“I really want to see you,” Ty sounds gruff. And sad. Mostly sad. I share the sentiment. Those couple of days we had when I was back in Summerset for exams weren’t nearly enough.
“I know.” I sigh. “Just hold on, okay? The tour ends in ten weeks, then we have four months of rehearsals and shit in LA before our own one hits. We can do ten weeks, can‘t we? The hardest part is almost over.” Swallowing, I try to stay positive, smile, even though my nerves are going haywire on the inside, too freaking scared that he’ll walk away from me if it gets too hard.
I can hear the uncertainty when he finally answers. “Yes. Yes, Iknowwe can. Ten more weeks.”
“Good. I’m still trying to come sooner than that, though. Okay? I promise you that. Promise me to keep it together for a little while longer, babe. Please?”
“I promise,” he mutters, rubbing his dark, for once cap-less hair, messing it all up way too sexy. “Of course I promise.”
For a moment, I can only stare at that beautiful man of mine, hoping that I can really push the surprise for his birthday and take some of the pain away.
“Ty?”
“Yeah?”
“Tell me something new.”
He smiles instantly, remembering my request from yesterday. “I’m wearing lip gloss for the first time ever.”
My eyes drop to his mouth, and yup, while it’s dark in the car, there’s definitely something glistening there. “Did Manuel put you up to that?” He told me all about his two new neighbors, introduced them even on an earlier call. They sound like fun and I’m glad he’s having some people around who can make him laugh, because it feels like all I can do is make him sad.
I can hear a“no, Bob did!”in the background, but can only focus on my man, who smiles for real again, eyes lit. “Bob said that he’s highly disappointed in me that as a baby gay, I haven’t gone to Tight Spot yet.”
“But you have.” Oh, hehas.I canveryvividly remember how he showed up while I was doing a set with the band in that club. He was all smoldering and determined when he made his way through the audience to get to me, eyes blazing, to show me what he wanted. And what he wanted wasme.
That night is still very special to me. It was the start of this, of us, and yeah, maybe I had a bit of a glitch at one point during our relationship, he was always the one who knew exactly what he wanted, what he still wants, and has never hesitated to show me.
Like I’m going to show him as well, if my plan works out. Because I can’t stand knowing that his smile will diminish once I hang up.
“Ah yes, I told them. But they say it doesn’t count if I don’t at least lose my shirt and get sandwiched by a couple of dudes on the dance floor.”
I snort and try not to feel a stab of jealousy at that. He can dance if he wants to, because didn’t I kinda do the same tonight? Of course he can. I trust him with everything I have. At least he’s trying to have some fun. Heneedsto have fun. It’s his damn birthday.
I just wish it was me who could get plastered all over my gorgeous man in a hot, sweaty dance.
“No worries. Lamar promised to be one half of the sandwich.” He aims his phone at his best friend, who’s seated next to him, sporting the neon-green mesh shirt he stole from his roommate Tuck last year.
“Is thatredlipstick?” I ask, cocking my head. “It kinda suits you.”
“Thank you.” Lamar puckers his lip and smacks a kiss at Ty’s phone. “Manuel said it complemented my coloring? Or whatever the fuck that means.”
“It does,”I hear in the background, probably Manuel, and I snicker.
“Jace?” Ty asks as he aims the camera back to himself.
“Yeah?”
“Tell me something sweet.”
My heart stutters and I can’t contain my smile. “I miss you more than I miss real cheese.”
His dark eyebrows soar. “Cheese?”
“Yes. That orange crap you have here isn’t proper cheese. I’ll take you with me to the Netherlands one day, just to feed you real Gouda, one slice at a time. We can have a whole damn cheese tour while we’re at it. Educate you a bit. They have those, you know.”
His grin is broader now, lips shining with that stupid gloss. “Deal. You can show me all the wonderful things your tiny country offers. I think we’ll be done in half a day.”
“Pssh. Don’t sass my homeland. You’ll love it, I promise.”
