CHAPTER ONE
The cape was snapped open from behind Wolf’s neck and removed with the flair of a matador before he received two air kisses.
“I do look more beautiful,” Wolf agreed, studying himself in the mirror.
His long hair was layered and wild, and the subtle caramel highlights picked up the sheen of his light brown hair. “You’re awesome.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” Tyler mused, a balled fist on his hip which was jutted out to the side. “I have clients waiting, Wolfie,” he said when Wolf made no move to leave the chair because he was too busy admiring his newly styled hair.
“What do I owe you?” Wolf pulled a couple of hundred-dollar bills out of his wallet purely for effect. Tyler never took a dollar from him.
“You know your money is no good around here.” Tyler waved it away.
The door to Tyler’s plush salon opened, and Ethan and Harris walked in. The only one missing from this post-album pampering party was Marshall, the band’s guitarist.
At the sight of Ethan, Tyler’s face lit up with a smile of gigantic proportions, and he sauntered over to his boyfriend while Wolf headed toward Harris, holding his hand out, and giving his friend a bro-shake.
“Getting ready for the big tour?” Harris asked.
“Can’t wait.” Nothing could be more true.
Now that the new album was finished, Wolf had a lot of free time, which wasn’t always welcomed.
Most rock stars enjoyed the down time, but now that Ethan was in a serious relationship with Tyler, he and his BFF were no longer spending all their free time together.
It left Wolf alone with his thoughts, and the return of those Goddamn night terrors.
The worst part was that Ethan wasn’t there to console him.
Harris was rattling on about his new drum kit, but Wolf wasn’t paying attention. Instead, he watched Ethan and Tyler who were engaged in a private convo that had them both beaming at each other as if they were the only two on the planet.
Tyler leaned into Ethan with one arm over Ethan’s shoulder while daintily poking Ethan’s chest with his index finger.
The provocative whispering turned into one of their adorable playful bickering episodes, but that’s not what had Wolf’s attention.
It was the way the two of them played off one another that he enjoyed.
“Things really changed between the two of you, huh?” Harris commented, nodding his head because it was more of a statement than a question.
After months of hostility and petty arguments that cut deep, things had changed drastically between Tyler and Wolf.
Practically from one minute to the next, instead of slinging insults, they were hugging out their differences and bonding over art.
It happened so quickly it felt as if the earth tilted.
Heads spun. Mouths gaped. Double takes were taken.
“Yeah,” Wolf answered. “I can admit when I was wrong. It was my fault. I was jealous, and it made me say some things that were out of line.” Wolf’s gaze drifted down to Tyler’s purple leather pants and the slim slice of exposed skin at his waist, and he let out a small chuckle. “He’s such an easy target, though.”
Harris displayed a whimsical smile as he took in Tyler’s appearance. “The guy’s got style. I gotta give him that. And killer hair.”
The issue had caused a bit of contention between the two of them, since both Wolf and Tyler had very long, impeccably styled hair, and Harris’ remark stung a little, even if it was said innocently. But Wolf let it go because he was past the rivalry.
“I’m glad you mended fences with Tyler and moved on.” Harris rested his hand on Wolf’s shoulder. “I told you Ethan wasn’t the guy for you. He never was. Now you’re free to go out there and find the guy that’s gonna make you happy.”
Wolf reflected on his life with Ethan and didn’t know how he could be so wrong.
He’d fallen for the guy when they were teenagers and thought it was only a matter of time before Ethan fell just as hard.
But, apparently, their on-again, off-again, sometimes best-friends-with-benefits arrangement was really just out of convenience. At least on Ethan’s part it was.
Now that Wolf was over Ethan, he could see things more clearly.
Ethan never indicated he wanted anything more than a casual relationship, and Wolf never confessed his true feelings.
So, when Tyler showed up, jealousy turned Wolf into a catty bitch.
Good thing Tyler is so easygoing and full of rainbows and glitter, because things could have gotten ugly between the two of them.
That’s not to say Tyler didn’t sling some Class A insults right back at Wolf, because he did.
But the guy let everything roll off his back and always gave Wolf another chance.
“So, are you looking for Mr. Right?” Harris asked.
Wolf shook his head. “When the time’s right, it’ll happen.
” He’d led the promiscuous sex life of a rock star for as long as he could remember.
He couldn’t help it. There were just too many opportunities.
Too many beautiful men throwing themselves at him at every turn.
But, since accepting things were over with Ethan, he needed to take a step back and be alone for a while.
It didn’t lessen the yearning and longing for a partner, though.
He just wasn’t ready to put his heart on the line again so soon.
“What about you? Don’t you wanna settle down?
” Harris had never been the typical oversexed rock star.
Men came and went, but not on a steady basis.
Harris was alone more than he was with someone.
Harris looked off to the side, a pensive firmness to his jaw as he contemplated the question. “Yeah. I do. I got my eye on someone, but I don’t think it’s the right time.” His gaze met Wolf’s. “Like you said, when the time’s right, it’ll happen.”
Friday night was pizza night at Wolf’s. It’s something he established recently, and Harris could only assume it was because the guy wanted company. Wolf seemed so lonely sometimes.
After Harris punched the code into the private gate, he started the ascent up the long, winding driveway to Wolf’s Hollywood Hills mansion, which lay nestled atop a cliffside mountain with spectacular views.
He didn’t need to ring the buzzer or knock because Wolf’s security cameras already alerted his presence, and the front door opened just as Harris exited his car, three pizza boxes in hand.
“Great. I thought you’d never get here.” Wolf stepped aside, allowing Harris to enter.
The home was cozy and understated—more bachelor pad than anything befitting a rock star or someone with fame and wealth. “Traffic sucks, and I got swarmed by fans. Why don’t you get an assistant to run errands for you? Someone you can trust.”
“Because I don’t trust anyone.”
“You took a chance on me and Marshall. That paid off.”
“Yeah, well, you guys are different.” Wolf slung an arm around Harris’ shoulder and grinned. “You’re all right.”
“You’re all right too,” Harris replied, the tiny spark in Wolf’s eyes zapping him right in the chest. He knew it was only his overactive imagination and wishful thinking, but damn it felt good for a couple of seconds.
Marshall entered from the other room and immediately took the pizza boxes from Harris. “It’s about time. I’m starving.”
“Hello to you too!” Harris called toward Marshall who was already headed toward the living room.
“I guess he’s hungry,” Wolf teased.
Ethan and Tyler were sitting around the coffee table with Marshall, and all three of them already had a slice of pizza on a paper plate in their laps.
“Greetings,” Tyler called.
Ethan stood and gave Harris a fist bump. “Thanks for bringing the food. Next time I’ll have Zoe bring it.”
“See?” Harris looked at Wolf but motioned toward Ethan. “An assistant will bring you food.”
“But that’s why I have you.”
Another flutter tickled the center of Harris’ chest, and he held back a sigh. Grabbing a paper plate and a slice of pizza, he mused about how good he’d gotten at hiding the spikes of adrenaline this man caused.
After shoving down a slice of pizza in record time, Marshall chugged his beer and wiped his mouth. “I got news.” He spread his hands wide and smiled even wider. “I got a girlfriend.”
Everyone stopped eating and gave him their full attention.
“Her name’s Amy, and she’s awesome.”
“How exciting!” Tyler put his paper plate on the coffee table and leaned forward. “Tell us more. Where did you meet?”
“At my brother’s. She’s a friend of my sister-in-law. I met her last month, and we hit it off right away. And get this. She didn’t know who I was. She said she never heard of Wolf Pack.”
“Never heard of us?” Wolf looked offended, brows furrowed together.
“I had the same reaction, at first. I mean, who doesn’t know Wolf Pack? But it was nice to meet someone who didn’t want to jump your bones just because you’re a famous rock star.”
“Congrats.” Ethan held up his beer and toasted Marshall. “Is it serious?”
“Yeah. I know a month sounds like a short time, but I’m falling for this girl. And she’s crazy about me. I’ve never been with anyone like her. I never even wanted to settle down before.”
“When the time’s right, it’ll happen,” Harris said, repeating the phrase from the conversation with Wolf a few days ago.
It caused Wolf to shoot a curious glance his way, but he focused on the smile on Marshall’s face.
He was happy for his friend, but also jealous that now another one of his best friends found love, while he was still pining away for the clueless guy sitting next to him. “I’m happy for you, bruh.”
“Yeah. Me too.” Wolf sounded a little melancholy but mostly envious.