36. Will #2
Jesse doesn’t arrive until the next morning.
I’m not sure what to think about how he’s behaving.
It’s worrisome to be sure. He moves robotically, doing everything exactly the right way, but without the heart and soul he’s known for.
It’s like someone carved the softer parts out of him and left only determination behind.
He just wants to get through the show, is what he tells us.
But we can see the truth behind the words—he can only hold on for this long.
None of us asks how he is, because we can see, and I know from experience that acknowledging it isn’t going to help.
Right now, we have a show to do, and you know what they say…
The show must go on.
We finally get a few hours of downtime a couple days before the show.
We’ve all been worn ragged by the endless hours of choreography and staying by Jesse’s side in case he cracks that we’ve basically showered and passed out the moment we get to our rooms each night.
Ari is with me every night, of course, but beyond a few lazy make-out sessions or quick hand jobs in the shower, I wouldn’t say we’re really communicating.
We’re surviving, and later we’ll be able to look back on what I know is going to be a really awesome experience.
It’s an achievement I don’t think any of us ever considered before.
Hell, I don’t think anyone other than Naz and Blake were even interested in doing the show until Jesse found Luc and we all decided that it would be a good opportunity to capitalize on America’s attention.
I’d planned on using our downtime to stay in bed with Ari, and hopefully finally have that talk I’ve been avoiding, but fate has other plans, and we’re interrupted by Naz.
He knocks once before breezing into the room. Should’ve locked that.
“Put your dicks away, we have meddling to do.”
Ari, who was laying across the bed with his head on my stomach, shoots to a sitting position.
“I’m too tired to get it out in the first place. Do it for me.”
“Wha—?” Ari’s gaze dart to me, his eyes wide.
Oh yeah, kinda forgot to tell him Naz knows. Whoops.
“Gross, dude. You’re like my brother—wait, I forgot you’re into that.” Naz jokes.
“Shut up,” I say, and throw a pillow at him. He catches it and dives onto the bed between us, situates the pillow behind him, and lays back with his hands behind his head.
“So, anyway. Luc called.”
Ari’s mouth snaps shut and he perks up. “He did? Why? He wants Jesse back, right? I knew he wouldn’t just?—”
“Dude, let him talk,” I say, laughing.
Naz shrugs. “Pretty much that, actually. He wants to make some kind of grand gesture. Our job is to figure out how to stall Jesse after the game, to give Luc enough time to get to us. Blake is making sure they have a quiet place to talk, and I think Luc’s friends AJ and Shawna are putting something together. ”
“Like what? Filling the room full of roses or something?”
“Hell if I know.”
“Well, find out, because if it’s something like that, they’ll need our help. He doesn’t even like roses, unless they’re black. He likes most black flowers, but he really likes those weird red and orangey tropical flowers that look kind of like fire.”
“How do you know all of that?” I ask. I’ve known Jesse as long as he has, but I didn’t know what kind of flower he likes. I’m not even sure I know what his favorite color is, although I’d assume black or some shade of grey.
“Haven’t you noticed them in all the hotels we’ve been at?”
“I just assumed the hotel did that. There are usually fresh flowers wherever we stay.”
“And they just happen to be the exact same exotic flowers at every hotel?”
I shrug. “We mostly stay at the same chain.”
He shakes his head like there’s something wrong with me.
“Do you have a favorite flower?” I ask Ari, somewhat sheepishly because I feel like I should know. I know that his favorite color is blue, his favorite food is grilled peaches with honey, and he says his favorite band is The White Stripes , but it’s secretly Hootie and The Blowfish .
Ari’s mouth quirks up on one side, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “You really want to know?”
“Well, apparently at least Naz should know, in case I ever want to do some kind of grand gesture thing.”
Ari and Naz both laugh.
“Bro. Not really your thing.”
I frown at Naz. “Says who? I could totally do some romantic shit. You don’t know me.”
“I know what you sound like when Ari does that thing with his finger,” he deadpans.
Ari smacks him. “Naz!”
“What? He’s loud as fuck!”
Ari snorts. “Yeah, he kinda is.”
“I hate both of you.”
“MmmHmm, yeah, okay, big brother .”
“Don’t call me that,” I hiss, feeling my face heat.
“Duuude,” Naz drawls. “That’s just wrong.”
I throw up my hands. “I thought we were meddling in Jesse’s love life, not mine.”
“He does have a point. I guess.” Ari rolls his eyes.
Naz cocks his chin toward the door. “Let’s go talk to Blake while Jesse’s still sleeping, or jerking off with his own tears, or whatever he’s doing in there.”
“That’s fucked up,” I say.
“Yeah, but we’re going to fix it,” he says cheerfully. He really believes we can, and Ari seems like he does, too. I might as well get on the optimism train. If Luc is willing to fight for Jesse, I really don’t think this can fail.
“For the record, my favorite flower is called a Devil’s Tongue ,” Naz says as we’re making our way through the hotel suite.
“That checks,” I deadpan.
“They’re cool as shit, but they smell like it too. Like, they smell like rotting meat.”
“You’re weird.”
“Who’s weird?” The chipper voice behind us startles all three of us. I jump a good two feet away from Ari, and Naz holds a hand up to his chest.
“Bro.”
Emmy rolls his eyes at Naz, then flicks his eyes between me and Ari before raising his eyebrow and giving us an amused look.
“Okay, so everyone knows then,” I huff under my breath.
Ari just smiles at Emmy. He’s always liked him. We all do, but Ari enjoys his company the most. It makes sense, in some ways. They’re both pretty. Both smaller guys that come off super sweet, but if you piss them off, they’re terrifying.
“Are y’all here to see Blake? He should be wrapping up a phone call right about now,” he says, using a keycard to open the door and escort us in.
Blake is sitting at the small table with an empty mug, his laptop, a tablet, and several notepads covered in sticky notes. His phone is in his hand, but he doesn’t seem to be talking on it.
He looks at Naz. “You tell them the plan?”
“Not yet, thought we could talk it out together. Ari has feelings about flowers.”
“It matters!” He looks at Emmy. “What’s your favorite flower?”
“Um. Zucchini blossoms actually” Emmy says, his cheeks pinking a little. It’s a unique choice, I’ll give him that. “They’re pretty. And they taste good fried.” He does a little shoulder shimmy that’s pretty damn cute.
Blake must agree with me, because from the corner of my eye, I notice him looking at his assistant with what can only be described as heart eyes. He’s almost smiling, and there’s a little glint in his eye like Emmy just said something super endearing.
I fucking knew it!
Everyone knows Emmy has a thing for Blake. He’s only recently learned how to stand near him without blushing and we’ve all caught him staring at Blake like he wants to worship him. On his knees.
But I’ve noticed Blake checking Emmy out a time or two, too. More than that, whenever Emmy does something awesome—which is often—he stares at him like he’s some kind of enigma.
Blake notices me watching him and clears his throat. “Alright, well, let’s get to it.”