Chapter Nine
Jesse glanced in his rearview mirror and smiled at the black Cadillac Escalade tailing him through the city streets.
Even with his sunglasses on, Evan couldn’t hide how hot he was.
Jesse watched the fingers of Evan’s right hand tap a rhythm on the top of the steering wheel; a red flash sparkled with each flick of his index finger from the ruby set in the eagle ring.
During their weekend together, he noticed Evan didn’t wear his multitude of rings around the house, only the one that had belonged to his father.
Evan had yet to share anything about his family life, but from the snippets he let slip, he knew Evan’s father had passed away, and from what he could tell, he must have meant a lot to him since Evan always wore his ring.
Jesse wondered if he would miss his father if he died.
Considering he didn’t miss him while he was alive, probably not.
Evan hadn’t said much about his mother, but now that he thought about it, he realized even though they talked a lot over the weekend, Evan had mostly asked questions about him and listened quietly as he spilled every detail about himself, while Evan answered his questions with a two sentence maximum.
Jesse shook his head, loathing his big mouth, and vowed he would work harder to draw Evan out more.
It wasn’t that he wanted to pry into his life, he just wanted to know the man behind the persona who stood on stage with a mic in hand, holding thousands of people captive at his every word and movement.
He knew that wasn’t the true Evan. It was as if he were two different men.
The one who shined and smiled for all the world to admire, and the one who lived alone in a secluded mansion where the phone hadn’t rung once over the weekend.
The last thought reminded him he should call Brandon.
Since it was almost noon, Brandon would be at the theatre, but he might still be able to answer his phone.
He opened his cell phone and almost hit the number two to speed dial Brandon out of habit, having momentarily forgotten he bumped everyone’s number down one to put Evan’s cell as the first. He hit three instead.
The phone didn’t get to finish its first ring before Brandon’s voice sounded through the other end.
“Well, well, well, look who finally decided to call.”
Jesse winced, knowing he was in for a scolding. “What’re you talking about? I’ve left you two messages.”
“Yeah, I got your stupid messages!” Brandon raised the pitch of his voice to mimic Jesse’s.
“Hey, asshole, it’s me. Just wanted to let you know I’m running off with some guy to prove to you I can take care of myself!
” His voice deepened back to its normal baritone.
“Fine! I get it! I watch over you too damn much! You know what? Too freakin’ bad, because it’s not going to change! ”
“I knew you’d take the messages like that, but it’s not how I meant them. And I was being honest. I didn’t go running off with just some guy.”
“Oh, that’s right. You went running off with Evan Arden. Real cute, Jess. You have the stupidest sense of humor.”
“I’m not joking. I’m on my way home and if I look in my rearview mirror, I can see him following me.”
“Fine. Then I’ll meet you over there so you can introduce me to him.”
“Now’s not a good time. I’m only running home so I can change, then Kenny and I are going to a meeting at Phoenix Records. They might sign us! Isn’t that awesome?”
“Uh huh,” Brandon said, his voice flat and unbelieving. “Well, whenever you decided to quit this stupid joke, then you can give me a call. Until then, think about what you put me through the past couple days. Talk to you later.”
“Brandon, wait! Don’t hang up like that!” Jesse listened to the silence on the other end. “Are you still there?”
“I’m not talking until you quit being a moron.”
Jesse took a deep breath, willing his voice to come out as calm as possible.
“How about this? If everything goes good at Phoenix, then all of us will go out to celebrate, and I’ll introduce you to Evan, that way you can feel like a major jackass and learn to believe me when I tell you I’m not joking. ”
“For your sake, he better at least look a little like Evan Arden with the way you’ve been clinging to this dumb joke.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Fine. Bye.”
Jesse hung up his phone to the satisfying mental image of flinging it out the driver’s side window and watching it crash and roll across the pavement. He swung onto his street, found a place to park where Evan could park behind him, and hopped out of his truck.
Evan met him at the tailgate and took off his sunglasses, looking up at Jesse’s apartment building, the brick discolored from years of city grime.
He glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the stained and weathered structures on the street.
Most of the buildings seemed somewhat inhabited, though nearly every one had sheets of plywood covering a few windows.
The majority of cars on the street were battle-scarred derelicts that looked like they hadn’t seen a carwash since they were built.
A young woman with a black eye and cracked lip staggered across the street toward a group of young guys throwing dice, her blond hair hanging in limp strands around her skeletal face.
The vinyl purple miniskirt she wore was askew on her bony hips, her white halter top barely fit her flat chest. She fell into one of the guys, offering to let him do whatever he wanted for twenty bucks.
In a look of disgust, the guy shoved her away, and she slunk off with his cursing chasing her.
“I see what you meant now by saying this isn’t that bad of a neighborhood.” Evan grabbed Jesse’s guitar and bass from the truck. “The crack whore and gang bangers really create a nice ambiance.”
“There’re worse neighborhoods.” Jesse hefted Kenny’s two guitars and led the way inside. “Sorry, I’m on the third floor and the elevator’s broken.”
Evan glanced at the yellow paint peeling off the walls of the stairwell.
They reached the third floor and walked down a short hall. Jesse set one of the guitars outside his apartment and turned to Evan. “Hey, I’m not sure how Kenny’s going to react to knowing that it was you I spent the weekend with, so try and stay cool if he freaks, okay?”
Evan looked at him, confused. “Doesn’t he know you play with guys?”
Jesse lifted one hand, teetering it back and forth. “Yeah, but we don’t really talk about it, and I’ve never brought anyone home. Of course, I’ve never met anyone worth bringing home, but that’s neither here nor there. What I’m trying to say is, don’t take it personal if he gets a little funny.”
Evan chuckled softly. “Great.”
Jesse cracked the door open. Kenny flung it the rest of the way.
“I’m gonna beat your…” Kenny stopped, his eyes off Jesse and on Evan.
“Kenny, you remember Evan from the other night, don’t you?” Jesse said, walking inside. “So you see, your guitars were more than safe. Navy SEALs couldn’t break into Ev’s house with the security he’s got.”
Kenny stared at Jesse, the realization of what he was saying sinking in. He stood dumbstruck, his honey-brown eyes round, his mouth agape.
Evan held out his hand to him. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you this Saturday, but you’re a real slick guitar player.”
Kenny looked down at Evan’s hand. Tentatively, he took it, muttering, “Thanks.”
Evan nodded and moved to Jesse’s side as he sat on the couch.
Kenny’s gaze darted back and forth between them. “You mean, you two, but he’s…he’s…” He collapsed down in a chair next to the couch, rubbing one hand through his shaggy, dark blond hair.
Jesse leaned toward Evan. “I think his little hamster is running too fast on its wheel. He’s about to have a meltdown.”
Evan smirked at him. “I can’t believe you two are in a band together. Sometimes you can’t shut up and this poor guy can’t even get words out.”
“Hey!” Jesse reprimanded him with a light shove on the shoulder. He looked back to Kenny. “Yes, Kenny, he’s Evan Arden. What’s the big deal?”
Kenny shook his head and looked away from him. “Just go get ready.”
Jesse gazed at him for a moment, then slowly rose from the couch. He gave Evan a look asking if he would be okay, to which Evan flicked his hand in a shooing gesture. Jesse headed toward his bedroom, glancing back at them before stepping in to change.
Evan sat quiet, feeling the tension swirling in the room like a heavy invisible fog.
This was not something he was used to. Since he rarely stuck around long enough to say “good morning” to his lovers, he never had to deal with meeting their friends or family, and really, he never wanted to.
It was too committal. But with Jesse, it seemed perfectly natural to meet the people in his life.
He just hadn’t anticipated obstacles like this.
Kenny cleared his throat. “So, do you, uh, like Chicago?”
Though he could hear how uncomfortable Kenny was by the tone of his voice, Evan smiled at his attempt at conversation. “Yeah, it’s a nice town.”
“Are you here long? I thought I heard once that you lived in New York.”
“I live here now. I just bought a house up by Evanston.”
“That’s a haul from up there all the way down here.”
“I don’t mind it, but I’m worried Jess’s truck won’t make the trip too many more times.”
“I’m surprised it made it once. I’ve been telling him to get something better, but he can’t really afford anything newer.”
Evan nodded.
Silence filled the room again.
Jesse’s bedroom door opened. A rush of relief washed through Evan at Jesse’s reappearance.
He craned his head around to look at him, his body warming at the sight.
Jesse had changed into a pair of black dress pants and a midnight blue button down shirt of light, airy material that flowed around his slender torso and drew out the indigo in his eyes.
He’d used hair wax to accentuate the layers, and it all combined to give him a look of trendy sophistication.