But that meant I’d had a lonely childhood, spent reading and studying, and not much time playing. Not that it was anyone else’s fault but mine, but it still meant I missed out. It was probably a big part of my little persona being spirited and lively.
The other side of that was responsibility. I had to finish this contract. I read it over again. This was the Star Fly paperwork. And, as predicted, it was not standard. At all. It clearly stipulated investment from MH Management, including the full production of their first album, which covered all expenses, such as housing for the band while they were recording. All they got in return were the credits that Jinx had mentioned. That seemed crazy. But they were getting a healthy forty-five percent of the proceeds from the supporting tour, with them opening for Bramble Punk. And that was after concert expenses. They were only required to do one follow-up album after that, which had a clause to revise terms and expenses. The supporting tour for that one had a much smaller percentage, with only twenty percent return. Jinx had assured me they were more interested in pumping up the band in the first two years. And after that, if things went well, they could renegotiate terms.
I double-checked the figures and extras, like interviews and social media expectations. All of that was standard. I was supposed to send the paperwork, but I had a better idea. I wanted to bring it to them in person. I pulled up the tour schedule to figure out how to make it work and still have thecontracts to them on time. Star Fly was already recording at the Miami studio on a handshake, so it had to be soon.
Rubbing my hands together with excitement, I matched up my work to their calendar.
Chapter eighteen
Saxon
Shit happens. I wanted to visit Kay and Donny during their break, but my schedule didn’t work out. I’d taken too much time at Christmas and other people wanted to take off. Well, it felt like bullshit. It had been over two months since all three of us were together. I stormed through the firehouse, nearly blind with unjustified anger.
I headed to my bunk for this shift and ran straight into Colten. “Ow. Dude.” He scowled at me. I was relieved it was him and not someone else who wouldn’t understand.
“Sorry.” I lay back on the mattress with my hands under my head and elbows poking out. Colten kicked my thigh. I wanted a top bunk next time. “Stop it.”
“No. You bust in here all pissed off and shit and ran me over. In fact, you’ve been a miserable ass since Christmas. I thought you liked these guys.” He waved a hand as if my guys were standing there now, which they weren’t, and that was why I was so fucking miserable.
“I like them. Too much.”
“Then why so mad, bro?”
I turned to my side to glare at him. “Because they are not here.” I had seen Donny a couple of times when he had to be in LA for work, but it wasn’t the same without Kay there. I needed them both. “Kay is on tour. And his breaks are spent in Miami.”
“Why? Doesn’t one of them live out here? Why can’t they come out here?”
I shrugged. I hadn’t asked either. Before I thought about it, Mitch called from the kitchen. He’d made a lunch spread. “I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
“Sure, if that’ll get that sourpuss off your ugly mug.” He bumped into my shoulder when I stood.
“I’m trying, but I’m unsure of how to navigate this situation. Seriously, I’m clueless here.”
“I get it. Let me know if I can help.” He grabbed my shoulder and shook me a little. He was the best friend I’d ever had, and he never judged my unconventional choices. We had been friends for a long time, and he knew everything I’d gone through in life. From my parents’ rejection when I came out, to how they didn’t tell me when my sister was sick, and then I had to find out about her death from my cousin.
They’d ignored me completely at the funeral, treating me like it was my fault. It wasn’t. She had cancer. I hadn’t spoken to anyone in the family since, aside from Anders, my cousin, and that was only occasionally. I crammed all of that family drama down where I didn’t have to examine it. Because fuck that and fuck them. “Fuck it. Let’s eat.”
The spread had cold cuts, cheeses, two different kinds of lettuce, tomatoes, baby carrots, chopped broccoli, and a few other finger foods. I grabbed a sub roll and started loading up. Colten did the same, and then we sat to eat. The food was fresh and delicious and one of the best parts of working in a firehouse. There was always great food.
When we finished eating, there was other stuff to do, starting with the daily inspection and maintenance of the truck and equipment. A few other guys were already cleaning up from lunch. No one ever balked at cleaning. We were a well-running machine and prided ourselves on it.
“Hey, Sax…” Colten asked as we worked together to unreel the main hose for our truck.
“Hmm?”
“You should call Donny. When we’re done here. Ask him about this break. Maybe they can come here. At least for part of it. Just…”
“Just what?”
“Don’t do what you normally do and clam up.” He was right that I tended to stop communicating when I was working through shit, especially emotional shit. I’d had a couple of breakups due to that. But in both of those cases, the guys weren’t worth trying to fix it. Donny and Kay, though? They were worth trying not to break it in the first place. “How the fuck did you get so lucky anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“Get real, Sax. You have not one, but two gorgeous men. I mean, come on. Don is…stunning. Model good looks.”
“Well, his mother was a star or something. Did a few movies—”
“Whatever. Because even with how handsome he is with all that bone structure and shit, Kay is a fucking rock star and looks every bit the part. Simply ravishing.”
