Half Notes and Highlights (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)

EPILOGUE

Two Months Later

Backstage in the green room, with everyone present, Ethan debated on whether or not to let his bandmates know that he planned on making an announcement on stage tonight telling the fans to back off. Since the glitter incident, no one’s thrown anything at Tyler, but people are still posting negative comments online that get ugly, and fans are still demanding that Ethan and Wolf get back together.

Ethan could already hear Ruby’s tirade in his head. After Black Rock City, he was livid and wanted to make a statement on air, but she convinced him to let the label handle it. They made a strong statement but obviously not strong enough, and Ethan was sick of reading the attack on his boyfriend on social media. He wanted it to stop.

“Why so pensive?” Tyler’s sweet voice questioned.

“I’m going to tell the fans to back off tonight during the set,” Ethan confessed, his lips to Tyler’s ear. “No one knows.”

Tyler gave him a wary look. “Is that OK? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Ethan loved that Tyler’s first concern was always how the label or Ruby were going to react. The guy was totally selfless, had infinite patience, and was more forgiving than anyone in the world. “I don’t care. I’m tired of the bullshit. You’re my boyfriend, and I don’t want fans treating you with disrespect.”

A cute little smile drew up the corners of Tyler’s mouth. “I don’t care what they say. It doesn’t bother me.”

“The world would be a better place if everyone had your attitude.”

Paul popped his head into the room and announced that it was time to head to the stage, and everyone followed.

Ethan wasn’t exactly sure when he planned to tell the crowd about his relationship status, but he knew it wasn’t going to be at the start of the show. He wanted the fans to be amped up with excitement. Otherwise, the announcement could be a major mood killer and derail the show.

Three songs in proved that the crowd was in high spirits. They pumped their fists and screamed like maniacs, and the adrenaline multiplied as the night progressed.

Ethan shouted the lyrics into the mic, and Wolf thumped out a beat next to him. He nudged his friend with his shoulder and smiled through the next line of the song. Wolf retaliated by pointing the head of the bass at Ethan and poking him once in the arm with it. The crowd roared, hoping for more, but that was it. That’s all it’ll ever be from now on, and the fans needed to accept it.

The set flew by, and they were on their last song of the night, so it was now or never.

“It’s been a fucking pleasure, Cleveland! You’ve been awesome!” Ethan yelled into the mic. “I’m Ethan Jones, and I fucking love being here and performing for everyone, but I couldn’t do it without my best friends and bandmates!” He spread his arms to the sides and turned in a semicircle to include the guys. “Let’s hear it for Harris Young on the drums!” Harris kicked his bass while his sticks sailed across his toms. “On guitar, Marshall Davidson.” Marshall strummed a riff while the crowd cheered. “And on the bass, my best bud, Wolf Wheeler!” Wolf plucked a series of notes while the fans screamed.

Ethan waited for the room to quiet down before he spoke into the mic, “I don’t normally talk about my personal life, but I have something to tell you guys. As you know, Wolf and I have had a longstanding close friendship.” Laughter rumbled in the crowd, since they had a lot more than friendship, but that was in the past. A bunch of people cheered and whistled, craving a show of intimacy between Ethan and Wolf, but that wasn’t going to happen.

“I know you’ve seen me spending time with someone else these last few months, and I want to set the record straight.” Ethan slung his arm over Wolf’s shoulder and kissed the side of his head. “I’ll always love this guy.”

“What are you doing?” Wolf whispered, obviously, realizing what Ethan was about to say, but Ethan ignored him and continued.

“But we’re just friends. I have a new man in my life.” Unhappy grunts and sighs of displeasure filled the room, but Ethan kept going as he placed his hand over his heart, and his face lit up with a smile. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. He’s it for me. He’s my forever. So please be nice, stop with the hateful comments, and respect our privacy.”

A rumble of “Noooo! ” and some mean comments rose from the crowd, and Ethan began to wonder if this wasn’t the best place to make the announcement.

“Quiet down. That’s enough,” Wolf said into the mic, to Ethan’s surprise. “This is our life, and our business. It has nothing to do with the music. Tyler’s a great guy. So be nice to him.”

The crowd was dead silent.

“If you took a second to get to know him,” Wolf continued. “You’d love him too.”

Ethan’s surprise turned to shock when Wolf called Tyler onto the stage.

Tyler’s eyes shot to Ethan’s with uncertainty. Ethan had no idea if this was the right thing to do or not, but Wolf had the fan’s attention, so he nodded.

“Come on,” Wolf called to Tyler, an open arm welcoming him to join the spotlight.

Tyler was hesitant at first, but as soon as he stepped in front of the crowd, his chest puffed out, swagger filled his step, and he sauntered over to Wolf.

With his long hair, low-slung leather pants, bare chest, feather boa, and heavy silver bracelets, Tyler looked like a rock star who belonged on stage with the band.

Murmurs of indecision rose up from the crowd as they waited to hear what was about to happen.

Wolf slung his arm over Tyler’s shoulder and spoke into the mic. “There’s no hard feelings. Tyler and I are friends. I speak for everyone in the band when I say that we’re tired and unhappy at the way some people are treating him. He’s one of us.” Wolf kissed Tyler on the cheek and then whispered something in his ear.

Tyler sauntered over to Ethan, his hips swaying sexily. He slipped his arm around Ethan’s waist and tilted his chin up for a kiss.

Ethan grabbed Tyler’s face in his hands and gave him a deep, hot AF kiss in front of everyone.

The crowd was quiet, until Wolf let out a sexy whistle through the mic. Someone in the audience cheered, then a bunch of other fans joined in.

“I can’t believe he did that,” Ethan whispered.

“I can’t believe I just kissed you on stage and no one is throwing a chair at me,” Tyler joked.

“Now, let’s get back to the music!” Wolf shouted, and the fans screamed.

Tyler threw a kiss into the crowd, sashayed back to the side curtain, and the band continued with the last song of the night which ended with thunderous cheers and applause.

Tyler wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck as soon as he left the stage and gave him a long hug. “That went very well. I’m happy.”

Over Tyler’s shoulder, Ethan spotted Wolf watching them. “Thank you,” he silently mouthed to his friend. Wolf’s intervention and giving his blessing to the relationship, so to speak, seemed to appease the fans. Once it hit social media, because it always hits social media, widespread fan approval was sure to follow.

Wolf nodded his head once in acknowledgement, a small smile on his lips. Vehemence and hostility no longer projected from Wolf’s eyes when he saw Ethan and Tyler together. Instead, there was something that looked like envy and longing going on in Wolf’s gaze. Ethan still worried about his friend and if he was OK, but he knew Wolf would find his someone special, and when he did, he’d know exactly what true love felt like.