Dean pushed away and put a hand up to the cameraman. “Stop that, right now! Out!” he yelled and pointed for the man to exit backstage.
Everyone stood with wide-eyed stunned looks. Colton couldn’t remember ever seeing Dean so irritated.
“Dean, come on. It’s just a few photos,” Johnathan whined.
“Photos that I did not agree to, in a backstage area where photos are not allowed. Did you actually think I would be Okay with this?”
Colton leaned into Sophie. “Who is that?” he whispered.
“You don’t know?” Sophie looked genuinely surprised. “That’s Johnathan Bradley. He’s an uber famous actor, and supposedly Dean’s boyfriend,” Sophie muttered into his ear.
“Boyfriend?” Colton snapped his head to look directly at Sophie. “Dean has never mentioned a boyfriend.”
Colton and Dean had hung out many times now and had conversations about damn near everything under the sun. Dean had never, ever mentioned he was seeing someone.
“Well, that’s what the rumor mills say, and there are lots of pictures of them together on social media. But from what we just saw, I’m guessing those pics weren’t as spontaneous as someone would like us to believe.” She gestured with her chin toward Johnathan. “If you watch him, he always knows where the camera is.” She smirked, then sighed. “God, I wish I had his cheekbones.”
Colton squeezed his brows at Sophie, pursing his lips with an incredulous look. Just when his annoyance over Wyatt the Wonder Trainer had dwindled, here comes this Johnathan guy.
Colton had always prided himself as a good judge of character. Wyatt was just a lovestruck fan, which Colton found annoying, but this Johnathan Bradley…he was a dickhead motherfucker of the highest degree. Colton’s first instinct was to plant himself between the two of them, protecting Dean. But before he could make a move…
“Dean, don’t be like that! It’s just some shots for my social media.” Johnathan batted his eyes, rubbing Dean’s arm.
Colton wanted to tackle him. Literally tackle him to the ground…asshole!
“You.” Dean stepped toward the cameraman. “Give me your camera.”
The cameraman flinched and flushed, shooting a fearful look at Johnathan. He was all of twenty years old and probably scared out of his mind.
Dean snatched the camera from his hand, removed the SD card from the camera, and put it in his pocket.
Both the cameraman and Johnathan gasped loudly with feigned outrage.
“If you want my photo” —Dean shoved the camera back to the young cameraman— “you get my permission first. And I’d better not see any of these pictures posted anywhere.” He looked from the cameraman to Johnathan, and back to the cameraman. “Do you understand me?”
The cameraman gulped with an emphatic nod.
Dean turned back to Johnathan. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now, I’ve got a show to do”
Dean stomped toward the bar and Johnathan watched him with a pout and a whimper. He looked around at the group, their indifferent faces demonstrating no signs of sympathy for him. When it was clear he wouldn't get the attention he wanted, he slumped his shoulders with a huff and slipped out stage left, with his entourage hurriedly in tow.
Celebrities.Colton thought, shaking his head.
He didn’t hesitate, quickly moving over to Dean at the backstage bar. He didn’t care what anyone said or thought right then. He needed to be sure Dean was okay.
Dean slumped over the bar, his back turned to the still-lingering crew and friends.
“Dean?” Colton muttered, approaching slowly.
Dean’s shoulders released with an enormous exhale, his head dropping into his chest. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Colton gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I just lost my temper. I…I needed a minute to breathe.”
“And you had every right to. You handled it better than I would have. I would have punched him.” Colton huffed. “Who the fuck does he think he is, that he can just walk in with cameras flashing? Sophie said he’s your boyfriend?”
Dean chuckled. “No. He’s not my boyfriend. But when the tabloids and internet started saying we were dating, I didn’t bother correcting it. It sort of exploded from there.” He turnedhis head to face Colton. “I don’t care about Hollywood gossip, and I have no desire to be caught up in any sort of online drama. I’m more interested in my music, and my shows.” He shifted off the bar, turning the rest of his body to rest his elbows on top. “I had hoped this would all just go away. But it seems pretty clear now that Johnathan is intent on perpetuating this little fabrication.” He let out a hefty sigh. “I don’t know, maybe it boosts his career or popularity, or some bullshit like that. I need to talk to him and put a stop to this…immediately.”
