It stayed with him during the film. He’d already seen it, so his attention wasn’t as focused as everyone around him. He tried to watch the whole thing with fresh eyes, or rather ears. He wanted a better picture of whether his soundtrack was as good as everyone kept telling him it was.
A few times throughout the film, his mum, who sat next to him, leaned close to Nally at particularly emotional moments, where his music told the story as much as the actors or sets or camera angles, and whispered, “Well done.”
That was all well and good, but it wasn’t until Jude inched closer to him during the intense sex scene and murmured, “I didn’t know you could write hot sex music.”
Nally nearly burst with laughter. It was a desperately needed release to the sense of doom growing in him. He hunched down in his seat, face heating, like it was him up on the screen with all his skin on show and not Matt Bloom. He had to slap a hand over his mouth to stop himself from giggling, even more so when Jude slumped in his chair and started giggling hard, too.
They were grown men, both with careers and renown of their own, but there they were, in the middle of a film premiere, giggling like they were twelve again because of some eye-opening male-on-male action, with full frontal, on the screen. Nally had to admit that the scene was incredibly hot, though, and his music enhanced that. Or maybe it was the scent of Jude’s cologne as his friend turned to hide his face against Nally’s shoulder, as if the hot sex was too much for him.
Nally was happy. That moment made him giddy with joy. The film was a success, people liked his music, and he had Jude to share it with. Why had he ever considered bringing Sam along to the premiere in the first place?
“That was a smashing success,” Heath Manfred came over to congratulate him once the film was over and all the VIPs had relocated to a ballroom in a nearby hotel for the after party. “Your soundtrack was stunning, Nally. You must be so proud.”
The last bit was directed to Nally’s mum and dad, who stood with him, schmoozing with A-listers like they were made for it. Then again, they were mad, artistic types anyhow, so they kind of were made for it.
“We couldn’t be prouder,” Nally’s dad said.
“I didn’t realize you were dating an influencer,” Aubrey, Heath’s husband, said, holding out his hand to Jude. “I’ve been following you for a while. I love your posh take on things.”
“Oh, we’re not dating,” Nally insisted, suddenly fluttery with nerves.
“Just friends,” Jude said, taking Aubrey’s hand and shaking it. “Best mates.”
“Sorry, I just assumed,” Aubrey said, glancing between the two of them with a sly grin.
“A lot of people have been assuming,” Nally said with a shrug.
“Well, you look good together is all,” Aubrey said, a little awkwardly. He didn’t look like he was the type to attend celebrity after parties on a regular basis.
“Regardless of all that,” Heath said, “your soundtrack was brilliant. I’ve no doubt you’ll have other producers and directors banging on your door in the next few weeks, wanting you for their projects as well.”
“Wouldn’t that be something,” Nally said, feeling a bit like he was drowning.
“Silver Productions needs to get you under contract immediately, if you ask me,” Heath went on.
Nally thought he might pass out.
“Hey, look. They’re bringing out pastries,” Jude said, grabbing Nally’s sleeve and tugging it. “Who doesn’t love a pastry?” he added before whisking Nally away.
“Thanks for rescuing me,” Nally whispered as they made a bee-line across the room to the buffet table.
“Who’s rescuing anybody?” Jude teased, his eyes flashing. “I just want an éclair. It’s fun to eat them in public like you’re giving head.”
Nally laughed, feeling more himself again as the two of them ducked carefully out of the spotlight. The room was packed with celebrity energy, and even after they grabbed éclairs and attempted to hide behind a potted plant, people still wanted to approach Nally and congratulate him for a job well done.
“It’s not that I don’t want the attention or the accolades,” he explained to Jude as the two of them leaned against the wall behind the plant. “I’ve just never loved attention.”
“I know,” Jude said. “I’m the exhibitionist in our friendship.”
Nally laughed again, then Jude pushed away from the wall and gestured toward a small side door in the corner of the room.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out of here. There’s a new gay club right around the corner I’ve been wanting to check out. Let’s go dancing and cruising for men.”
“Yes,” Nally breathed, pushing away from the wall, too. “I could use a bit of anonymous grinding right about now.”
He and Jude slipped out of the ballroom and down a service corridor to one of the hotel’s back exits, then strode quickly around the corner to the club Jude had in mind. It was the perfect environment for the mood Nally was in. The music was loud, the lights were low, and the energy was pulsing and vibrant.
“What do you have in mind?” Jude asked as the two of them squeezed their way up to the bar, shrugging out of their jackets as they did.
