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

Chapter 21

twenty-one

SEBASTIAN

T he music feels too loud.

Too loud? What the fuck? Each beat hammers through my body, the bass shaking the platform beneath my feet as we play our set. I can barely focus, the familiar motions now a struggle. The neon lights flash across the crowd, a sea of writhing bodies moving as one, but it’s like we can’t connect with their energy tonight. We’re off, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Within forty-eight hours, our stage performance with Luna had gone viral. The backlash had been more intense than I was prepared for, and all of it was directly aimed at Luna. Jealousy, bitterness, and slut-shaming littered the comments online, with some taking to social media to bash her, yet turn around and praise us. It didn’t make sense.

Damn it, I really don’t want to be here.

It’s been four weeks—a full month—and not a single DM answered or even read. Her social media has been silent. No post, no stories, no cute little videos of her bouncing around onstage. I’m going insane. Four fucking weeks feels like an eternity since Luna has been between us. I miss how her curves filled my hands. She offered us the challenge of finding her, but I don’t even know where to start.

My eyes scan the crowd before landing on the profile of my best friend, Xavier. My face mirrors the look on his. I find myself looking at him more intensely since our night with Luna. That night it felt like all the pieces were finally snapping together, but this unspoken thing had happened, and we’ve yet to discuss it. Which isn’t our style. We’ve always had each other. We love each other and that was enough. The secret of us has finally become overwhelming.

Fuck, we really shouldn’t have agreed to play tonight. We both jumped at the opportunity, thinking it was a good idea to get out and stop sulking. We accepted Brian’s offer to play Craic in Las Vegas. Thank God the crowd hasn’t picked up on our low vibe. They move as one massive wave—jumping, dancing, and moving across the floor.

Xavier’s golden eyes catch mine as he nods once before sending the crowd into a final climax and into chaos. Last song. Just a few more minutes.

“Thank you for joining us tonight!” Xav says quickly, mustering as much enthusiasm as possible. Restlessness is evident all over his face, revealing his frustration. We both quickly make our way offstage, hoping to get the hell out of here as soon as possible.

“What the fuck is up with you two tonight?” Brian MacCarthy—Mac to his friends—admonishes as he plants himself in front of us. At 6’4’’ and 250 pounds of pure muscle, Mac is an Irish god among men, thick everywhere with his long black hair pulled back into a tight bun. But it’s the scowl on his face and the burning gray eyes that makes me want to turn and run.

“What are you talking about, Mac?” I try to say calmly, but even I can hear the defensiveness in my voice.

“Boy-o, ya know what I’m talking about.” He sighs. “Look mate, I know ya took this gig because you’re my mates. But you don’t have to do me any favors.” I wince hard.

Xavier speaks before I have a chance. “Mac—” He stops as his hand scrubs down his tired face, covered in a beard that was looking too unkempt. “We took this gig because we love what you’ve built here. This is our home away from home, and you built that! We’re proud of you, dude. It’s just been a weird couple of weeks.”

He glances between us, trying to dig deeper. Stupid fucker always was too perceptive for his own good. “This have to do with Luna Sparks?” he asks. My eyes move quickly to his. He stares back, unblinking, with one dark eyebrow raised in something close to amusement.

His laughter booms as he finally breaks. “Do you even realize that you’re in Vegas? Your bluffing is shite. Better do with a drink in, yeh,” he finishes as he wipes a tear from his eye.

My eyes narrow on his face and we share a quick look between the two of us. His laughter instantly stops.

“Oh, calm yourself,” he says, raising his hands innocently. “It’s not my fault your little Valentine’s Day moment had a ‘moment.’” He uses his fingers for quotations. My eyes roll to the ceiling as if on instinct. If he only knew what kind of “moment” we had.

The sight of her on her knees with a mouth full of my cum instantly floods my mind as all the blood rushes to my cock. Closing my eyes tightly, I shake the image from my mind.

“Look, we’re going to get our shit together. I’m sorry for tonight,” Xavier finally says, resigned.

“Are you for real? I don’t want your bleeding apology. I just want to make sure you’re both alright. Trust me when I say I know what it’s like to have that unwanted media attention.” He rests one hand on both of our shoulders before he moves away quickly without saying another word.

“Well, that was fun,” I mutter quietly, running my hand through my dark hair. “Can we please get the fuck out of here?”

“Gladly,” Xavier answers, before turning around and bumping directly into the person behind him.