Half Notes and Highlights (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)

CHAPTER TEN

“I haven’t seen you since you’ve been back. I can’t believe how fast the week went by. How was Portland?” Iris asked, holding a Vitamin Water and leaning on the railing that separated their balconies.

Tyler’s heart was reeling at the memory. “Flying in the jet was incredible. I felt so important. The show was amazing. Ethan is fire on stage. The crowd was full of energy. The afterparty at a dance club was jumping. We had hot hotel room and dressing room sex.” Recounting the events of the last couple of days filled him with another heart-pounding rush of excitement as he relived the experience for a second time, and he needed to take a breath. “Harris and Marshall, Ethan’s drummer and guitarist, are cool. But Wolf is an absolute asshole.”

Iris leaned closer, ready for an earful of juicy gossip. “Tell me more.”

“Let’s just say he was totally intimidated by me, and although I was perfectly cordial, he was a bitch with a capital “B”. Then I overheard him telling Ethan I was extra, and he had the nerve to make fun of my leather pants. Can you imagine anyone making fun of these?” He jutted his hip in Iris’ direction. “Feel.”

She tentatively reached out, a quirky smile on her lips, but once she felt the supple softness of the custom-made leather, all her shyness disappeared, and she caressed his outer thigh. “Nice!”

“I’m not even going to get into the workmanship of them. They’re exquisite. I don’t know what his problem is.”

“I need details. What did he say, and what did you say? And what did Ethan say?”

While Iris ate up the juicy word-for-word reenactment, Tyler began to wonder about his choice of leather in the hot West Coast sun. “I know I stand out. That’s exactly what I’m aiming for when I get dressed, but are my leather pants out of place in California? I’ve been wearing them for years. Not the same pair. I have over a dozen pairs that cost a small fortune.” If he wasn’t going to wear leather pants, he had no idea what he was going to wear. Jeans? He practically gasped at the idea.

“They look great on you, Tyler. I can’t deny that. But they’re a little out of place in 85-degree LA heat. In a club they’d fit in, though.”

Tyler wasn’t worried about fitting in. He didn’t care what people thought. He never did. Even as a little boy, he wore some pretty outlandish outfits to school. His parents were open-minded and embraced his uniqueness, so he was free to be whoever he wanted to be. They couldn’t contain him if they tried. But he didn’t want to look like a tourist either. California was his home now, and he needed to dress according to the climate, which was very different from New York. He looked at Iris and the people walking up and down the street below. Almost everyone was wearing shorts and flip-flops. The footwear was a hard no, but shorts— that he could pull off. “We’re going shopping.”

A few hours later, they returned with three shopping bags full of clothes. Melrose Avenue had everything he could ever want.

As he dumped everything out on the bed, Iris sifted through his purchases. “Some of this stuff is great. Like these.” She held up a pair of leopard print short shorts. “I’d make a fortune in tips if I wore these. But I’m not as daring as you.”

“Why not? You’d look fab in any of this stuff.”

She made a face that asked if he were crazy and held up a strappy leather crop top from his purchases. “Even you are going to be pushing boundaries wearing this.”

He grinned. “I love to push boundaries.”

“I’m learning that.”

He pulled a pair of jeans from the pile and inspected them. “I can’t remember the last time I wore jeans.”

“They’re going to be a lot more comfortable. You’ll see.”

He decided to try them on again and quickly started to undo the laces on his leather pants.

“Hey!” Iris shielded her eyes and turned around.

“It’s OK. I’m wearing a thong.”

She sputtered a small laugh but didn’t turn around until Tyler told her it was safe. “They look good on you.”

He studied himself in the full-length mirror. The jeans were tight and hugged every inch of him, and there was give in the denim and they flexed with his body as he did a few squats to test their elasticity. And he was able to find them in several fun colors. It was a nice change from the leather he always wore. He pulled the zipper up and down like a new toy and laughed aloud. No more lacing and unlacing whenever he needed to use the can! “I think I’m gonna like wearing these.”

Iris sighed and picked up her handbag. “I had fun today, but now I have to go to work. If you’re up to it later, stop by the bar for a drink.”

“I’m exhausted. I just want to soak in a hot bath, but I’ll see how I feel. My feet are killing me.”

“You’re wearing boots, Tyler. You didn’t buy any footwear. You need tennis shoes.”

“I don’t play tennis,” he chided, knowing that she was referring to sneakers—which he never wore—and he wasn’t buying flip-flops. Sorry, he wasn’t a foot person and preferred his to be covered.

“Enjoy your bath,” Iris called as she left Tyler’s apartment.

He stared down at all his new purchases with renewed energy. Maybe he would go out for a few drinks after all, but once he settled into the deep soaking tub, surrounded by tons of bubbles and the fragrant lavender-scented candles, he didn’t want to move. Eventually, his fingers got all pruney, his neck started to cramp, and the clip pinning his hair on top of his head felt like a vice.

Once he dried off, he wrapped himself in his robe and fuzzy slippers. The robe was nothing like the giant marshmallow cloud that the hotel in Portland provided, and he reminisced about the luxurious amenities and perks of dating a rock star.

After making a cup of hot cocoa—because he didn’t care that it was 78 degrees outside, cocoa was his jam—he sat in front of the TV and started flipping through the channels. He was about to switch to Netflix when a picture of Wolf Pack appeared on the screen. It was a late-night entertainment news show, and they put together a compilation of the highlights of tonight’s concert in Denver.

The video opened with a broad view of the stage and the first 10 or so rows of the audience, all cheering like crazy, then the camera zoomed in on Ethan. Both hands clutched the mic at his lips, his chin jutted toward the ceiling, and his eyes were focused somewhere up above. His skin glistened under the heat of the lights which enveloped him in a hazy fog. His black hair and even blacker eyes accentuated that strong, square jaw of his and those flawless cheekbones.

Tyler’s blood raced more and more as each second passed. He leaned forward on the edge of the couch cushion, clutching his cup, while he watched this charismatic and talented man sing.

The camera panned out and then focused on Harris behind the drums for a bit, pounding away and spinning his sticks. Then it showcased Marshall, standing on a small platform at the front of the stage and taunting the crowd with his killer guitar playing. The camera returned to Ethan, who was singing directly to Wolf now. Wolf’s eyes never left Ethan’s as he plucked on his bass, and Ethan was looking straight back at him. The two were sharing a connection that jumped out at you right through the television screen. It was undeniable and in your face. And Tyler didn’t like it. Not. One. Bit.

A weird feeling stirred in Tyler’s gut as he intently watched Wolf’s face inch closer to Ethan’s as he continued singing the lyrics. Then, it happened. Tyler couldn’t tell who initiated it, but the next thing he knew, Ethan and Wolf were sharing a kiss that exuded lust and passion. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but it was intense and exaggerated and the fans went wild. The crowd roared and whooped, and then it was over. Wolf pranced over to his side of the stage and Ethan leaned into the crowd and slapped the palms of the eager outstretched hands.

A surge of jealousy and heat rose in Tyler’s chest like a volcano. “Motherfucker!” He jumped to his feet and threw his cup of cocoa at the flatscreen. It immediately went black, his mug shattered, and hot, chocolate liquid covered everything.

He stood there too stunned to move. First, what the fuck? And second, he just broke his TV and his favorite mug. Probably five minutes went by while his thoughts catapulted around his head before he calmed down enough to think sensibly. He and Ethan had discussed this. They’re not in a committed relationship. He knew Ethan has a friends with benefits thing going on with Wolf. They’re both free to see other people. And that’s exactly what Tyler wants. He didn’t want to be tied down. Or . . . does he?

He shook his head to clear it because he didn’t have time to go into those feelings right now. He needed to focus on his reaction. He’s had his fair share if hissy fits in his life. He was always a drama queen. But the anger and betrayal he felt were uncalled for. He should have been more hurt than angry. Maybe it was just seeing them together that caused his temper to flare. Or maybe it was because it somehow meant that Wolf won. Tyler left Portland feeling as if he had the upper hand. Now, Wolf clearly had control of the wand.

Tyler grunted and placed his fist on his hip while his mind worked on double time thinking of ways to get the ball back in his court. He narrowed his eyes and addressed Wolf through the blank flatscreen. “You haven’t been up against the likes of Tyler Kennedy before. You . . . you . . . you . . . wolf!”

Without bothering to clean up the mess, he found his phone and called Ethan. Luckily it hadn’t been in his hand when he saw the now infamous kiss heard round the world or it would have been as smashed as his mug of cocoa.

It took three rings before Ethan answered. “Hey, baby! I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.”

“Hey yourself, rock star. I missed you,” Tyler said, laying on the charm in his most sultry voice. “I had such an amazing time in Portland that everything seems so dull here now.”

“Dull? How could anything be dull when you’re in the room?”

“Because you’re not here with me. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. I think about you all the time when we’re not together.”

Tyler scoffed, as the image of Ethan kissing Wolf on stage flashed in his head.

“It’s true. You don’t believe me?”

Tyler needed a second to calm down and swallow his jealousy so he could slip back into his usual good mood. “What do you think about?”

“I think about the first day we met. The day you cut my hair.”

The answer surprised Tyler, and he wanted to hear more. “Really? Why?”

“Because I had no idea what to expect. I was so mad and so upset. I had this horrible burn on my arm, but I didn’t care about it because I was climbing the walls about my hair. I wanted to somehow salvage the length, and Paul told me that if anyone could fix it, it would be you. And then you wanted to cut it all off. I almost jumped out of the chair, but you talked me off a ledge. I have no idea how you did it, but you calmed all the crazy and frustrating emotions that were spiraling out of control inside me. Not to mention that you were the cutest little thing I’d ever seen. You had this effervescence that bathed the room. It was overpowering. It was like I forgot everything bad that happened and you were presenting me with a whole new image. A makeover I wasn’t expecting. You transformed not just my look, but my mood too. How’d you do that?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Tyler replied, modestly, not expecting the elaborate answer. “I was just being myself and taking control of the situation. I know hair, and I knew you’d look hot with your hair framing your face instead of overshadowing it. You’re gorgeous. The hair doesn’t make you beautiful. It frames your beauty.”

“No. You make me beautiful. Because you’re beautiful. Inside and out.”

Tyler inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. This call definitely turned out way better than expected. It started out as catty payback. A way to get Ethan thinking about him instead of Wolf. It did that, but it did so much more. It opened the door in Tyler’s heart a little wider. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me.”

“It’s true.”

“I wish I was there right now. I miss you more now than before I called.”

“I wish you were here now too. Maybe . . . I don’t know. It’s crazy, but I really want to see you.”

“I have to be at the studio tomorrow. I have appointments. But I’m free on the weekend.”

“That’s four days away.” Ethan paused. “Let me see what I can do.”

Tyler raised a brow and couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “Are you thinking about flying here for a few hours? That’s insane. We can wait four days.”

A long groan came through the phone. “It’s killing me to be away from you. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“You just keep thinking about me, because I’m right here. A phone call away. Call me whenever you want.”

“You mean I can call you every day?”

“Of course. But only if you want to.”

“You won’t get sick of me?”

“Um. No. I don’t think so. But if I do, I’ll let you know.”

A soft chuckle came through the phone. “You’re so adorable.”

Tyler couldn’t believe the pang in his heart at the way the call turned out, or how much Ethan seemed to care about him. “I think you’re pretty adorable too.”

***

Tyler woke to his phone ringing at six in the morning. After the call with Ethan last night, which lasted well over an hour, he didn’t get to sleep until after two. He’d been too wound up, but once he fell out, he slept like the dead. So, the early wakeup call had his panties in an uproar. “This better be an emergency,” he barked into the phone without bothering to check the caller ID.

“It is,” Ethan answered. “I’m having chest pains.”

Tyler bolted upright in bed. “Call an ambulance!”

“Nope. It’s a pain only your voice can cure.”

A relieved breath left Tyler’s lungs along with a small laugh. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack? What are you doing up so early?”

“We have an appearance on a morning show. I hate those.”

“Did you sleep, or have you been up all night?”

“I passed out right after we got off the phone. I usually don’t sleep well on the bus. Too bumpy or too many bandmates screwing around.”

Tyler wondered if that meant literally screwing around.

“But I slept like a baby after we hung up,” Ethan continued. “I didn’t wake up until Paul boarded and shouted that we needed to leave in 30 minutes.”

“Where are you now?”

“In a car on the way to the studio. We’re performing three songs. What’s on your agenda for today?”

“I have appointments, including an actor whose name I can’t disclose and one of my West Coast contacts—a rich lady who still rocks a modern and edgy style at 62. I imagine I’ll be like her when I get older—still trendy and never slowing down. My plan is to rock every gray hair and wrinkle I get. Wait. That’s a lie. I see lots of hair dye and Botox in my future.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. How old are you? 25?”

“Yes. That’s exactly right. I’m 25. You’re incredibly accurate. Do you want to pick the winning lottery numbers?” Tyler quickly answered. In truth, he was pushing his way into the next decade, but if he could keep that under wraps, he would.

“Really? Me too.”

“You’re 25?” Tyler knew Ethan was young. Despite that strong jaw and incredible bone structure, Ethan had a baby face.

“Yeah. We’re the same age.”

“OK. OK. You coerced it out of me. I lied. I’m 29. And a half.” Tyler wiped his brow. It felt good to get that off his chest.

“I’m dating an older man?”

“Just call me Gramps.”

Someone shouted in the background and Ethan huffed. “Sorry, Gramps. I gotta go. We’re here. What time do you think you’ll be done with your appointments? I’ll try to call you back.”

“I should be done by four. I’ll be waiting for your call, rock star. Think about me while you seduce the camera.”

“I always do.”