CHAPTER TWELVE
The bus left for Santa Fe right after the Albuquerque show. It was late, and Ethan crashed as soon as they got to the hotel. He woke the next morning to his phone lighting up with text messages, way before he was ready to get out of bed. At first, he thought it was Tyler, since they hadn’t connected yesterday, and hoped the guy wasn’t still upset about the rude questions from the paparazzi. But it was Ruby, the band’s PR agent.
RUBY: There’s a media frenzy going on
RUBY: I told you to be discreet
RUBY: I told you flying to LA was a bad idea
RUBY: Check social media
RUBY: I’m coming to your room
RUBY: Now
RUBY: Be up and dressed
“What the fuck is she talking about?” he asked out loud, staring at his phone in confusion. He punched his name into the Google App, and his screen immediately filled with hits. He read some of the headlines.
“Lead Singer of Wolf Pack Cozies up to Mystery Man.”
“Is Ethan Jones Cheating on Longtime Boyfriend with Hairdresser?”
“Who is Stealing Ethan Jones away from Wolf Pack’s Bassist?”
“Trouble in the Wolf Pack? Ethan Jones Takes Hairstylist on Sunset Cruise.”
Loud knocking on the hotel room door made Ethan lift his eyes from his phone. It was, no doubt, Ruby. He threw on a pair of sweats and answered the door.
“Are you reading what the fans are saying?” Ruby waltzed in, without being invited, spun around, and read from her tablet:
“Ethan! How could you do this to Wolf?
Who is that boy toy? Angry face emoji.
Ethan and Wolf forever.
No way would Ethan cheat on Wolf.
Leave Ethan alone, loser hairdresser!
Oh no! If Ethan and Wolf break up will the band break up too?”
She stopped reading and glared at Ethan. “Do I need to go on?”
Ethan dropped his chin into his chest and rubbed his forehead. He hated that he received so much backlash from a simple date. He hated that he had no privacy. He hated the paparazzi for intruding on his personal life. But most of all, he hated that Tyler’s name was dragged into the media circus.
“What do you have to say about all this?” Ruby demanded.
Anger flared in Ethan’s gut. He knew she was only doing her job, but she was so fucking out of line sometimes, and it pissed him off. “It’s my life, Ruby. If I want to date, that’s my business. Stop trying to manipulate my love life. I’m here for the music, not for some scripted reality show. We weren’t even doing anything!” Frustration made him raise his voice. “We weren’t photographed naked or having sex! We weren’t even caught kissing! We were photographed returning from a fucking boat ride!” He threw his hands in the air. “That’s it!”
The hot pink coloring her cheeks slowly faded as she calmed down. “You have a point. Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll issue a statement—”
“No way.” He shook his head adamantly. He wasn’t explaining anything. “I don’t have to defend who I’m seen walking down the street with. It could have been anybody. And I’m not dragging Tyler into this. He has his own business. I don’t want the bullshit landing on his doorstep. I’m not saying anything on the subject. And don’t you dare issue a press release or statement on my behalf.”
“I work for the label, Ethan. Not you.”
“I don’t care. I’m not backing down on this one. I’m not hiding that I’m with Tyler. I’ll be discreet. For everyone’s sake. I promise there won’t be any scandalous pictures or anything like that. I’ll keep PDA private for now. But that’s it.” He challenged her with a hard stare while he waited for her reply. He was standing his ground, whether or not it was a smart decision.
She didn’t avert her gaze, but her eyes eventually softened, and she let out a defeated breath. “Alright. But you better be on your best behavior. And I want Tyler Kennedy to sign an NDA.”
Again, she stepped over that fucking line, and he had to remind himself that she didn’t know Tyler. “That’s not necessary.”
“It’s very necessary. It’s also non-negotiable.” She tucked her tablet under her arm and headed toward the door but turned at the last minute. “Either you can send it to him, or I can have a messenger hand deliver it. What’s it going to be?”
“I’ll do it.” As soon as she left, he ran his fingers through his hair and growled with frustration. He paced, cursed, and worried, but he finally called Tyler and explained everything.
“I don’t care. I’ll sign it,” Tyler answered, not bothered in the least by the request.
“You will?”
“Sure. It’s none of anyone’s business what’s going on between us.”
Ethan stopped pacing and stared at his phone, incredulously. After their little spat, he expected Tyler to have a sore spot when it came to not disclosing their relationship to the paparazzi, but he was unphased. “Thank you. I mean it. Thank you for being such an easygoing guy.” The tension in Ethan’s shoulders evaporated, the knot in his stomach disappeared, and the scowl covering his cheeks turned into a smile. “You’re a great guy. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m kind of happy my hair got burnt and needed a top-notch hairstylist.”
“I’m not. Your hair was thick and gorgeous. But it’s only hair and it’ll grow back, if that’s what you want. And your arm had a terrible burn.”
“You never asked me about my arm,” he realized. “Why not?”
“I wasn’t going to bring attention to it. You had enough to deal with adjusting to your short haircut. I know that can be traumatizing, under the circumstances, when you’re not ready but forced to go short when you’ve had hair as long as yours.”
Ethan couldn’t believe Tyler had the foresight and sensitivity to understand. It’s something Ethan hadn’t realized, but it was true. He had enough to deal with losing his hair at the time. He didn’t need people always commenting on his arm as well. He examined the scar, which was still ugly and pink.
“Despite all that, I’m very glad that we met, Ethan.”
“Ethan? Not rock star?” It was one of the few times Tyler called him by his given name instead of a cute nickname.
The line was quiet for a moment. “I joke a lot, and nicknames are said with playful affection. But when I’m dead serious, I don’t use them. Kind of like when your mom full names you. That’s when you better listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“Good. When am I going to see you again? I don’t have any appointments next Friday yet, and I can keep that day open for a long weekend.”
“OK,” Ethan answered, not knowing what was on the schedule. Whatever it was, he’d make it work. “Let me check what city we’re going to be in, and I’ll get you a ticket.”
“I can pay for my own ticket. You’re not my sugar daddy.”
“How about just your daddy?” Ethan smile reflected the naughty thoughts in his head, and he wished they were FaceTiming so Tyler could see the mischievous expression on his face.
Tyler chuckled, sexily. “You wish. Just tell me where and when. I’ll buy my ticket. You can spring for one of those fancy cars.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but you got yourself a deal.”
After they ended the call, Ethan called Ruby and told her that Tyler was agreeable to sign an NDA.
“I’m happy to hear that,” she said, much softer than earlier. “I know you trust this guy, Ethan, but you can never be too careful, and it’s my job to make sure your interests and the interests of the band are protected.”
He understood her point of view, but that didn’t mean he liked it or being told what to do. “One more thing,” he said, boldly, because he wasn’t backing down on this issue. “Tyler’s joining me for a few days on tour next weekend.” She started to say something, but he talked over her at a louder decibel. “I told you. We’re going to be together, and that means I’m going to be flying to see him when I have time, and he’s going to be flying to see me when he can.”
She huffed. “Fine. Just remember that you promised to be discreet, and I want that NDA signed before he gets here.”
“Fine.”
As promised, Tyler signed the NDA four days later, and he joined Ethan in St. Louis that Friday.
“I love jet setting from state to state!” Tyler exclaimed, after jumping into Ethan’s arms.
One day, they were both going to fall to the floor. Ethan pressed his lips to Tyler’s expecting a small kiss, but everything about Tyler was exaggerated. With his legs still wrapped around Ethan’s waist, Tyler’s tongue invaded Ethan’s mouth and claimed it, right there in the hallway of the hotel. The urgent kiss was animalistic and exuded want and passion, and so many other emotions. It stirred things inside Ethan that felt as if were sleeping or dormant, just waiting for someone like Tyler to come along and shake them awake.
He walked into the hotel room, still carrying Tyler in his arms and sharing wet, ravenous kisses. As soon as the door was closed, he headed to the bedroom and took this man in every way possible.
An hour later, they lay sprawled on the bed, spent and panting.
“Wow,” Tyler commented.
Ethan rolled his head toward Tyler, a smile on his lips at the simple word used to describe their wild lovemaking session. “Wow?”
“It’s all I can muster at this moment. You fucked all the big words right out of my head.”
Ethan pulled Tyler to his shoulder. Tyler’s long hair was damp with sweat, but it only enhanced the scent of the coconut shampoo or hair product he used, and Ethan inhaled it deeply. “How do you smell so good?”
“My pores are filled with color, and I bleed rainbows.”
A smile almost split Ethan’s face in half. This guy had the most good-natured personality and the most hysterical comments. “You should bottle that shit. You’d make a fortune.”
“Sorry. It’s not for sale.” Getting up on one elbow so he could face Ethan, Tyler asked, “When do you have to leave for the venue?”
“There’s no show tonight.”
“On a Friday night? Are your ratings slipping?”
“Not a chance. The venue had a flood and a power outage. They canceled last night. It’s been rescheduled for next week, so we have the rest of the day and night free. We have to be up early tomorrow, though, for a record store appearance and meet and greet.”
“They still have record stores?”
“Vinyl’s making a comeback. If you were up on things, you’d know that Wolf Pack has a newly issued LP out. I might be able to get you an autographed copy.” Ethan winked. “I got connections.”
Tyler gasped and fangirled, batting his eyelashes and bringing his clasped fingers to his chest. “Oh my God! That would be amazing! I can’t wait to tell all my friends! They’re gonna be sooo jelly!”
Ethan smiled at this crazy guy and his antics. “What do you want to do today?”
“I’m up for anything, but can we get food first?”
“I’m sorry. I totally forgot you just got off the plane. You must be starving.”
Tyler waggled his brows suggestively. “I am, but it wasn’t the plane ride that made me hungry. Are we going out or ordering room service?”
This was the first time Ethan had been with Tyler since the media frenzy, and he was worried about the fans’ reaction if they were seen together. On the other hand, he didn’t want to be sequestered away as if he were embarrassed of Tyler. He wanted to show off his enigmatic boyfriend so the fans could get to know him, because there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that they would love him. “We could have room service and then go out. There’s a private beach with wave runners and paddle boats if you want to do that today.”
Tyler moved closer and laced his fingers around the back of Ethan’s neck. “It all sounds wonderful. But I don’t care what we do. We can do nothing at all. I just want to spend time together.”
It wasn’t often that Ethan met someone who was interested in him as a person and not for his wealth and fame. Most people wanted something from him, even those close to him, so the comment hit him right in the heart and made him all warm and fuzzy inside, and he found it hard to find his voice. He silently nodded.
“I’m going to shower.” Tyler gave Ethan a quick kiss, then headed for the bathroom. He suddenly spun around. “My suitcase! One of your mountain men was carrying it.”
“It’s probably in the hallway with security. You shower. I’ll find your bag.”
Tyler wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped from the bathroom into the bedroom. His suitcase was on the bed along with a note that read, “Be back in a few. Quick band meeting.” No biggie. They had the rest of the day together. He went through his clothes and decided to wear his swimsuit, since they were going to the beach. He pulled it from his suitcase, as well as a long mesh cover up and a pair of shorts to wear over his swimsuit because he didn’t want to walk through the hotel wearing a tiny Speedo. He did have some decorum.
He worried his hat would be crushed, but it held up nicely. This wasn’t the plain baseball cap he bought when he and Iris went for a bike ride. This was a fabulous purple floppy hat with a wide rim and a long silk scarf tied around the top and trailing down the back which would look amazing blowing in the wind.
He found the hair dryer and styled his hair as usual, got dressed, and exited the bedroom. While he waited for Ethan, he stared out the huge window at the pretty courtyard below.
The door opened slightly, and Ethan poked his head inside. “Hi. I just wanted to make sure you were decent.” His eyes dropped to Tyler’s bare legs and a huge smile spread across his cheeks before he lifted his gaze. “The guys wanted to say hi.”
Tyler clapped his hands together, excited that Ethan’s bandmates were happy to see him. “Awesome. Come in.” Except he forgot that Wolf was among them. His gut immediately tensed when he saw the bass player, but he reminded himself to play it cool. But how the hell were you supposed to play it cool when your lover’s sometimes lover was in the same room with both of you?
Marshall approached first and gave Tyler a one-shoulder manly bro-hug with his big arms, complete with a slap on the back.
Tyler never felt so hetero.
Harris greeted him next with a warm smile and a quick hug.
His eyes shifted to Wolf, and they shared an awkward moment where neither made any kind of movement to offer a friendly greeting like Marshall and Harris. Finally, Wolf nodded and said a very unenthusiastic, “Hey.”
“Hey to you too,” Tyler replied, pleasantly. “It’s so nice that all of you came to say hello. I feel so welcome.”
“Ethan’s been talking about you nonstop for two days. He was driving us crazy,” Harris said with a laugh.
“Tell me about it,” Wolf murmured under his breath.
Tyler felt the jab but decided to ignore it. “Did you guys eat lunch? We were just about to order food. You can stay and join us if you like.”
“Nah,” Marshall answered. “We just wanted to say hi. We’ll leave you two alone.”
“Maybe we can have dinner together and get to know you better,” Harris offered.
“I would absolutely love that,” Tyler answered.
After the guys left, Ethan ordered room service, and they had a quick bite before a car took them to a private beach. They spent several hours relaxing under a canopy in chaise lounges and took a jaunt in a two-person paddle boat in the shape of a swan.
When they got back to the hotel, and after they showered, a formal table with white linens was set for five on the luxurious balcony of Ethan’s suite. “This is beautiful,” Tyler said. “So fancy.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t go out.” Ethan came up behind Tyler and wrapped his arms over Tyler’s chest. “I’m just trying to avoid the onslaught of fans. I love them, but I want privacy too.”
Tyler turned so he was chest to chest with Ethan and stretched his arms around Ethan’s waist. “I understand. I know you have to act a certain way in public. I get it. I don’t mind. We were out today.”
“With an entourage of security at a beach only for residents.”
“I wasn’t aware you’re a resident here,” Tyler chided, trying to gloss over the resentment in Ethan’s voice and hoping to steer Ethan’s side of the conversation into a more positive perspective.
“Today I am,” Ethan answered, a smile now playing up his lips.
Tyler gazed at Ethan, a tingle setting his body abuzz. It wasn’t lust or sexual yearning, although that was always present. It was just being next to Ethan that filled Tyler with a light that hadn’t been there in a long time. He rested his head against Ethan’s chest, snuggling closer. Listening to his lover’s gentle heart beating, he let out a contented sigh.
Ethan ran his hand down the length of Tyler’s hair and kissed the top of his head. “I love being with you, Tyler.”
“I love being with you too.” Tyler squeezed his eyes shut, absorbing the growing feelings between them, a mixture of joy and fear making the little hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Ethan’s hands slid down Tyler’s back and cupped his butt cheeks. “I like these jeans. I can feel your body so much better through them.” He squeezed Tyler’s butt a few times for emphasis.
“And they’re so much easier and quicker to take off than those leather pants.”
A knock on the door, or more like a fist, disrupted the moment.
“I guess the guys are here,” Ethan said, sounding disappointed. “I can get rid of them if you’d rather spend the night alone, just the two of us.”
It was a tempting offer, but Tyler wanted to get to know Marshall and Harris better. Naturally, the idea of sitting in the same room with Wolf sounded awkward, but Tyler wanted the bass player to see how much Ethan and Tyler cared about one another. He wanted Wolf to see that this wasn’t just a temporary fling. He wanted Wolf to see that he had a place in Ethan’s life.
The guys all entered the suite together with cheery and happy smiles on their faces, even Wolf. That was a good sign since the guy seemed to be in a perpetual bad mood whenever Tyler was around.
Greetings were casual. No hugs or anything like that, just simple hellos, and they all sat around the couches. Ethan offered to make drinks, but the guys all wanted beer.
“That’s so boring,” Tyler complained. “Let’s make margaritas.”
“Um.” Ethan paused to look at the small bar set up in his room which contained a good assortment of full-size bottles of top-shelf liquor. “There’s no margarita mix.”
“Seriously? Margarita mix? Out of the way, rock star.” Tyler playfully pushed Ethan aside so he could examine the contents at the bar. “Let’s see what we have to work with.” He selected tequila, triple sec, a few ice cubes, a fresh lime, and two shaker cups. In minutes he whipped up a small pitcher of a tasty drink. “Delish!” he exclaimed, licking his lips after sampling a glass. He poured another glass and offered it to the guys. To his surprise, Wolf took it.
“It’s good,” Wolf commented after tasting the drink. “Are you a bartender too?”
“No. I just whipped this up on the spur of the moment.” He pursed his lips. “OK. I lied. My neighbor’s a bartender, and she taught me. I don’t know how to make anything else.”
The other guys laughed, but Wolf’s brows pinched together.
Food arrived and the five of them sat down at the perfectly prepared table with place cards in front of silver domed lids, so they knew which meal was which. It was a beautiful evening, still warm but with a cool breeze.
Everyone lifted the lids on their plates at the same time. Tyler’s eyes lit up and his stomach rumbled at the scallops and risotto on his plate, but he heard a gasp from across the table, then everyone started laughing. Except Marshall, who was staring at his plate in disbelief as he still held the silver dome in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked Marshall, and then eyed the laughing trio of Ethan, Harris, and Wolf.
“You fucking guys!” Marshall exclaimed. “Where the fuck is my steak?”
While the rest of the guys laughed hysterically, Tyler looked at Marshall’s plate. Instead of his steak, his meal was replaced with a square slice of tofu and a small kale salad.
“You mean you didn’t want the vegetarian meal?” Harris asked, laughing so hard he barely got the words out.
“Very funny. Where’s my food?” Marshall headed back into the suite with his dish when a server approached carrying a new dome-covered plate.
“Sorry, sir. It wasn’t my idea.” The server placed the plate in front of Marshall’s empty seat and lifted the lid. “Filet, medium rare, with truffle butter and shallots, baked potato, and roasted summer squash.”
“That’s more like it!” Marshall handed his tofu and vegetable plate to the server, who also removed the rest of the silver domed lids from the table, and sat down to enjoy his meal.
“What made you decide to be a hairdresser?” Harris asked.
“I love making people beautiful,” Tyler replied. “I’m not just a hairdresser. I’m a stylist.”
“You certainly have style,” Harris replied.
“Thank you. But I meant, I style hair. I can do your hair before the record store thing tomorrow, if you want. I’m also a makeup artist.”
“Thanks, I never do anything with my hair. I just let it dry naturally, so I’m curious what you’d do with it.”
“That’s how your hair dries naturally?” Tyler’s brows rose in disbelief. Harris’ hair fell in gorgeous waves that looked wild and free, but Tyler assumed it took work to get it that way.
Harris nodded. “I’d love it if you could do something to make my hair more edgy. I don’t have the time or patience to style it, or deal with products, so this is it.”
Tyler blinked, shaking his head. “You can’t be bothered to style your hair or put product in it? Are you sure you’re gay?”
Everyone laughed. Even Wolf, who looked as if he checked out of the conversation before it started.
“I can assure you, I am.” Harris grinned. “Just ask the guy leaving my hotel room this morning.”
“I can vouch for him,” Marshall said. “My room is right next to his, and my walls were shaking.”
While another short rumble of laughter filled the table, Tyler studied Harris’ hair, envisioning a plan of action. “I’d love to try something different, if you’re up for it,” he told Harris. “I specialize in highlights. How do you feel about color?”
“I don’t know.”
“I like color,” Marshall interrupted, running a hand over his short buzz cut. “What can you do with this?”
“A lot. We can turn that into a mohawk or just dye it. Do you like blue?”
“Yeah, but not in my hair. I was joking. My Gilette’s got it covered.”
“You’re no fun,” Tyler teased. His gaze shifted to Wolf, who was focused on his plate and checked out of the conversation again. “Do you want me to style your hair as well?” When Wolf didn’t look up, Tyler repeated the question, this time addressing Wolf by name. “Wolf? Do you want me to style your hair too?”
Wolf stopped eating and sat back in his chair. “No. Why would I want you to do that?”
“I was just asking,” Tyler answered, his defenses kicking in.
“I do my own hair.”
“OK. Fine.” Someone was obviously sensitive about their hair.
Ethan changed the subject, and they started talking about lighter things like funny anecdotes about some of the pranks they played on each other. Marshall brought up the hair gel incident, and Tyler almost spewed his drink all over the place. He covered his mouth with a napkin and looked down at the wet spot on his shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m such a mess. You can’t take me anywhere, including a stay-at-home dinner. I’ll be a sec. Let me change.”
“No.” Ethan stopped Tyler from getting up with a hand on his arm. “Stay. Enjoy your meal. No one cares if you spilled your drink on your shirt. There’s barely anything there.” He wiped at the small stain in the center of Tyler’s chest with a cloth napkin. It was slow and intimate and sent a wave of heat through Tyler’s body.
“OK.” He pulled the napkin from Ethan’s hand and wiped his brow, which was substantially warmer. “Now I’m gonna need a cold shower.”
“You ain’t the only one,” Harris commented. “That was getting a little hot and heavy.” He pulled at the center of his T-shirt to cool himself.
“Stop.” Ethan threw a napkin at Harris, playfully. “Eat your food and be quiet.”
They made more small talk for the rest of the meal and then moved back to the couches, but Tyler headed to the bar. “I’m making more margaritas. Anyone want one?”
“Sure,” Wolf replied, offering his glass and sounding much friendlier than the last conversation they had about Tyler styling his hair. Maybe the guy was finally trying to play nice.
Tyler gave him a friendly smile in return, because he was trying as well. He ended up making a double batch and carried the pitcher over to the coffee table along with two low ball glasses. “I wish we had salt. I love when there’s salt on the rim.”
Harris burst out laughing, and Tyler swore he heard Wolf murmur, “I could go for a good salty rimming.” But Wolf’s eyes were on his glass as he tossed back a huge gulp, and no one else reacted or commented on it, so Tyler let it go. But it irked the hell out of him. Was Wolf implying that he wanted a rim job from Ethan? If so, that was totally out of line, and Tyler had no intention of letting shit like that slide.
“What made you move to the West Coast?” Harris asked.
The question distracted Tyler from dissecting what he thought he heard Wolf say, but only gave him something worse to think about—the answer to Harris’ question. Tyler moved to the West Coast to get away from his ex, which sounded stupid because they never saw each other. In three years, they ran into each other exactly twice. Actually, it was only one time at a coffee shop with his ex’s new steady boyfriend. It had cut him to the core, but he never let on and masked the hurt with exaggerated lightheartedness. The second time he saw the two of them walking hand in hand at a shopping mall, and the sight was too much for him, so he ran out of there.
“Tyler?” Ethan got his attention since everyone was waiting for him to answer Harris’ question.
“Sorry, I got lost in thought.” It was the truth, but it didn’t hurt as much any longer to think about his ex. It saddened him that things hadn’t worked out, but he realized his heart wasn’t still broken, and a cheery smile spread across his cheeks because he finally moved on. “The weather, of course,” he answered, because that was everyone’s answer for moving to California. “I also needed a change. I have clients here. I sometimes do red carpet events. I spent a month here once working at a movie studio in Hollywood when a hairstylist needed to take an emergency leave. So, I thought about giving it a shot long term.” He sipped his margarita and gazed at Ethan. “And I’m very happy I did. It’s working out wonderfully for me.”
“Me too,” Ethan replied.
“Awwww!” Tyler’s insides got all gooey. Obviously, the drinks were going straight to his head.
“Enough with the googly eyes, or I’m going to hose you two down,” Harris warned, standing from the couch. “Who wants another beer?”
“Do we have more margaritas?” Wolf asked.
Tyler lifted the pitcher, surprised to find it was practically empty, and looked up at Wolf.
“They’re good,” he said, eyes glassy.
They were good, and even though Tyler was feeling a little tipsy, he wanted another and liked that everyone was getting along so well, so he made another batch.
They continued to sit around the coffee table, drinking and talking and sharing an enjoyable evening together. It was nice. So, when Harris and Marshall both stood up and said they were calling it a night, Tyler was sorry the night was about to end.
Marshall extended his hand to Tyler. “It was great getting to know you.”
“Oh, please!” Tyler swatted it away. “Strangers shake hands. We’re old friends now. Come on.” He got to his feet and waved Marshall over with both hands. “Bring it in. Hugs and kisses.”
Marshall chuckled. “I’ll just settle for a hug, thanks.” He gave Tyler a very manly hug, complete with several bro-type slaps on the back.
“I’ll take the kisses,” Harris said, approaching Tyler with his arms out, and proceeded to give Tyler two big air kisses and a friendly hug. “See you tomorrow. Glad we could get together.”
“Me too,” Tyler replied. “I enjoyed the evening immensely.”
“You coming?” Harris asked Wolf, who was still sitting on the couch and making no move to get up.
“I’ll hang out for one more of these tasty margaritas, if that’s OK.” He filled his glass with the last of the contents of the pitcher and shifted his eyes to both Ethan and Tyler.
Tyler had no idea how to reply. Even though things were going well tonight, much better than the first time he met Wolf, probably thanks to the alcohol softening the tension, he didn’t want Wolf hanging around without Harris and Marshall. His gaze shot to Ethan, but Ethan was staring at Wolf.
“You can finish your drink,” Ethan said.
Harris and Marshall left, and the three of them sat there quietly. Too quietly, so Tyler broke the silence. “I really had a nice time today. The beach was fun, and then we had an amazing meal on the balcony, which was beautiful. The night sky. The company. The small talk. I enjoyed all of it.” The alcohol was making him ramble, but he meant every word of it.
Wolf drained his glass, set it down on the coffee table, and stood up from the side chair he’d been sitting in. “I had a good time too.” He wiped his mouth with his hand as he walked over to the couch and sat down next to Tyler. He placed his arm on the back of the couch, behind Tyler’s head and stretched it all the way so his hand was almost touching Ethan’s shoulder, and said, “The night’s not over. You want to have some more fun?”
Tyler was too shocked for words, but Ethan reacted immediately. He leaned forward and glared at Wolf with sharp daggers in his eyes and his jaw tight. “No. Wolf. Forget it.”
Wolf slowly removed his arm from the back of the couch and rested his hand in his lap. “Why not? We share all the time. It’ll be fun.”
“Not with my boyfriend!” Ethan yelled.
“Now, he’s your boyfriend?”
“Yes! He’s my boyfriend!”
“Stop acting like you’re a fucking angel!” Wolf, who had been speaking calmly, suddenly grew angry and loud. “How many threesomes have we had over the years?”
“Shut up, Wolf! You’re drunk, and you’re out of line!”
Tyler was too shocked to say anything as he looked back and forth between Ethan and Wolf who were having a shouting match, with him in the middle. He finally got ahold of himself and shot to his feet so fast, he practically knocked Ethan and Wolf in the face with his shoulders. “What the fuck?” he yelled, hands reaching for the ceiling. “What the fuck is going on here? Were you trying to get me drunk, so I’d let you in our bed?” he shouted at Wolf, but didn’t give him a chance to answer. “You can forget it! I thought you were being nice! Get the fuck out!” he growled in a voice that made him sound possessed. Both Ethan and Wolf were staring at him, stunned, so he shouted again, this time louder and pointing at the door. “I said, get the fuck out!”
Wolf got to his feet and casually walked to the door, a sour smirk on his face. “Fine,” he mumbled. “Your loss.”
“Oh, fuck you!” Tyler spat the words at Wolf, his chest rising and falling and his heart hammering as he watched Wolf leave. As soon as the door was closed, he spun around to face Ethan, who was standing next to him. “What the fuck, Ethan?”
Ethan was ghostly pale, his mouth was hanging open, and his eyes were huge. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was going to suggest something like that. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He was drunk. What he said about threesomes was—”
“I’m no prude. I’ve had plenty of threesomes in my life.” Tyler placed his fist on his hip and snorted. “I had one before I left New York at my going away party. But I don’t appreciate your—whatever the fuck he is—propositioning me because he’s clearly threatened. He’s a fucking asshole!”
“I can’t believe he did that. I’m sorry. I understand if you want to leave.” Ethan cupped Tyler’s face in his hands and looked at him with pleading brown eyes and his voice filled with emotion. “But I don’t want you to. I want you to stay. I care about you. A lot. Please stay.”
Tyler stared into Ethan’s eyes and the longing he saw there softened his temper. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to spend time with Ethan. Up until ten minutes ago, everything was going great. He wasn’t going to let Wolf spoil their weekend.
A long sigh left Tyler’s lungs, but his jaw was still tense, and his heart was still pounding. “I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you don’t want me here.”
“I want you here,” Ethan quickly replied, and then placed the most tender kiss on Tyler’s lips, as soft as a kitten’s whiskers. “I’ll make it up to you. I don’t know how but give me a chance. Please?”
One thing stuck out in the confrontation, and it was that Ethan called Tyler his boyfriend. They never discussed a term that defined their relationship, and normally, the idea of being called someone’s boyfriend when they both agreed that things were only casual, wouldn’t have sat right with him. But he loved being called Ethan’s boyfriend. Maybe because Ethan had said it to Wolf, cementing Tyler’s status in his life. In other words, Tyler’s not going anywhere so get used to it, and stay away from him. It shouldn’t have, because the entire situation was fucked up, but it brought a tiny smile to Tyler’s lips. “It takes more than that asshole to scare me off.”
***
The next morning, Tyler woke up to an empty bed and voices coming from the other room. He crept closer and pressed his ear to the closed door. It was Ethan. And Wolf. Tyler’s blood pressure spiked as he listened intently.
“You’ve done a lot of fucked up things in your life, but this tops them all,” Ethan scolded.
“I know. That’s why I’m here to apologize. I’m sorry. I was drunk.”
“That’s no fucking excuse. I care about this guy, Wolf. He’s not some fuck boy.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Let me apologize. It’s the least I can do. Please.”
Tyler didn’t want to talk to Wolf, but the guy sounded remorseful, and he was going to be in Ethan’s life, whether it be as a friend, a bandmate, or something more. While Tyler was still pondering if he would accept Wolf’s apology, the bedroom door opened and almost hit him in the face. He quickly jumped back and met Ethan’s surprised gaze. “Sorry. I was just . . . listening. I was listening with my ear pressed to the door.”
“Then you know he wants to apologize. If you want him to leave, I’ll tell him to go. It’s up to you.”
Tyler pursed his lips to the side while he contemplated what to do and decided to be the better person. Although Wolf was a jerk, he still had the decency to show up first thing in the morning to apologize. “OK. I’ll hear him out.”
Only in his tiny thong, he quickly threw on some clothes and returned to the living room with Ethan. Just the sight of Wolf made Tyler’s gut clench and his hackles rise. He didn’t care that Wolf had his hands in his pockets and his head down with a sad frown on his face or that he looked embarrassed. The guy was still a fucking asshole.
Tyler and Ethan stopped a few feet in front of Wolf, and neither said anything. Wolf was here to say something, so let him do the talking. With his arms folded across his chest, Tyler tapped his foot and lifted his chin as he stared at Wolf and waited to hear this apology he was so intent on giving.
“Look,” Wolf began on an exhale. “I want to apologize. I was drunk, and I was out of line. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Tylers stared back, his nostrils flaring. He wanted to accept the apology. He wanted to be mature. But jealousy was a hard pill to swallow. Finally, he spoke. “Thank you for apologizing. I’m sure you know we’re never going to be friends, for obvious reasons, but I can be civil if you can.”
Wolf’s facial expression didn’t change. He only nodded. Neither offered a handshake to declare a truce or to indicate that everything was OK between them, because it wasn’t. As long as they shared Ethan, they would be at war with one another. That’s just the way it would be.
Wolf left without another word, and the day went on as if nothing happened. It was another elephant in the room no one was talking about.
They all left for the venue together around noon, and between soundcheck and band meetings and a small get together in the green room, it was easy to avoid Wolf, and the previous night’s drama got pushed to the back burner.
The band was getting ready to take the stage and Tyler was amped. He followed along, again marveling at the activity behind the scenes. It made him feel important and special to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle of production. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like for Ethan to know this was all for him and his band. The rush of energy and the high it brought must be incomparable.
As they moved deeper down the corridor and closer to the stage, the chant of the audience permeated the air. It grew louder and more frantic. They couldn’t wait for Wolf Pack to take the stage, and neither could Tyler.
When the band finally made it to the edge of the curtain, they did a little pre-show huddle, Ethan grabbed Tyler’s face for a quick kiss, then Wolf Pack ran on stage. The crowd roared, and the floor shook. The noise was deafening, and the energy was contagious. Tyler tried to look at some of the faces in the crowd, but it was too dark to see much. From what he did see, it seemed wild and uninhibited in the audience, and he wanted to experience front row instead of the side stage one day. Maybe. It was a little out of control, even for him.
A burst of flames suddenly shot across the back wall of the stage, and Tyler’s heart almost stopped. Then he realized it was all a computer-generated image, but it was so lifelike.
He watched Ethan interact with his bandmates, paying extra attention when Ethan sang directly to his bass player. Wolf smiled at Ethan and punctuated a few deep notes from his bass with hip thrusts, which the fans loved, then Wolf darted away. Tyler wasn’t enthused by it, but it was harmless fun.
The 90-minute set flew by, and before Tyler knew it, Ethan ran off the stage, hair clinging to his forehead, and wrapped Tyler in his arms. The scent, musky and manly, filled Tyler’s nostrils and sent his hormones spiraling. The entire concert was an aphrodisiac, and he understood the playfulness on stage. He could have done without it, but he wasn’t necessarily mad about it.
“I love it when you’re here watching me perform from the side of the stage,” Ethan said before giving Tyler a penetrating kiss that he felt down to his toes.
“I love being at the side of the stage,” Tyler replied.
With Ethan’s arm slung across Tyler’s shoulder, they headed back to the dressing room. There was no afterparty, and Ethan barely had time to take a shower, but they did squeeze in a blow job because that performance was hot as fuck. The bus had to leave for Springfield right away since the band had a private morning performance at an invite-only event. Tyler was looking forward to experiencing a more intimate concert, this one acoustic, then he would leave tomorrow afternoon for LA, and the band would go on to another city to continue their tour.
Paul, the band’s manager, along with the usual entourage of security, wrangled everyone through the corridor toward the exit. “Keep close and keep walking,” Paul instructed. “There’s a mob outside. Don’t stop for any reason. We don’t want anyone breaking through the barricade.”
Security stepped outside first, causing an eruption of screams and shouts from the fans because they knew Wolf Pack would follow. It was louder than anything Tyler witnessed before, and he imagined an enormous crowd was waiting for Wolf Pack.
Ethan hesitated a few feet before they reached the exit and stopped to grab Tyler’s hand. “Are you OK with going out there?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because. You’ve read the headlines and the bullshit on social media. There’s a massive crowd out there. I don’t know how they’re gonna react to seeing us together for the first time. Maybe I should go out ahead. With the guys.”
“You want me to hide in the shadows?” Tyler shook his head emphatically. “Not happening. I don’t blend in the background. I take center stage.” The corners of his mouth curled, unable to hide his smile. “Even when you’re in the room.”
Ethan chuckled in that husky tone that always drove Tyler crazy, and his eyes sparkled as he said, “You outshine me every day of the week.” Then Ethan’s expression turned serious. “But let’s be realistic. The fans might not be ready to see us together. It’s still fresh, and I’m worried about how they’re going to react.”
Tyler’s eyes shifted to one of the gargantuan bodyguards standing a few feet away who was pretending not to listen to their conversation. “That’s why security is here.” Tyler ran his hands down either side of his torso and jutted his hips to one side. “To guard my body.”
“I thought he was here to guard my body,” Ethan teased.
Tyler held up his index finger and waved it back and forth. “You can just wipe that smile right off your face, because the only one who’s guarding your body is me.”
Ethan didn’t laugh the way Tyler expected him to and only displayed a forced smile before letting out a breath. “Seriously. It’s going to be insane when we step outside. There’s going to be hundreds of fans, so you might want to hang back a few feet while we head to the bus. Sometimes fans are out of control. We’ve had some crazies over the years. Nothing to worry about, but . . .” Ethan cupped Tyler’s cheek and brushed his thumb back and forth against Tyler’s jaw. “I don’t want you to be on the receiving end of anyone’s vendetta.”
“Vendetta? Are they dangerous?”
“No. I didn’t mean it like that. Some fans are rabid detectives. Your name was mentioned. People know who you are. I don’t want anyone harassing you on social media or finding out where your salon is and causing any trouble for you.”
“Oh, please,” Tyler scoffed, waving his hand, sure Ethan was overreacting. “I live for scandal. Bring it on, sista.”
In the background, he heard Wolf mutter, “Drama queen.”
Tyler saw Ethan’s jaw tighten, but they both ignored the remark. “Let’s go,” he said, taking Ethan’s hand and boldly marching forward.
Outside, there was a straight path, like a catwalk, leading directly to the tour bus with tons of fans held safely behind metal barricades on either side. Ethan smiled and waved as a flurry of screams erupted, then it quieted a bit and gasps could be heard, followed by a barrage of questions and remarks shouted from the crowd.
“Why is that guy here?”
“What the fuck?”
“Go home!”
Ethan scowled and kept his head down, ignoring the questions shouted by the fans. He walked faster, pulling Tyler by the hand. But Tyler couldn’t ignore them. His head spun in every direction, catching multiple sets of eyes glaring at him with venom and hatred. Suddenly, a guy rushed to the front of the railing, pointed at Tyler and shouted, “Leave Ethan alone!” and threw a shoe directly at his head.
With lightning speed he didn’t know he possessed, Tyler raised a fist and thwarted the shoe, which bounced off his wrist and landed on the ground. He inhaled a horrified gasp, but the initial fear of the attack quickly turned to anger. How dare someone throw a shoe at him?
Security was trying to hurry everyone along to the bus, since they all stopped dead in their tracks when the shoe came hurling at Tyler, but Tyler was too outraged to move, and his feet were glued to the ground. He glanced down and, seeing the shoe, picked it up and waved it at the culprit. “Fuck you, you heathen! It’s not even a designer shoe!” Then he threw the shoe back at the guy.
He had no idea if the shoe connected with the intended target because, at that point, more security rushed at them and literally pushed them down the catwalk and onto the bus.
Tyler was still fuming, and he could feel the heat on his cheeks. “What the fuck kind of fans do you have that assault someone?” he ranted, hands waving wildly.
“They don’t like you,” Wolf stated.
“They don’t even know me!”
“I’m so sorry.” Ethan looked mortified. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Ethan wrapped his arms around Tyler in a tight, protective hug. “I never expected them to throw something at you.”
Tyler’s outrage at the incident diminished, and he let go of his anger. “It was a sneaker, and I barely felt it. I hope I hit him right between the eyes when I threw it back at him.”
“That guy is damn fucking lucky you didn’t get hurt!” Ethan pulled his phone from his pocket and started tapping on it furiously. “I’m going to post a message on my Insta right now and tell them to knock it off, and that I’m fucking pissed.”
“Be careful,” Harris warned. “Don’t say the wrong thing or Ruby will be on your ass.”
“I don’t give a fuck. They went too far. I want that guy caught and arrested.”
Tyler started shaking his head because he didn’t want to cause any trouble. He loved that Ethan was sticking up for him and wanted everyone to know that they were together, but not at the cost of getting in trouble with his management. “It’s OK.” He put his hand over Ethan’s to stop him from posting a message. “Don’t say anything. Just let it slide and blow over.”
“No—”
“He’s right,” Marshall cut in. “Let Ruby issue a statement.”
“No fucking way.” Ethan pulled his phone free of Tyler’s hand and continued typing. He paused to read it, then tapped on his phone one more time. “There.”
“What did you write?” Tyler asked.
Ethan lifted his phone and read the post. “To the person who threw the shoe as we left the venue in St. Louis tonight, you’re lucky no one got hurt. I’m mad as hell. If we find out who you are, we will be pressing charges and banning you from all future shows and events. Violence will not be tolerated.” He dropped the phone to his side. “I’m going to tell Ruby to issue a formal warning as well.”
The post was short and direct. It might have been nice if Ethan had mentioned that they were together as a couple, but it was clear that Ethan was pissed, and that’s all Tyler needed in order to feel vindicated.