Chapter 25
Felix
I wake up in Duncan’s bed, but the last thing I remember is being in his workshop. I rub my eyes, my vision sharpening as he pulls on a pair of pants.
“What time is it?” I ask.
I move slightly, and my thighs... and ass, feel sore as hell.
But, God, was it fucking worth it.
Better than I fantasized about, that’s for sure.
I stare at Duncan in the low light, appreciating the sight.
Then the door opens, and there is a scream.
I turn to see the owner of the pipes, and realize it’s Bobby.
Fuck.
“What the hell, don’t you knock?” Duncan yips, and I pull the covers up as if that’s going to hide my naked ass, but I’m in his fucking bed.
You don’t have to be a math genius to put two and two together.
“Oh, so the open door policy doesn’t include you?” Bobby snarks.
“Bobby...” Duncan sighs.
“This is the guy?” Bobby says with a screech.
Duncan is flustered, gruffly pulling on his shirt and I watch the two of them, feeling like all I want to do is disappear into this mattress.
“Yes,” Duncan replies, running his hand over his face.
Bobby’s eyes widen.
I think he’s going to say something, maybe freak out, but instead, Bobby looks between us and says, “This makes us even, now. Well, this and an extra ticket to the show. Please.”
Duncan raises an eyebrow, his jaw tense.
“You, your aunt, and...”
“Done,” I say with a shrug.
“Brendan. Duh.”
I raise my hand, but nobody acknowledges me. “Who’s Brendan?”
“His friend,” Duncan bites at the same time Bobby says, “My boyfriend.”
Oh.
Oh.
Shit.
“And a car.” Bobby crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow at his father.
“Absolutely not!” Duncan bites, shooing him out of the room. “Ticket, fine. Car no.”
I hear them talking as Bobby whines, but relents, and I can’t help but laugh.
I seem to do a lot of that around Duncan, and I get the feeling that will never change.
But hey, if I can handle being caught bare-assed by my boyfriend’s kid, surely, I can handle telling the world I’m gay and in love with my drummer, right?
Right?
Lou smoothes out Duncan’s shirt, his jaw tense.
“Are you sure about this?” he asks.
Duncan stands tall, which isn’t difficult. “I’m sure.”
Lou looks at me, shaking his head. “And you? You sure this... is worth it? For you?”
I nod, my voice serious. “If Ghost can choke each other on stage and ignite a hundred fanfics, I’m sure we’ll be just fine.”
Duncan raises an eyebrow.
“You do know who Ghost is, right?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“I’m starting to wonder if you are worth all this trouble,” I tease.
Duncan glares at me, his lip twitching.
Which is exactly what I want.
Punish me, Daddy, please, please, please.
“All right, five minutes, guys. Take your places,” a staffer says as Romano waves at us.
Lou sighs. “Then I got your back. Both of you. Now, let’s break the fucking Internet. Or whatever the kids say.”
Duncan turns to look at me, giving me a soft smile.
One. Two. Three.
“That’s low even for you.”
Four. Five. Six.
I shrug, haughtily grinning at him, feeling like for the first time in my life I don’t have to worry about a thing.
Seven. Eight. Nine.
Because as long as Duncan is by my side, I know I can handle any storm.
“It’s show time,” Lou says as Romano announces me.
I slide my hand into Duncan’s and he holds it tightly.
Ten.
I walk out among the lights, my hand in his, for all the world to see, as we take our seats.
One Week Later
Duncan
“Did you pack your toothbrush?” Bobby asks as I zip up my duffel.
“Yes, Bobby, I packed two. ”
“Okay, what about your?—”
“I have it under control,” I reply as Bobby huffs in annoyance.
The doorbell rings, and Bobby rolls his eyes as he heads to open it.
I set my duffel next to my suitcase by the door.
“Hey, Felix.” Bobby leaves the door open as he heads back into the kitchen, hip checking me. “Your boyfriend’s here,” he taunts me.
I shoot him a glare.
“That reminds me... rules still apply while I’m gone. I’ll be checking in with your Aunt Maria. Daily.”
Bobby scoffs at me, twisting his lips. “Mhmm. Same rules apply for you, too, you know. I’ll be checking in with Lou to make sure you stay out of trouble.”
I laugh, and he smiles.
Only I know it’s not an empty threat.
The kid does not need more ammo for a car.
I’ve already had to dissuade Felix twice from gifting him one for his birthday next month.
It took a lot of convincing, but I was very persuasive.
Felix grabs my suitcase and duffel, and I move to stop him, but he waves me off.
“Wouldn’t want the old man to throw his back out before we leave the parking lot.” He flashes me with a wicked grin.
“I’ll give you something to throw your fucking back out,” I bite.
Maria comes out from the guest room to stand beside Bobby, who is shaking his head.
Felix nods at Bobby. “I’ll take good care of him, don’t worry.”
Bobby’s shoulders fall, and he heads toward us. He hugs Felix, whose eyes widen in surprise.
“Promise,” he demands.
Felix slowly wraps his arms around my kid, and my heart melts.
I know this, a real relationship, let alone with a single dad, is not easy for him, and the future is full of challenges. But I’ve always embraced a challenge, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Felix Hart, it is that he is a fighter.
And he’s most certainly worth a hundred Callahans.
“Promise, kid,” he says softly, looking at me.
“I’ll, uh... take these to the car,” he says. He lets Bobby go, taking my luggage, leaving Bobby and me in the living room.
“I’m going to go start unpacking,” Maria says, meeting my gaze with a soft smile of her own.
I know she doesn’t understand this new familial development, but I’m thankful she’s supportive, nonetheless.
Marci would want you to be happy, so if you’re happy, that’s all that matters.
Her words echo in my brain, and I look at my son, with glassy eyes.
My throat is tight as I feel anxiety swelling.
I’m going to miss him so fucking much.
I pull him into a hug and he doesn’t fight me.
He grabs onto me, a small sob tearing from his throat.
“No fights while I’m gone, okay?” I say, my voice shaking.
Bobby nods, his tears soaking my shirt.
“It’s only a couple months, kiddo. I’ll be back before you know it.”
I hold him in front of me and he wipes his eyes.
“I know,” he says, stepping away from me.
One. Two. Three.
I take one step at a time until I’m out the door.
Four. Five. Six.
I climb onto the first step of the bus, turning around to see Bobby on the front porch, waving with a grin.
Seven. Eight. Nine.
I ascend the steps, turning the corner as the doors close.
Lou smiles. “Welcome back, McKay. Let’s get this show on the road”
I find Felix lounging on the bus couch, petting a... cat?
“What is that?” I ask.
Felix glances up at me.
“This is Samson.”
“You didn’t tell me you had a cat,” I say as I take a seat next to him, kicking my feet up on top of my duffel.
Felix raises an eyebrow. “Are you allergic to cats?” He asks as Samson looks at me.
I shake my head. “No. I’ve always liked pussy,” I taunt him.
Felix haughtily purrs, his lip ring dancing as he plays with it.
“Well, this pussy needs to be fed at five am every day or he will murder you in your sleep. And he gets treats twice a day.”
I chuckle at his bratty tone. “Fine. Pain in my ass.”
Samson leaps down from Felix’s lap, curling up in a little coffin-shaped pet bed.
“Is that a threat, Duncan?” Felix asks, his voice edged with darkness.
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” I tease as I pick up the blue guitar I gave him.
The one he helped me build.
I strum out a few familiar notes, and Felix doesn’t miss a beat. He taps out a rhythm along my thigh, singing the lyrics to Lovin’ On The Run , and I can’t help but smile.
Because as we head off into the California sunset, toward our next city, I know the best song has yet to be written.
Thank you for reading Hollow Heart!
Continue with the next book in the Rock His World series, Wild Stars .
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~Evie Riley