CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
“I don’t care. I love you, and I should have told Ethan that before. I’m going to tell him right now.” Wolf started for the door, but Harris grabbed his arm.
“Wait. Give him a minute.” Harris knew that Ethan was still processing everything, and Wolf wasn’t the most intuitive or delicate person when it came to dealing with a sensitive subject. The guy was too forthright. Too honest with his words.
“Why? I want him to know.”
“I think he just heard you.”
A crooked smile pulled at one side of Wolf’s lips. “I hope he did. I hope the whole world heard me.”
“I guess we should tell Marshall. The poor guy’s left out in the cold.
And Ruby. She needs to know how to handle the media.
” There were still some fans who wanted Wolf to be with Ethan and there was no changing their minds.
Harris could easily receive backlash and be on their shit list for stepping in and ensuring that Wolf and Ethan were never getting back together.
Wolf tapped something into his phone and then stuffed it into his pocket. “Done.”
“What do you mean, done? Did you just text Marshall and Ruby that we’re seeing each other?”
“I told Ruby. I told Marshall to get his butt over here because we needed to tell him something important.”
“What did you tell Ruby?” Harris slipped into his jeans and pulled on a T-shirt. He wasn’t getting caught half naked again.
“That me and you are in love.” Wolf’s phone buzzed with a text message, and he read it.
“Ruby said she’s taking a Xanax.” His phone buzzed again.
“She said to keep things private until she formulates a plan. Why do we need a plan? If she thinks we’re gonna keep things a secret, she better forget it. ”
Harris loved that Wolf didn’t want to pretend they weren’t in love and wanted everyone to know it. Maybe shouting it into the desert air wasn’t the best way to announce their relationship, but he loved that Wolf did it without a second thought.
The door to the RV swung open and Marshall and Amy walked in, hand in hand.
Apparently, no one knocks anymore.
“What’s going on?” Marshall asked. “I saw Ethan storm out of here a little while ago. Did you guys have an argument?”
“No. Not really.” Wolf moved closer to Harris, their hands found one another, they smiled at each other, and shared a small kiss.
“I knew it! They’re a couple!” Amy exclaimed, then swatted Marshall’s arm. “I told you, and you said I was crazy.”
Marshall slowly blinked. “You’re together?”
“We’re in love,” Harris clarified, and a new wave of euphoria washed over him. He felt ecstatic and giddy and wanted to open the door and shout it to the universe the same way Wolf had done.
“In love?” Marshall was still absorbing the news. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’re happy for them.” Amy bubbled with excitement and hugged both Wolf and Harris. “That’s wonderful. You two look so happy. I see the way the two of you look at each other.”
“Is that what you screamed out the RV earlier?” Marshall asked Wolf. “That you love Harris?”
Wolf nodded. “Yep. I love Harrisson Young.”
A big smile spread across Marshall’s face. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I am. Very happy for you both. How’s Ethan handling it? I saw his face. He didn’t look so happy.”
“He walked in on us so it was a bit of a shock. He’ll come around,” Wolf said.
“He walked in on you?” Marshall’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
“Oh. No.” Wolf laughed heartily. “He didn’t walk in on us doing it.
We were eating breakfast and Harris was still in his underwear.
” Wolf tilted his head in Harris’ direction.
“Do you think he suspected on some level? I know he seemed like he had no idea, but why would he just assume we were sleeping together because you were in your underwear? We walk around the tour bus in our underwear all the time. I’ve gotten up in the middle of the night bare ass naked to use the can. ”
Harris scratched his chin and thought about it. “Well, for one thing, I had a boner.” He quickly covered his mouth. “I’m so sorry, Amy. That was crude.”
She waved her hand at him. “I have two younger brothers. I grew up with farts and boners.”
They all burst out laughing. This chick was cool.
“We’re going for a hike before it gets too hot if you want to join us,” Amy said.
“I love hiking,” Wolf replied. “Where?”
“It’s kinda far. It’s about a 90-minute drive. A car is taking us there in about half an hour.”
Wolf gave Harris puppy dog eyes. “Please?”
Harris wasn’t as keen on hiking as Wolf, but he was a sucker for those puppy dog eyes. “All right.”
***
The hike consisted of everything Harris hated—it was hot, dusty, and his throat was as dry as a rock.
“Come on,” Wolf looped his arm through Harris’ and pulled him along. “The best part is coming up.”
“You mean the SUV is just around that bend to take us home?”
“I didn’t know you were such a Primadonna.”
“I didn’t know you were such a nature boy.” Harris watched Wolf’s long hair blow in the dry breeze. The guy was wearing a baseball cap, but his hair wasn’t tied in a pony or anything. “How are you not dying with all that hair?”
“I’m like a Shetland Sheep Dog. My hair protects me from the sun.”
“Hurry up, you two!” Amy called from up ahead. “It’s beautiful!”
At least that got Harris intrigued, and he picked up his pace.
“I’ll race you,” Wolf said, grinning.
“I’m not—” Wolf didn’t give Harris a chance to finish and ran full speed ahead to where Marshall and Amy disappeared behind a large rock wall.
Harris realized he was alone and started running to catch up.
The last thing he wanted to do was get lost in the desert.
Once he passed the huge rock formation, a beautiful pool of blue-green water lay ahead in a sprawling asymmetrical free-form pattern, and colorful painted mountains surrounded them.
Seeing this beautiful piece of nature was well worth the hike.
“This is gorgeous. But since when is there water in the desert? Please don’t tell me I’m having a mirage, because I’ll be pretty pissed if that’s not real. ”
Marshall and Amy had already stripped down to swimsuits and stepped into the water. “It’s a hot spring,” Amy explained.
“It’s so warm,” Marshall added. “This is awesome!”
“Why didn’t you tell us to bring swim trunks?
” Harris asked, loving the idea of relaxing in a natural hot spring.
It’s something he never thought about doing before, but now that the opportunity presented itself, he wasn’t going to pass it up.
He’d jump in that thing in his underwear if he had to. Sorry, Amy.
“I got you,” Wolf said with a sly smile and pulled a pair of swim trunks out of his backpack. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Here. Get changed. I’m already suited up.”
Wolf held up a blanket so Harris could change, because even though Amy said she’d turn around, he still felt self-conscious, and then Wolf stripped down to his trunks.
Wolf held out his hand for Harris, who took it like a fool in love, and the two slowly stepped into the warm pool of water.
The silky water made Harris feel as if he were going to melt into a pile of liquid.
The picturesque scenery and sunshine just added to the serenity of the moment, and he almost couldn’t believe it. “Have you done this before?”
“I have,” Amy said. “Many times.”
“It’s a first for me,” Marshall admitted.
“Me too,” Wolf said.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Harris moved a little closer to Wolf.
The blue of the water reflected off Wolf’s light eyes, and the ends of his wet hair glistened under the sun.
Harris wanted to kiss this man so badly, but it felt awkward in front of Marshall and Amy, not that they cared or were paying attention.
Wolf leaned in and stole a kiss, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and it was.
Then Wolf dunked Harris’ head under the water and swam away.
Harris popped up, laughing, and chased Wolf to the other side of the pool, where he cornered Wolf, but instead of returning the dunk, he kissed Wolf, and they floated together for several heart-pounding seconds.
Maybe it was the heat or the water or the high of being together, or all of it combined, but Harris never felt so completely whole.
He still couldn’t believe that Wolf loved him and the things they were doing together.
Everything seemed like a dream. “I’m so happy we’re together. ”
“Me too.”
They relaxed in the water for a long while and then climbed out. Marshall spread out a large blanket for the four of them to share, and they lounged under the sun to dry off, snacking on granola bars, fruit, and Vitamin Water.
“How come your hair looks so good?” Wolf asked. “You just finger-comb it and it looks like that?”
Harris shrugged. “That’s all I know how to do.” He ran a long lock of Wolf’s hair through his thumb and forefinger. “I don’t know how to style my hair the way you do. Your hair always looks perfect. Mine’s a mess no matter what I do with it, so I don’t do anything to it.”
“And it looks like that? Tousled and sexy with no effort? Some guys got it easy.”
“You should just buzz it like me,” Marshall ran his hand over the short stubble on his head.
“Wolf Wheeler with a buzz cut?” Amy looked at Marshall like he was crazy. “Are you trying to break hearts all over America?”
Wolf rocked with laughter and pointed at Marshall. “Your girl likes my hair!”
“I said, America,” Amy clarified. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely. But I prefer to see a man’s face.” She leaned over and gave Marshall a smile and kissed him, tickling the short stubble above his ears.
Harris scooted closer to Wolf. “I love your hair,” he said softly, fingering it. “It’s always so shiny and beautiful.” He brought the length of it up to his nose and inhaled deeply. “And it always smells amazing.”
“It’s not beautiful now.”
Harris nodded. “Yes, it is. Because you’re beautiful.
” They slowly moved closer, and their lips met with a kiss.
It was deep and filled with love, but short so no one felt uncomfortable.
When their lips parted, Harris’ eyes went to Marshall to see how his friend reacted to this new dynamic, but Marshall was too engrossed in a conversation with his girl.
They were two couples, enjoying the sun and the water and each other’s company, and it felt right. Comfortable. The only thing that would have made this moment better was if Ethan and Tyler were here with them.