Chapter Four #2
Luke is a rock music legend. Landing a record deal with his label, which he started with his bandmates, is our dream.
They support the hell out of their artists, and we want people like that in our corner.
We’ve sent in demos, but there’s no way of knowing how far they went with the layers of people in a company like that. “What did he say?”
Excitement glittering in his pale blue eyes, he flashes his screen at us before angling it back to read out the message.
“He’ll be at Winter Fest. Two of the bands the label represents are playing.
He says he just listened to our demo and was impressed by our sound, and is looking forward to seeing us play at the festival.
And he’ll be backstage if we’re available for a chat. Do you know what this means?”
“He knows who we are.” My mouth goes slack as my brain scrambles to make sense of this new information. “Luke Thompson knows who we are.” Goosebumps break over my skin. I’d been looking forward to playing at Winter Fest already, but this takes things to a whole other level.
Everett snatches Layne’s phone from his hand and reads the message himself. “More than that. He likes what we do. And he wants to talk to us.”
Layne steals his phone back, and his thumbs tap fast across his keyboard as he replies. “I’m telling him that we’re looking forward to meeting him there. We have two months to perfect our set. Everything about our performance needs to be on point. No room for any mistakes.”
“That includes not taking unnecessary risks, like throwing yourself into the crowd.” I retrieve my phone, eager to share the news with Tyler and Soren. “Diving off the stage, trusting people you don’t know to catch you. It’s not safe.”
Layne’s fierce glare is so sharp, I wouldn’t be surprised if it pierced all the way through me and into the next room. “Nothing bad has happened yet.”
“So stop tempting fate.”
“I’m not the only one who does things like that.” He pokes his finger at my chest. “Remind me, which one of us has a habit of leaping over their drum kit at the end of a show? You could land badly and mess up your knee o break your leg. Then we’d be without a drummer.”
Ugh, I hate when he’s right. “Okay, I’ll be more careful.” I point at him. “But you have to be too. This is the chance we’ve been waiting for. If Luke likes what he sees, it might lead to a contract.”
“I know how big this is.” He lifts his chin the same way he does when he’s winding up for a fight. “I won’t fuck it up.”
My jaw clenches at his defensiveness. Sometimes he’s so fucking touchy. “I didn’t say you’d—”
“Guys. Stop.” Gavin pushes between us, laying his hands on our shoulders. “A rock legend took time out of his day to tell us he likes our music. That’s a great thing on its own, but knowing we get to play in front of him is awesome. Like we’re one step closer. We should be celebrating.”
No one says anything for a moment. Everett’s switching his focus from Layne to me and back again.
Gavin releases us and sits on his haunches, crouched and ready to pounce again.
A muscle jumps in Layne’s jaw as he picks at a loose thread on his sweater, and my stomach knots.
Layne’s going through something, and my saying shit doesn’t help.
All it does is bring down the happy vibe.
I tap the toe of my boot into the side of Layne’s sneaker. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Let’s all get a drink somewhere.”
He lifts his chin in agreement. “Good idea.”
I stand and extend my hand to pull him to his feet.
The momentum isn’t strong, but once he’s up, he keeps coming and wraps me in a hug.
I hold on, squeezing him hard, and catch his smile in the mirror on the wall.
My best friend, my bandmate, my brother, Layne’s always been a fixture in my life. “We’re good, you and me?”
“Of course,” he huffs, like he’s offended that I’d even ask that.
“Let’s go.” Gavin leads Everett to the stairs, and they troop up ahead of us. I snag Layne by the hand and pull him in front of the drum kit, then take a selfie of us.
His lips quirk into a smile. “What’s that for?”
“Good things are happening. I’m marking the moment. We’ll get one with Gav and Ev later.”
He walks toward the steps. “You coming?”
“I’ll be right there.”
I get a curious look, then a knowing smirk when he glances at my phone. “Have a good chat with your boys. Don’t take too long.” Without waiting for a response, Layne jogs up the stairs with a light gait.
In the quiet and stillness of the practice room, I send the photo to Soren and Tyler. As new as things are with us, I want to share the news and this moment with them too.
Ping.
Soren’s message appears below the photo. Looking good. Finished with practice?
The urge to see them swells up fast.
Bax: Yeah. Are you busy?
Tyler: We always have time for sexy drummers.
That makes me feel about ten feet tall.
Bax: Are you together?
Tyler: Yes. Soren just put his phone on the charger, so call mine.
Smiling like a smitten fool, I call. Then smile bigger as my screen fills with the sight of Soren and Tyler, sitting together on a bed.
“Hey.”
Soren slips his arm around Tyler, crowding in closer. “You look happy.”
“And you look cozy.” Sinking onto the stool Gavin used earlier, I take them in. The gray padded headboard, the fluffy white pillows and blankets, and my two guys, dressed in hoodies and sweatpants, with video game controllers beside them.
Tyler tips his head against Soren’s. His eyes sparkle with his warm smile. “We are. The rest of the hotel is freezing. Everyone else is heading out to dinner, but we ordered pizza because I don’t plan on leaving this pile of blankets until I absolutely have to.”
I don’t know if they’re sleeping together.
I wouldn’t mind if they were doing things without me, especially since I don’t know exactly what we all are to each other, or if either of them are seeing anyone else.
But damn, I’d love to be in that bed with them.
“I don’t blame you, I wouldn’t either. Are you settling in okay with your new teammates? ”
“I’ve only played one game and had a couple of practices, so I haven’t gotten to know a lot of people yet, but my linemates seem nice.” He shrugs, and the discomfort in the roll of his shoulders makes me want to cuddle him. “And I’m happy Soren’s here.”
“He kicked everyone’s asses in the first round of our gaming tournament.
” Pride puffs up Soren’s chest and voice.
He slides his hand up and down Tyler’s biceps, and cuddles him closer.
“You’ll get to know people better. We’re playing some ridiculous card game that Phil found on the bus ride home. It always helps people open up.”
Shifting to a more comfortable position, I rest my shoulder against the purple foam square. “Are you two rooming together?”
Soren shakes his head. “Pavel, our other goalie, has been my roommate since I came to the team.”
“No roommate for me.” Tyler shrugs. “I’m the odd one out right now, but I don’t mind that. My last roommate snored so loudly I had to wear earplugs.”
Soren nuzzles his nose into Tyler’s neck. “I don’t snore.”
“Good to know.” Tyler eyes hood as he tips his head to give Soren better access.
“I don’t either.” My mouth waters, and I lick my lips. If I were there with them, I’d be on Ty’s open side, slotting us all closer together.
Soren ends his exploration of Tyler’s neck with a smacking kiss. “You going out tonight with the guys?”
“We’re all getting a drink as soon as I head upstairs. We got some good news today. The singer of a band we respect the hell out of contacted us today, saying that he liked our sound.”
“What band?” Curiosity infuses Soren’s tone.
“The Fury.”
He gapes at the screen. “No way, you know Luke Thompson?”
I can’t fight my grin at his fan-boying.
In a million years, I never would have considered that a hockey player could be adorable.
“Not personally. He’s also the head of Furious Records.
We sent in a demo a while ago. He said he’ll be at Winter Fest and is looking forward to meeting us there. So this feels like a big deal.”
Tyler sits forward, his gorgeous face beaming, and a tenderness settles in my chest. “That’s awesome.”
“It is a bid deal.” Soren’s smile mirrors Tyler’s, making me feel like I just told them we were playing at Madison Square Garden, not that Luke Thompson listened to our demo. “I wish we were there to celebrate with you.”
“We’ll do that on Monday night.” Tyler jerks his head in a firm nod, leaving no room for debate. Not that I would argue about spending time with them. “And we’ll be at Winter Fest. We don’t have a game that day. The housemates already had tickets, and I bought mine this morning.”
Millions of tiny bubbles spread through my chest. I’ve never wanted to kiss someone as much as I want to kiss him—them—right now. “I’ll see if I can get backstage passes for you.”
A low buzz sounds in the background of the hotel room. Soren glances at his phone, charging on the bedside table. “Pizza’s here. They left it at the front desk.”
“I’ll let you go. The guys are waiting. I’m surprised Layne hasn’t come back down to check on what’s keeping me.” Though curling up with my phone to keep talking to them is far more enticing.
Sure enough, a message from Layne pops up.
Layne: Got tix for Satyr’s Kiss for all of us. When you’re finished with your boys, get up here.
Saying goodbye to an image on a screen isn’t as satisfying as holding the guys in my arms and kissing them, but the promise of seeing them in two days is a good consolation.
“We’ll see you on Monday.” Tyler touches his fingers to his lips, then lifts them to the screen. The sweetness of the gesture only deepens when he blushes and ducks his head.
Soren and I share a smile at Ty’s reaction. And I take a chance. “Soren, will you kiss Ty back for me?”
Tyler whips his head up, his cheeks nearly scarlet, and the screen jumps with his movements.
“Of course.” His voice raspy, Soren cups Ty’s jaw and gently turns his head. When their lips meet, want closes like a fist around my cock. They both moan as the kiss deepens. I lick my lips, gripping my phone, greedily sucking up every second.
They look so sweet and so right together, and I love feeling like I’m a part of this kiss, even by proxy. When they part, my words are out before my brain catches up with my mouth. “Now, Ty, kiss Soren for me.”
His smile shy, Ty slides his free hand up Soren’s chest. He teases his lips over Soren’s, slow and light, a whispering touch that seduces and destroys. And Soren fists the front of Ty’s shirt, keeping him close.
“Oh, damn, that’s nice.” I touch my fingers to my lips, tracing the path of Tyler’s over Soren’s.
After a long moment, they part and both look at me, their gazes glittering with desire. Soren releases a shaky breath. “It would be nicer if you were here with us, Bax.”
“Yeah.” Tyler rests his head on Soren’s shoulder, snuggling deeper into his side. “It’s good having you on the phone, but I want you here. Both of you.” He leans up to kiss Soren’s jaw. “All of us together.”
All of us together. I like the way that sounds.
And more importantly, I like the way it makes me feel.
Whether this stays casual or turns serious, I want something with these men.
More than inspiring a song in me, they’ve sparked something vital, directly tied to them.
And I don’t know how I’ve lived without it until now.