Love in the Mix (Love in the Mix #1)

Chapter 4

four

XAVIER

I lay sprawled across our leather couch as the setting sun casts a warm glow through the oversized windows of our living room. My fingers absently scroll through my phone, even though my mind’s a million miles away.

Growing up, I was one of those kids who just knew I had it all. My parents, pillars of the community and old money, would shower me with love and opportunity. Showing me off to their friends, encouraging my passion for music. Pushing me further by buying me my first set of turntables for my thirteenth birthday. Life was sweet.

Then I lost it all. The night they found us together.

Sebastian, my best friend. The boy they'd once considered a second son. The man I'd fallen hard for.

Dad's face when he found out? Man, I can still see it. Mom tried to smooth things over, but it was useless. They made me choose: them or Sebastian. Easiest decision ever. I picked love. I picked him.

I haven’t regretted it for a single minute. It’s been years. But the ache of my father's rejection still lingers, a dull pain I've learned to live with.

I hate that I miss him, hate that he doesn’t realize I’m still the same man he raised. Even more than that now. It's been years, but damn, sometimes I still miss my old man. Mom and I talk, but it's not the same. Quick chats that leave me wanting more, like parents who actually give a shit.

Imagine that.

Sebastian and I continue to work our asses off to prove that we are worth more than the value our parents place on us. We're solid. We've got this amazing home together, dating around, sharing when we feel like it, but always coming home to each other. This place we've built? It's ours. We can be us here.

Something on my phone catches my eye. DJ Luna Sparks. Holy shit, she's back!

Luna burst onto the scene a while back. Her energy was insane, addictive. Then poof, she vanished. Until tonight.

Club Nero. Thank God, she's back onstage again. The video on my phone loops as it plays a short thirty second clip of her set. The crowd moves right along with her as she brings them right to the peak. The roar increases as she turns around and takes a shot from a tray behind her, throwing it back quickly as she sends the music tumbling over.

The clip starts again, and I mute the sound, just taking her in. That smile, those dimples. Sweat-slicked bangs, wild curls. The way her throat moves as she swallows the shot has my cock hardening in my sweats. Wonder how that would feel?—

“Bro, what the fuck are you doing?” Sebastian’s voice pulls me back to reality and reflex has my phone leaving my hands and spiraling across the room. Busted.

“What? I’m not doing anything!” My words come out too fast and I know I’m now fucked.

“Oh, you’re not doing anything, huh? What’s on your phone then?” He makes a dive for it as I scramble up from the couch. He pushes me back by my forehead and grabs my phone from the floor.

“No! Give it back!” I yell before lunging at him, trying to swat the phone out of his hands.

“Are you watching some kind of weird porn? Let me see!” He’s able to evade my hands long enough to bring my phone to his face.

“Ohhhh,” he says, amusement filling his bright green eyes as he stares at the screen. “This is the first time I’ve seen her in a long time.” He clicks on the video and brings the volume all the way back up.

“DJ Luna Sparks! Do you hear that crowd?”

“Yes, asshole, I hear them,” I growl, attempting to snatch my phone from his hands.

“Fuck, she’s hot. Did you see how she took that shot? Yes, mommy,” he moans, finally handing me back my phone.

“Will you knock it off?” I say, slapping the back of his head harshly.

“Ow, babe, what the fuck?” He rubs at the back of his head, messing up his shaggy brown hair.

I glare directly into his eyes. “That’s what you get for not knocking.”

“You’re in the fucking living room! In OUR house! What do you mean knock?” Well shit, he had a point, but he can’t know that.

“Whatever.” I throw myself back onto the couch to resume my scroll.

“You know, we have that open spot for the Valentine’s show. You could always ask her to fill it.” His eyebrows wiggle suggestively as he smirks at me.

“You know Savannah is trying to get Ruby whoever to fill it.” I release a deep sigh. I could not want to be around someone less than her. Luna would be a much better choice.

“This is our show, not Savannah’s. Just send her a little message and invite her.” The look on my face gives away my distress before I can even control it. “What’s going on with your face?” he asks with a voice full of curiosity.

“Remember when we were in Amsterdam a few months ago?” I’m avoiding his gaze as much as possible.

“You mean when we decided two molly and a bottle of gin would keep us running for twenty-four hours?” My stomach automatically heaves.

“Could you not? I never want to drink gin again.”

“Yeah, whatever. What about it?” His impatience leaks through his tone with every word.

“Well… I might’ve, sorta, sent her a super corny message and she never even read it.” Embarrassment floods my veins, realizing just how far gone I already am for someone I’ve never met.

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait,” Sebastian chokes out, attempting to keep himself from laughing.

“You’re telling me… that you—DJ Xav—slid into DMs and were ignored?” He barely gets the final word out before a belly laugh takes over.

“Fuck you, dude,” I spit at him, moving to get off the soft leather couch and back towards my room. His footsteps accelerate behind me, approaching me quickly before I feel his entire body land against my back. My teeth clench as my cheek lands hard against the rough carpet. Using my hands, I buck my ass up and throw Sebastian off of me, flipping over as I grab his flailing limbs—he can’t fight for shit—and pin his arms above his head. After securing my leg over his waist, I sit down fully on his stomach.

“Are you actually insane?” I ask, bending over to keep his arms immobilized.

“Look I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to laugh at you. I’m just surprised. You can get any woman you want. Have you looked at you?” His body is completely lax under my own, his eyes on mine. God, he is beautiful. His dark brown hair and jade green eyes really draw you in. My thoughts of him begin to stray like they always do. I move my hips from his stomach to grind into his lap. His eyes flutter shut and a soft moan escapes his mouth. The smirk on my face is smug, knowing that he’s so easy. My pretty boy likes to be my little play thing. I release his wrists, grinding down one last time before pushing myself to my feet, bringing him with me.

“It’s embarrassing. Not only what I said, but the fact that I was rolling my balls off? Dude, I’m fucking twenty-nine years old. I should be better than that.”

“Why are you being so dramatic? We all do stupid shit while impaired.”

“But—”

“I would love to just stand here and throw a pity party with you, but we have a new song to produce, so…” He turns quickly and begins striding down the hall. Watching him walk away was a simple perverted pleasure in life, and I never deprive myself of the simple things. Stopping halfway down the hallway, he turns to speak. “You can let this Ruby whoever open, or you can say fuck it and give it one more try. What’s the worst she could say? No?” He smirks and begins walking again. “I’ll meet you in the studio in ten!” He calls out over his shoulder. “Just so you know, if you do decide to invite her, plan to share.”