Tommy laughed lightly. “Yeah, hard to find someone that trustworthy here. Everyone wants to steal my underwear.”
“’Cause you have such great taste in underwear or something?” Ru teased.
“I do!”
“I’ll have to borrow some then, maybe Adam will like it,” Ru teased.
Tommy wrinkled his nose. “Gross. No borrowing undies. On that note, tell me about Wednesday night with Adam,” Tommy said, changing the subject. “I left you two alone. You locked the door...”
Ru blushed. He could feel the heat of it warming his face.
“Oh, oh!” Tommy pointed at Ru. “You did something naughty.”
“You’re like a two-year-old sometimes,” Ru complained.
“So talk. No nasty details. But fun was had?”
“Yes, fun was had. It was sweet.” He looked away, trying not to get excited just thinking about it. “Amazing. And not just physical.”
Tommy set his container aside. “Adam is a great kid. He’s been good for you. Making you smile all the time, and showing you how to exercise. I don’t think you realize how toned you’ve become in the past few weeks. I heard the wardrobe lady bitching ’cause your sleeves are getting too tight in the shoulders. Then a second later she was oohing and aahing about how hot you are.”
“As if.”
“Total truth, man.”
Ru sighed. “Yeah, I’ve gotta find someplace to go when I’m here. I’m so used to running everyday with Adam, it’s like my body is a bundle of nervous twitches telling me to get moving. Of course, that could be because I miss him like crazy every second I’m not with him.”
“I don’t even know where to begin. My building has a private workout room. This one, not so much.” Tommy glared at the gray walls. “I never realized how cold it is in here. Not the temperature but the style. It doesn’t suit you.”
“It works. The furniture is comfy. I can’t hear anyone else. It’s a good place to be.”
Someone knocked on the door. Ru and Tommy exchanged a confused look. “Oh hell no.” Tommy said. “If that is a paparazzi, then the next thing you’re going to see is me punching some random camera guy. How’d they get past the door guard?” He got up and went to the door. “And why the hell don’t you have one of those peephole things in your door?”
“I read something somewhere about a special camera that can be put in those being used to spy on celebrities,” Ru told him. “So I made sure I had a door without one.”
Tommy opened the door a hair, swore, and then swung it wide. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Ru expected AJ, but it was Kris who walked in. He gawked at the man he’d spent almost two years with. The guy hadn’t changed at all: same top-of-the-line clothes and style, perfect haircut, spiked with frosted tips. Kris crossed the room, heading for Ru. Ru backed away. “Get out of my house.”
“Who is it? All I’ve heard for the last two hours is that Ryunoski Nakimura has moved on, found some sweet nothing to fill his bed. Who?” Kris demanded.
“Since you’re not part of my life, how about it’s none of your business? Now get out.”
“And what was the comment ‘he’s very young’? Are you trying to say I’m too old for you?”
“You cheated on me. Now get the fuck out of my house.” Ru was beginning to lose control of his anger. Last time that happened, he’d punched Nate. He could only imagine the shit storm that would come from him punching Kris.
“Time to go, Turlington.” Tommy grabbed his arm. Kris tried to shake him off. “You don’t want to start a fight with me. You came here looking for a boost from Ru. You’re not getting one. But I’ll give you a boost. Right out the fucking door.”
“Why do you call him that horrible name? His name is Ryunoski, not Ru. You don’t know him at all, Tommy Foster. You’re throwing away your career for him. And why? Are the two of you really together? That’s what you’re hiding? AJ has been telling me that for years.” Kris struggled against Tommy, who was pulling him toward the door.
Ru dialed security and demanded they come up to get Kris out immediately, or he was calling the police. When he hung up, he glared at his ex. “You’re here because AJ put you up to it.”
Kris shrugged, finally yanking himself free of Tommy’s grasp. “All of those pictures, those supposed betrayals, that was all AJ’s plan. Hell, he even set us up because he was tired of you getting all the solos and everyone asking for you in interviews. He couldn’t find a way to make you quit, so he just made sure the label had a reason to oust you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Tommy said. “Don’t blame your fame hunt on AJ. He’s already got enough sins at his door.”
“I’ve been calling for months, trying to explain all of this. I have proof. Phone calls from him to me. When I replayed the calls for him, he offered me Tommy’s spot in Vocal Growth. Said he could make me a star.” Kris moved across the room to stand in front of Ru. “But I don’t want to be a star. I just want you back. I want to fix what went wrong.”
