CHAPTER SIX
The tour was only a couple of days away, and it brought an incredible amount of excitement and anticipation.
Everyone felt it, but the longing in Ethan and Tyler’s faces sometimes told a different story.
Harris couldn’t imagine leaving the person he loved behind for several months with only the occasional quick visit when time allowed.
He glanced over at Wolf, who was just as amped as he was for the tour, and it reinforced his heart’s choice.
“Where’s Marsh?” Harris asked, eyeing the two empty seats across the table. They were finally going to meet the mystery girlfriend—hence the elaborate sit-down dinner.
“He’ll be here any minute.” Tyler adjusted a vase of flowers that sat in the center of the large table for the umpteenth time.
Ethan wrapped his arms around his boyfriend’s waist from behind and kissed his cheek. “The table looks beautiful. Stop fussing.”
“I can’t help it. I’m nervous. I want everything to be perfect. This is important to Marshall. I want to make a good impression.”
Ethan probably wasn’t going to be the only lovesick puppy on tour now that Marshall had a steady girl.
Harris’ gaze shifted to Wolf, sitting next to him at the table, and his heart did a little gallop.
He could count himself in the lovesick puppy club as well.
He only wished he and Wolf were on the same wavelength when it came to their feelings for each other.
They probably weren’t even in the same stratosphere.
They were probably light years apart. But Harris felt the distance shortening little by little.
It would happen. It would. They’d get together and fall in love, and everything would be perfect.
He kept telling himself that, because more than anything, Wolf needed someone to love him.
The guy didn’t need any more heartbreak in his life.
And Harris knew he was the person who could finally make Wolf happy.
Tyler rearranged the flowers again, which brought Harris’ attention to the formal table setting, complete with crystal water goblets and cutlery arranged by size on both sides of the plates.
This was different. Ethan always employed a full staff at his mansion, but dinner usually meant barbeque on the outside deck with ordinary dishes and silverware.
Harris picked up the china plate in front of him and could see his reflection.
“Fancy,” Wolf leaned in and whispered.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Harris whispered back.
“Fancy is nice,” Tyler stated.
Damn his supersonic hearing.
The swinging door to the dining room opened and a member of Ethan’s staff announced that Marshall and his guest had arrived.
Conversation at the table stopped, and everyone’s head turned toward Marshall and his girl as they entered.
Not surprisingly, Tyler was the first to greet her.
“You must be Amy. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.
I’m Tyler. Welcome.” He extended his hand, which she took, and he kissed her on both cheeks.
Then he stepped back and looked at her from head to toe. “You’re absolutely stunning.”
She was slender and tall with dark blonde hair that was tied back in a high ponytail. She wore a flowery summer dress that hit her mid thigh, and she wore very little makeup.
“Thank you.” Her smile was warm and amicable. “It’s nice to meet you, as well.”
Marshall was beaming as he escorted her to the table. “Let me introduce you to the guys.”
“I feel as if I know you all already,” Amy said as she looked from one to the other. “But I can’t tell who’s who. Wait.” She held up her index finger and pointed it directly at Harris. “You’re Harris. The drummer.”
“How’d you know?”
“Your hands.”
Harris didn’t know what she meant, then realized he was tapping out a beat with his index fingers on the edge of the table. “You caught me.”
The rest of the introductions were made, and then the first course was served. It was a huge charcuterie board filled with cured meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and fancy crackers, and they all dug in.
While everyone made small talk, Harris noticed Wolf was eyeing a piece of cheese on the end of a toothpick. He was twirling it between his fingers like he’d never seen it before.
“What is this?” Wolf whispered to Harris.
“Cheese.”
“I know it’s cheese. But what kind?” Wolf extended the toothpick in Harris’ direction and Harris ate it.
A smile lit up Wolf’s face, and he chuckled, and that’s when Harris realized that Wolf wasn’t feeding him the cheese. He was merely showing it to him. Harris felt his cheeks heat up, but he just kept chewing. “I don’t know. Tastes expensive.”
“I feel like we’re on another planet,” Wolf whispered. “I went with Ethan when the realtor first showed him this place. I’ve been in every room in the house, but I don’t remember this room.”
“We’ve never had a sit-down dinner in here before.” Harris fingered the white tablecloth, rubbing the soft cotton between his thumb and forefinger. “It’s nice.”
“Do you like the tablecloth?” Tyler asked—again, showing off his supersonic hearing. “I got it at Nieman Marcus. Can you believe Ethan didn’t have a tablecloth?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in here before,” Ethan joked.
“Everything looks so elegant,” Amy commented, fanning her hand over the table. “I hope you didn’t do all this on my account. It’s beautiful, but I’m very organic. I’d be just as happy with a cheeseburger as I would with a filet mignon.”
“I told you!” Ethan scolded Tyler, but with that playful teasing tone the two often shared.
“Oh hush.” Tyler shooed Ethan’s words away with his hand. “Why have a chef in the kitchen if you’re gonna use a grill on the deck? Besides, this is a special occasion. Not only do we finally get to meet Amy, but it’s also a little sendoff for the tour.”
“Are you going on tour with them?” Amy asked, plucking a few grapes off the stem and popping one in her mouth.
“I have to work.” Tyler placed his hand on his chest. “I’m not just a trophy boyfriend. I have my own business.”
“Tyler’s a sought-after hairstylist and makeup artist,” Marshall explained. He ran his hand over his short buzz cut. “He convinced me to grow my hair out a little and dye it blue for last year’s Rocktoberfest.”
“Really?” Amy’s face widened with a smile. “I’d love to see a picture.”
“You can Google it,” Marshall replied. “Video clips are all over the place.”
“I will.”
“I have an idea,” Tyler began. “After dinner we can watch part of Wolf Pack’s set in the theater room—yes, there’s a theater room,” he said looking directly at Amy. “I know. It’s pretentious, but that’s Ethan.”
“Hey!”
“Sorry, sweetums.” Tyler rolled his eyes at Ethan. “But really? A theater room?”
Wolf started laughing and almost spit his water all over the new tablecloth. “I love that he gives Ethan digs like that,” he whispered to Harris.
“Me too,” Harris whispered back, enjoying the small private conversations that he and Wolf were having with one another without the others.
“Have you been watching more Animal Kingdom?” Wolf asked.
“No. I haven’t had a chance. I’ve been trying to hit the waves as much as I can before we leave. Have you?”
Wolf shook his head. “Not since we watched it the night you brought the painting over.”
“Cool. I’ll come by, and we’ll watch it together.”
“If we don’t wrap it up too late here, come back to my place tonight.”
“OK.” Harris wasn’t sure if the invitation meant anything more than watching a movie together or if Wolf wanted company because he didn’t want to be alone. Either way, he cherished the invitation.
Switching back to the conversation at the table, Harris found they were still talking about the tour and that both Tyler and Amy would be joining them for Rocktoberfest.
“I’m not quite sure what to expect,” Amy admitted. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be dating a rock star. I hope it’s not too wild.” She glanced at Marshall, as if they had this conversation already, and the worry on her face was obvious.
“Been there; done that. It’ll be fine,” Tyler offered with a casual wave of his hand. “Nothing to worry about, beautiful lady. Everyone is well behaved, and security is top notch.”
Marshall gave Tyler a look as if to say, “Thank you.”
Two sets of servers entered the dining room. One set cleared the charcuterie board and appetizer plates and forks. The other set of servers placed domed plates in front of everyone.
“Is he kidding with this?” Wolf snickered.
Harris held back a laugh and shrugged.
“Enjoy,” one of the servers said, and gave a curt bow before he left the dining room.
Everyone picked up their lids to reveal a gorgeous, juicy, filet mignon with roasted potatoes and sautéed zucchini.
Amy’s laughter echoed through the large room. “This is perfect!”
Instead of the filet and sides that everyone else had, she had a cheeseburger and fries.
Marshall and Ethan were in hysterics, while Tyler looked mortified, and Harris and Wolf just smiled.
“It’s a joke,” Ethan finally said. “Marshall said you wouldn’t get mad. I’m glad you’re a good sport. Here’s your meal.”
A server walked over with an identical plate to everyone else’s and tried to exchange it for the plate in front of Amy, but she protested.
“Uh-uh.” She shielded her plate with one arm like a convict at mealtime and picked up the burger. “I’m eating this. She bit into it and leaned back in her chair, eyes closed and chin up to the ceiling. “Soooo good.”
“You can leave it,” Ethan told the server who stood by unsure of what to do with the plate in his hands. “In case she changes her mind.”
“Wrap it up in a doggy bag,” Amy said. “I’m taking that home for later.”
Tyler finally burst out laughing. “I like you! You’re fun.”
***