us.
Tomorrow will bring lawyers and logistics and figuring out where I'm going to live now that my apartment isn't mine.
But right now, holding Micah's hand and walking toward greasy food and a future we get to choose for ourselves, everything feels exactly right.