CHAPTER NINE
“Get up. We’re here.”
The sound of Ethan’s voice woke Wolf out of a sound sleep. The moment he moved, a crick in his neck announced its displeasure. “Ugh.” He rubbed at the sore spot and realized his face was inches away from Harris’ socked feet. “UGH!” he repeated, this time louder. “Move your dogs, dude.”
Harris moved to a sitting position, hair a mess and eyes barely open. “Ow. My back.” He looked around the bunk. “Where’s my laptop?”
They obviously fell asleep binge-watching Animal Kingdom. “It probably fell on the floor.”
“You were sleeping on it,” Ethan pointed out, then turned around and started stuffing clothes into his travel bag.
“How come you didn’t feel that?” Wolf asked.
“I don’t know.” Harris opened his laptop and started tapping on it. “I guess we need to rewatch a bunch of episodes. My laptop died.”
The bus doors opened with a whoosh and Paul entered. “Good morning. Security is in place whenever you’re ready. Make it quick.”
When they were all huddled together on the elevator, Paul announced, “We’re leaving for the meet and greet in two hours. I’ll give you guys a heads up 30 minutes beforehand.”
“I was hoping to get a little more sleep in a nice soft bed instead of sleeping with a laptop in the middle of my back,” Harris complained quietly.
“I slept great,” Wolf added, realizing it was one of the best night’s sleep he’s had in a long time. “Maybe I was knocked out by your foot odor.”
“Happy to oblige,” Harris joked.
The elevator doors opened, and they all stepped into the hallway. As they walked down the corridor Ethan caught up to Wolf and slung his arm over his shoulder as they walked.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” Ethan said to Wolf, not whispering but low enough to indicate this was a conversation requiring privacy.
“What about?”
“I hear you’ve been having nightmares again. How bad?”
Wolf exhaled a deep breath. He wasn’t intentionally keeping the nightmares a secret, but he was hoping not to involve Ethan. After all the years he burdened his best friend with his internal demons, Ethan deserved to be free of the bullshit. “Not bad,” he lied.
Ethan looked at him skeptically.
“Some worse than others,” Wolf admitted. “But I haven’t had any in a week. So that’s good. Right?” It didn’t mean they wouldn’t return, because he knew better than to lean on that kind of wishful thinking, but it was a step in the right direction. For now, anyway.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” The genuine concern and worry in Ethan’s voice settled in Wolf’s chest like a warm hug.
Wolf stopped walking so he could look directly into Ethan’s eyes. “You’ve done so much for me. More than any person should have to do for anyone. I don’t have to bother you all the time, and I’m not going to. You deserve to—”
“That’s bullshit,” Ethan interrupted. “Your problems are my problems. If you have a nightmare, I have a nightmare. If you’re upset, I’m upset.
That’s the way it is, Wolf. That’s the way it’ll always be.
If you need anything—anything at all—you call me.
I don’t care if it’s in the middle of the night.
I don’t care if I’m in the middle of . .
. heart surgery. If you need me, I’m there. ”
Wolf smiled at the analogy, as if Ethan could be a heart surgeon, then his stomach lurched. “Do you need heart surgery?”
“No. My point was that nothing is more important than you, if you need me. Don’t feel like you can’t come to me anymore just because me and Tyler are living together.”
Wolf nodded, eyes glued to the carpet. He loved this guy so much. They were brothers by bond—found family—and that was their fate which had been forged when they were five years old.
“Come on.” Ethan wrapped his arm around Wolf’s shoulder again, and they resumed walking down the hall. “I’m glad you got a good night’s sleep last night. Get some rest if you need it. It’s gonna be a long day.”
***
The meet and greet took place at a radio station with 100 winners who also received free tickets to tonight’s show.
The crowd was in good spirits, and the signing was going smoothly.
Sometimes, it was hit or miss with these things.
Unruly fans could easily get out of control with pushing and shoving, and it was a nightmare for everyone, but today things were in order.
The guys all sat in a row at a long table and signed photos like a well-running assembly line, then took one group photo at the table. But there was always one who bypassed the lineup in order to seek out their favorite band member first, and this one was headed straight for Wolf.
The guy looked to be about 20 years old with long, dark hair, eyes sparkling, and a smile spread across his cheeks. “Great to meet you, man,” he said to Wolf. “I’m a huge fan. You’re an awesome bass player. All the guys are awesome and talented, but you’re my favorite.”
That’s something Wolf would never get tired of hearing, and his ego inflated a few notches. “Thanks.” He nudged Ethan with his elbow and gave his best friend a mocking smile as he signed an autograph. “Hear that? I’m his favorite.”
Ethan rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to the guy in front of him.
“What’s your favorite song?’ Wolf asked the fan.
“‘Running Nowhere.’ The bassline on that song is sick! You have such an amazing stage presence.” The fan eyed Wolf up and down. “I love your hair. It was the first thing I noticed about you. Even before your bass playing. That’s why I grew my hair long. But mine’ll never look as good as yours.”
For a minute, Wolf thought the guy was going to reach out and touch it, which wouldn’t be a first but certainly wasn’t a welcomed gesture.
“If you’re looking for a great hairstylist, I know where you can find one.
” He stuck his thumb in Ethan’s direction, referring to Tyler without mentioning him by name.
The fan knew exactly what Wolf meant and suddenly scowled.
His face turned red, and his eyes hardened.
“Tyler Kennedy? Fuck that asshole.” The fan took two steps over, pushing aside the guy who had been standing in front of Ethan.
“Why would you pick that twink over Wolf? Wolf’s a thousand times better looking than that asshole. ”
Anger immediately raised Wolf’s hackles, but it was nothing compared to the fire burning in Ethan’s eyes at the insult.
The fan, who obviously didn’t know when to shut up, continued. “Why don’t you cut that guy loose and go back to Wolf? You two were great on stage with your antics, and your chemistry was so fucking hot. That twink is a waste of time.”
Ethan looked as if he were about to explode. He shot to his feet, grabbed the guy by the front of his shirt and pulled him close so they were nose to nose. Teeth clenched, he spat, “Don’t you dare talk about my boyfriend like that.”
Security was there in an instant and hauled the fan away, while a hush came over the room. The only sound was the breath heaving in and out of Ethan’s nostrils. Wolf almost expected fire to shoot out of them at any second. He put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “You OK?”
“No. I don’t know why some fans hate Tyler so much. It’s fucked up. And I can’t’ stand it.”
Two girls, who obviously overheard everything, rushed over and stood in front of Ethan on the other side of the table. “We love Tyler!” they exclaimed at the same time.
“He’s adorable!” one said.
“I love his fashion sense!” the other gushed.
Ethan immediately perked up, smiled his best smile, and started a conversation with the girls.
Wolf sat back in his chair, relieved that the crisis ended without too much of a scene.
“What the fuck just happened?” Harris whispered to Wolf, who somehow missed the whole thing.
“Typical BS. Someone said something stupid about Tyler.” Wolf was so tired of the fans’ disapproval of Ethan and Tyler’s relationship and that they thought Wolf and Ethan should be together.
It sucked. For everyone. Luckily, some didn’t feel that way, like the two girls still talking to Ethan, and more fans were coming around every day.
“I wonder how the fans would react if you found someone,” Harris said.
“Huh?”
Harris grinned. “I wonder how the fans would react if you got a steady boyfriend.” He pushed a lock of hair behind Wolf’s ear. “Maybe you need to find someone so they know you’re taken. So there’s no chance of you and Ethan getting back together.”
“Like who?” It sounded wonderful to have a steady guy and have something like Ethan and Tyler have, but there were no prospects in sight.
“I don’t know. The right guy might be right under your nose. You just need to look more closely.” Harris pinched Wolf’s cheek, then turned around to give his attention to a fan standing in front of him.