Half Notes and Highlights (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)

CHAPTER EIGHT

The afterparty in Seattle was off the hook. It was one of Ethan’s favorite cities, and he was feeling the effects of the alcohol. Add in the adrenaline rush of tonight’s show, and he was flying high. But his good time was cut short because they needed to leave for Spokane.

The guys all stumbled onto the bus and plopped onto the couch, except Marshall, who went to the refrigerator and grabbed four bottles of beer. The bus took off as he was heading back to the guys in the living area, and he almost went flying. Somehow, he managed not to drop any of the bottles in his hands because Harris, who had the reflexes of a cat despite his alcohol consumption tonight, jumped up and steadied Marshall, saving their beverages, and Marshall, from crashing to the floor.

“Whoa! Take it easy,” Harris called to the bus driver, who apologized before returning his attention back to the road.

With Harris’ help, Marshall distributed the beer. The guys clinked their bottles together, except Ethan and Wolf, who had their own ritual of nudging their shoulders together instead of their drinks.

“That was a killer party,” Wolf commented. “I can’t believe we had to run out of there so fast. Did you see that guy with the long blonde hair who was all over me?” he asked Ethan.

The beautiful man had Wolf’s attention from the moment they arrived at the club, and the two had been going at it on one of the couches. “Sure did,” Ethan replied. “I thought you were going to bring him back to the bus with you.”

“I wanted to. We could’ve had a really good time.” Wolf smiled at Ethan, because Ethan was definitely included in that good time. “I asked him,” Wolf continued. “But he didn’t want to take the ride to Spokane.”

“That’s too bad.” Most fans would jump at the chance to accompany the band on the tour bus, especially with illicit intentions, and wouldn’t care which city they ended up in. No one was being dropped off to fend for themselves. Everyone knew they were getting carfare home. This guy probably had someone to go home to, so it was better off. Ethan couldn’t keep count of the number of times a fan slipped into their dressing room or tour bus after the show for a quickie, only to run out in a frenzy because some poor unsuspecting partner was waiting for them. He hated when that happened because it was fucked up, but it wasn’t his responsibility to check the morals of guys offering a blow job or begging for a threesome.

A loud ear-piercing shriek came from the back of the bus, and everyone jumped. It was Harris, who was standing near his bunk jumping around with arms flailing and screeching. Wolf was hysterical, rolling on the couch and falling into Ethan, while Ethan and Marshall watched their friend freak out.

Harris finally calmed down and started huffing deep breaths. He marched back toward the guys and threw something at them that looked like a black rope. “You fucking suck! You almost gave me a fucking heart attack!”

Ethan saw the mechanical snake and burst out laughing. He remembered Wolf had pointed it out in the window of the gift shop in the hotel lobby, but he had no idea Wolf purchased it and planted it in Harris’ bunk.

Wolf was slapping Ethan’s knee now. “Did you see him dance like his boots were on fire?”

“Not funny!” Ethan stopped laughing long enough to reply, pointing to his burned arm, but it only made Wolf laugh harder. The guy couldn’t even catch his breath to speak, so he put one arm around Ethan’s neck in a hug and took Ethan’s arm in his other hand and kissed the scarred skin a bunch of times.

Marshall picked up the mechanical snake, which was still writhing and sticking its tongue in and out, and taunted Harris with it, who let out a few more shrieks and jumped back.

Wolf couldn’t stop laughing, and now Ethan was laughing so hard his eyes were tearing. The two fell into one another, enjoying the prank way too much.

“Fuck you,” Harris said, and stomped into his bunk.

“I’m out too,” Marshall added, and left Ethan and Wolf alone on the couch.

Eventually, the two stopped laughing, but it really took a minute.

“Oh my God.” Ethan wiped the corners of his eyes as a few laughs broke through. “My side hurts. That was hysterical. Why didn’t you tell me you planned that?”

Wolf wrapped his arm over Ethan’s shoulder and neck and pulled him closer. “I wanted the element of surprise. I got him good!”

“Wheeew !” Ethan sighed and leaned his forehead against Wolf’s. “That did me in.” He motioned toward the bunks with his chin. “Want to go to bed?”

“You know it.”