6. Garrett
GARRETT
“What took you so long?” Theo hisses when I finally manage to get my ass to the front door to let him in. In my defense, I’d been distracted.
Really distracted.
Since when am I blindly obsessed with a woman in a business suit?
Since Emerson and I got cozy in Vegas, that’s when.
“You have a key.”
“Yeah, and you live with your wife now. I can’t just walk in.”
“That’s probably better.”
“You think?” he grouses, dumping the bags in his arms onto the counter.
“I was serious about giving you a raise.”
He snorts as he unpacks the first bag, setting food containers aside before moving on to the next one. It’s crazy to think that’s he’s been with me for almost eight years, his presence in my life invaluable.
We met at a coffee shop, although met is a loose term. I’d been alone just waiting for my latte at my usual spot in Chicago, well before the guys and I moved to Ironwood. The band was gaining momentum, but we weren’t selling out stadiums or anything.
Descending North had never been mainstream so while we did have loyal fans, they weren’t sharing our locations or mobbing us at the grocery store. Then a couple of videos we posted went viral and suddenly all hell broke loose.
I underestimated the entire situation because at first it was fine—normal—a couple of people asking for autographs and selfies.
But then it escalated, with fans pushing into the coffee shop and trying to get closer to me.
The casual touch on the forearm became low-key groping that had panic setting in.
I was alone, and the coffee shop employees were helpless to stop it.
In looking for an escape, my eyes locked on Theo’s, and I don’t know what he saw there but with absolute certainty, he stacked two to-go cups of coffee and then forced his way through the crowd.
He mumbled fake apologies to everyone as he grabbed my elbow and, despite being shorter than me, manhandled me through the crowd using the entire length from his shoulder to the coffees in his hand to make a path.
Once we were outside, he handed me the coffees, pulled out his phone, and directed me into a waiting car. I got in without question and the rest is history.
Theo Rossi saved a stranger in a coffee shop when he could have walked away. We’d barely made it down the street before I offered him a job, and now he runs my life, and I take whatever shit he wants to give me because there’s a good chance I deserve it.
“You keep giving me raises and you won’t be able to afford me,” he says wryly. “Besides, you almost gave me time off while you were in Vegas so that’s something.”
“I sound terrible.”
“Awful. Worst boss I’ve ever had.”
I snort out a laugh as he moves from emptying bags to putting groceries away. I should probably help, but he gets mad when I put things where they don’t belong even though he doesn’t actually live here.
Maybe I secretly like people bossing me around.
The thought has my lips twitching as I grab plates from the cabinet along with forks and napkins, placing everything on the counter next to the takeout containers.
“Any fires to put out?” I ask, refilling my coffee as I watch Theo bustle around the kitchen.
“Buzz with you and Emerson is mostly positive. Obvious speculation on both sides but the general consensus is that they like you as a couple.”
“And the band?”
“Darren is still being an asshole—made some comments online about you guys that are…”
“Dickish?”
“Colorful”—he pauses—“and dickish. The trolls have latched on to that, obviously, because it’s salacious and they think they’re getting the inside scoop.”
“Do people still say inside scoop?”
“You’re missing the point,” he grumbles, plating his breakfast before leaning against the opposite counter to eat.
“No, I get the point. I’m just trying to not let him win. He knows he fucked up, and he thinks he can gain the public’s support and have them turn on me, but it’s my name on the fucking marquee.”
“You’re hot when you’re all riled up,” Emerson purrs as she sidles up next to me, my gaze immediately dropping down her body as if I’d be able to confirm her lack of panties just by looking at her.
I can’t and she knows it because her lips quirk up, and fuck, now she’s definitely got me riled up.
“Emerson, that one is yours,” Theo says, pointing at one of the containers with his fork. “Also is Des seeing anyone because he sounds”—he bats his lashes—“very interesting. Also is he into men?”
“I’m sure this will be shocking to the both of you considering the amount of oversharing and codependency I’ve been subjected to in the last twenty-four hours, but what Des does outside my office is none of my business.”
“Guess you could have a worse boss,” I whisper to Theo, whose eyes widen as Emerson’s eyes narrow.
“I’m sorry, I think I missed that. What did you say?” Emerson asks sweetly.
“Only that I’m very agreeable so if Theo wants to rearrange my living room, I have no intention on fighting him on it. Same goes for my schedule and social media. He basically does whatever he thinks is best.”
This time it’s Emerson who wrinkles her nose. “No, that would never happen.”
“See? Everyone gets what they want,” I offer but she shakes her head as I plate her food and hand it to her before doing mine.
I should probably suggest we sit at the island, but this seems to be working and it’s what I usually do anyway. I think I’ve only used my actual table once since I built this place.
“Thanks,” she says. “So what do we need to do to fix the publicity surrounding the band?”
“So far your marriage is working,”—Theo glances to me and I give a slight nod—“but Darren needs to go. He’s volatile and it’s only gotten worse. He’s telling anyone that will listen how much of a dog you were on tours. Parties and women. There’s some old pictures circulating.”
“Fuck,” I bite out, embarrassment not at the things I’ve done but at having dragged Emerson into this. I knew it would get worse before it got better but this is too much. “I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“You’re an adult with a past, Garrett. Everybody has one.”
“I know but—”
“If I cowered every time someone wanted to fuck with me, I’d be in a god damn crater.
” Swiping through her phone, she turns it to me and I wince as I take in the picture of a much younger me doing a body shot off a girl at an after-party.
Darren had captured the moment on his digital camera, and I know that because he showed all of us the ones he’d gotten throughout the night once we were back on the bus.
“I was...”
“Having fun?”
“Yes, but—”
“Who hasn’t done a body shot at some point in their lives?” She rolls her eyes and sets her phone down and now I have questions. “As long as it was consensual and everyone was of age…” she trails off waiting for my confirmation.
“She was. It was. All of it.” The words come out in a rush but she nods.
“Then it’s a nonissue. Watch it and be vigilant but don’t let it rule your life. He pulled this up from years ago because that’s what he has to work with.” She lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “We’d just have to pull any of his recent mug shots.”
“She’s right,” Theo says.
“Talk to Tom if you need to do some digging.”
“So you’re not just trying to get rid of me?” I tease but she doesn’t smile.
“I wouldn’t still be in your house if I was.” The comment would be comforting, but the expression on her face is absolutely lethal. “The only thing worse than bullies are cowards, and I don’t tolerate either.”
“Have I mentioned I really like your wife?” Theo stage-whispers and Emerson winks, but he’s onto something because I really like my wife too.