Parker:You saw them a few months ago in Perth.
Bo:And? LOL
Parker rolled his eyes. Bo was a huge fan of HyperOctane. Or maybe it was more accurate to say he was a huge fan of Harvey. Parker had always harboured suspicions that his friend had more than a little crush on his brother. At one point he’d even thought that Harvey returned some of those feelings, but then Ravi and Bo had briefly hooked up just before Harvey moved to Sydney and nothing came of it. Ravi sat at his side, and he looked across to see Ravi’s eyes fixed straight ahead, a smile fixed on his face. He followed Ravi’s line of sight to see Harvey and Rafe, heads together, bent over a sheet of paper where they were making notes, while Gibbo and RG stood to one side discussing something with Nigel. He tapped a message into his phone.
Parker: It’s not all fun and games you know.
Bo:It looks like lots of FUN is being had to me. Or is it games?Eggplant emoji. Water droplet emoji. Winky face emoji.
Parker:What are you on about?
Bo:You didn't see the link at the bottom of the article?
What the fuck was Bo talking about? Parker went back to the article and finished reading it. Harvey—and Rafe—would definitely be chuffed. The review of the concert focused on the last set, in particular two songs that showed off both their talent. Gibbo and RG both received praise but it was the other two who shone according to the review—Harvey for an incredible guitar solo, and Rafe for his fantastic vocal range. He got to the bottom and saw a link to something about the after-party.Ah, the tabloid crap.This was the part Harvey always whinged about. He hated being under the microscope, having every interaction analysed. He understood that the fans wanted to see behind the scenes but it drove him crazy at the same time.
Parker sucked in a breath and clicked the link. What he saw nearly had him swallowing his tongue. There, for all the world to see, was a pair of photos that managed to say so much, at least to Parker. The first was a photo of him and Rafe standing out on the restaurant balcony. They were standing close together, probably too near to be interpreted as casual friendship, but it was Rafe’s possessive grip on his arm that hinted to more. And if Rafe’s hold and fierce stare didn’t indicate they were together, then Parker’s returning gaze told the rest of the story. Parker looked up into Rafe’s eyes with his emotions written all over his face—the soft smile, the flushed cheeks, the hooded eyes.Jesus!Parker knew that other guy was there, just out of the shot, but in the photo it looked like it was just him and Rafe, lost in each other’s gaze. The second photo was of them ducking out the restaurant exit, Rafe dragging him along with a firm grasp on his hand, the two of them clearly leaving together.The goddamned press!It didn’t take much to put two and two together.Not that it made four.
His gaze rose to Rafe. Was he disappointed he’d thrown his hat into the ring with Parker last night and nothing had come of it? He would have had more luck with that guy, Stu. Did Rafe regret turning down the sure thing?
Rafe directed a smile his way. Parker glanced away, thankful Rafe couldn’t read his thoughts. He went back to his phone and started tapping.
Parker:Nothing happened.
Bo:Damn! You two would have made beautiful music together. What happened, man?
Sometimes Parker regretted that Bo knew him so well and was the keeper of all his secrets.
Parker:I wanted to. Like REALLY wanted to.
He jumped as his phone rang and Bo’s surfer-boy face popped up on the screen, all windswept blond hair, blue eyes, and big grin. He hit answer, at the same time standing. “Sorry, guys,” he said to the others in the room before ducking out into the hallway with his phone to his ear.
“Bad time?” Bo asked.
“Nah. Just watching the guys sort out some final bits and pieces for their US show. We’re heading out later this arvo for something to eat. Somewhere on the harbour, I think.”
“Ravi’s having a good time?”
Was that regret Parker heard in Bo’s voice? A hint of sadness?
“I think so. We haven’t done much apart from the concert and party last night. Harvey was talking about some sort of adventure thing later in the week.”
“You’d hate that.” Bo chuckled. “Harvey is one crazy guy. He sure likes to make the most out of life.”
Parker gave an exasperated sigh. “Why does everyone say that? You don’t have to put your life on the line to have a good time. Anyway, Ravi said he’d go with him. Those two are as crazy as each other. Two peas in a pod.”
He heard Bo suck in a breath, but before he could say anything, Bo turned the conversation back to their text messages.
“So, what’s up with you and God’s gift to mankind? And don’t tell me you didn’t leave with the guy, ’cause those photos tell a different story.”
Parker paced the hall. There was no point holding back from Bo—he usually managed to weasel details from him anyway. “Yeah, I went back to his place.”
“And nothing happened?” He could hear the incredulity in Bo’s voice.
“Well, not exactly nothing. But we didn’t have sex.”
“Why the fuck not? Rafe is everything you salivate over in a man. He’s gorgeous. Ask all the HOs out there.”
“HOs?”
