CHAPTER TWELVE
ROCKTOBERFEST
The break flew by, maybe because he’d enjoyed the private time with Wolf so much.
Now that they were heading out again, he knew that they would need to be discreet in public and around the guys.
The only downside was that instead of sharing a suite, they’d have their own individual custom RVs in a private section of the campground, so sneaking into each other’s bed needed finesse.
Walking up the small flight of steps to the private plane filled Harris with a reminiscent feeling of last year’s trip.
Despite the drama, it turned out to be an awesome time.
As he stepped into the cabin, he saw that Wolf, Marshall and Amy were already there.
They were only waiting for Ethan and Tyler.
Harris took a seat next to Wolf and gave his secret lover a bro shake, along with a sly smile. He extended the same handshake to Marshall and then kissed Amy’s hand. She looked lovely in a pale-yellow sundress.
Voices made everyone turn toward the doorway.
“This is so exciting! Just like last year,” Tyler exclaimed. “Only I’m not by myself. I promise not to overdo it with the drinks this time.”
Ethan slung his arm around Tyler’s neck and grinned. “Drink all you want, baby. I’ll carry you off the plane.”
“Oooh. That’s sounds scandalous.”
“Welcome aboard!” Wolf called, then coughed on a laugh under his fist. “Nice outfit.”
Tyler was his usual outlandish self in something that could only be described as a onesie. He turned from side to side with his hands on his hips. “It’s my travel outfit. Very chic and very comfy.”
“I’m sure.” Wolf laughed, without bothering to tone it down, and Harris gave him an elbow in the ribs. “Sorry,” he apologized to Tyler. “But you make it so easy.”
“No worries. I’ll just chalk it up to your lack of fashion sense.” Tyler buckled himself into one of the captain’s chairs and deposited his tote bag on the floor. “I brought board games if anyone’s interested.”
“I love board games,” Amy replied.
“Me too,” Marshall happily agreed.
“I hope it’s Pictionary,” Wolf said.
“Oh no, mister.” Tyler scolded Wolf with his index finger.
“You’re not getting me with that one again.
” He turned to Amy and explained. “He’s an artist. Unfair advantage.
The word was sand. How anyone can draw sand is beyond me.
I drew a bunch of dots that Ethan thought was pepper.
” He paused to glare at Ethan for a second.
“While Wolf drew the ocean, the sun, and the sand, complete with sunbathers. Van Gogh couldn’t have done it better. ”
The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker announcing that they’d be taking off in a few minutes, and Tyler hurried to place his tote bag under the seat.
“I was hoping he brought Pictionary again,” Wolf whispered to Harris as he fastened his seatbelt.
“You’re an instigator.”
Wolf grinned wider. “I try.”
After the plane took off, everyone moved to the round table that would accommodate all of them for a board game. Tyler opened his bag o’ tricks and pulled out a large rectangular box. “Who’s up for Monopoly?”
“Monopoly?” Wolf complained. “That’s boring.”
“Monopoly is not boring. It’s classic. But this isn’t the classic version.” Tyler flipped the box around to face everyone. “We’re playing the Queen version! Not Queen as in Queen Elizabeth. Queen as in Freddy Mercury in all his fabulousness.”
Harris couldn’t believe it. He’d heard of the spin on popular cities, but never on a rock band. “That’s cool.” And everyone else agreed.
About a half hour into the game, the temperature on the plane dropped, and Harris felt a chill so he asked the flight attendant for a blanket.
“A blanket?” Marshall asked. “It’s like a sauna in here.”
The plane was freezing, but Harris knew better than to argue with the Abominable Snowman disguised as a six-foot guitarist. “I’m cold, and I forgot my sweatshirt.”
“It is a bit chilly,” Amy agreed.
“I’ll keep you warm.” Marshall wrapped his arms around Amy and snuggled close to her.
She looked at him with a big smile. “You’re steaming hot.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you noticed. I hope our RV is cool enough. The temps are supposed to be unbearable this weekend.”
“Why are we going to the desert when it’s a million degrees outside with thousands of people?” Tyler asked. “Why not go someplace where the weather is more amenable, like . . .” He tapped his finger on his chin. “Hawaii? The festival can still be on the beach.”
Ethan pinched Tyler’s chin and smiled as he shook his head slightly. “You’re so pretty.”
“Are you mocking me, Ethan Jones?” Tyler asked, his fist now on his hip. “Because I’ll be giving you a trim tomorrow with a pair of very sharp scissors.”
Ethan ran his hand over the length of his hair which had only grown a few inches since he lost almost a foot of it due to a pyrotechnic disaster on stage.
“I was serious. You’re very pretty. It’s distracting.
I had no idea what you were even saying because I was so mesmerized by your pretty brown eyes and beautiful hair. ”
Tyler smirked and nodded. “Yeah. Sure. But I’ll take it.” He looked down at the board. “Harris, it’s your turn.”
Harris picked up the dice and rolled a six.
As he bounced his little guitar piece across the board he said, “To answer your question about Hawaii, it’s because there are too many permits and regulations and ordinances.
It’s too expensive. Black Rock City was made to put on a festival.
Hawaii would never allow anything that crazy.
” He landed on Wembley Stadium, which had two arenas, otherwise known as hotels in the original game, and knew it was about to deplete his cash. “Who owns it?”
Wolf grinned. “I do. You owe me $2,000.”
Harris picked up his paper money and started counting it. At this rate, he’d be the first one out. “I suck at this game.”
“We can barter,” Wolf suggested.
“Can we?” Harris didn’t know why he looked at Tyler, as if the guy was in charge.
“Technically, no. But I’m a rule breaker. As long as no one objects, I’m OK with it. Let’s vote.”
“Wait,” Ethan said. “What are you bartering?”
Wolf looked Harris up and down, a playful sparkle in his eyes and that cute little smile on his lips, and Harris felt heat flush up his neck.
Is that all it took for him to blush like a teenager? Apparently so.
“I’m cold,” Wolf said. “How about you give me that blanket and I’ll give you a pass?”
“I’m sure there’s another—” Ethan began, but Tyler shushed him, paying close attention to the conversation between Harris and Wolf.
“This blanket?” Harris held up the corner.
“Yeah,” Wolf answered. “That blanket.”
“My blanket?”
“Yeah. Your blanket. That’s the idea. You give me that blanket, and I’ll give you a pass on the rent. But the catch is you can’t get another blanket.”
“But it’s cold.”
“That’s the point. I’m giving up a ton of cash. You gotta give up something too. Your comfort.”
Harris grunted. “Thanks a lot. Here.” He tossed the blanket into Wolf’s lap.
“Wait.” Tyler held up his hand. “We didn’t vote. Everyone in favor of the trade raise your hand.
One by one everyone lifted their hands.
Tyler made a show of counting each one as if we couldn’t see that all hands were in the air, and then took it a step further by asking, “All opposed?” He looked around the table. “Then it’s settled. The trade is approved.”
As Wolf snuggled into the oversized blanket and brought it up to his chin with a greedy smile on his lips, Ethan asked Tyler, “Was that necessary?”
“The vote? Of course. Majority rules.”
“No, I meant, did you have to ask who opposed when everyone already voted yes?”
Tyler smiled and shook his head, then took Ethan’s chin in his hand. “You’re so pretty.”
Marshall was the first one to burst out laughing, then everyone else joined in, causing Ethan to scowl. “Shut up, you guys.”
“The reason he asked who was opposed,” Harris explained, is because sometimes people can’t decide and vote both ways.”
“That’s not allowed,” Ethan said.
“Neither is bartering.”
Ethan huffed. “You guys just make this stuff up.”
As the game progressed, goosebumps rose on Harris’ arms. “Is it getting colder in here?”
“I’m good,” Ethan said. “But I’m wearing a hoodie.
“I’m used to the cold,” Tyler replied. “I’m from the East Coast. One time, I had to walk through two feet of snow in Long Island when the temperature was in the teens to get to the train station.”
“You know I’m not cold.” Marshall smiled and pulled Amy in for a side hug. “And I’m keeping her warm.”
“I got this nice warm blanket, so I’m nice and toasty,” Wolf teased, snuggling into it.
Harris hugged himself and shuddered, making a point to look at Wolf and glance down at the blanket.
“I’ll share the blanket with you.” Wolf grinned. “For a price.”
“I have to pay to share your blanket? The blanket that used to be mine?”
“Yep. Let’s see.” Wolf pursed his lips together. “A hundred bucks should do it.”
Harris slapped the fake money down in front of Wolf. “You drive a hard bargain.”
Since their chairs didn’t move, they needed to lean toward one another to comfortably share the blanket, and Harris’ internal temperature rose quickly.
He wasn’t sure if the warmth that covered his skin was from the combination of the blanket and body heat, or from being close to Wolf.
Now he just needed to keep the damn smile off his face and stop exchanging glances with Wolf.
A few more rounds and an argument ensued between Marshall and Ethan about whether it counted when the dice rolled off the board and landed on the floor, or if Ethan could roll again.
Harris was about to add his opinion when a firm hand landed on his knee under the blanket and sent a tingle up his thigh.
A wave of excitement rushed through his chest and sent his heart racing.
He tried his hardest to concentrate on the logo in the center of the gameboard, but he could see Wolf staring at him from the corner of his eye.