Rafe’s kitchen was well-equipped, and it didn’t take long to assemble the ingredients required for the haloumi traybake. It was essentially blocks of cheese cut hassleback-style, nesting on a bed of tomato, red capsicum, and spices, then roasted in the oven.
He took a sip of his beer before placing it on the bench. “You want to chop the veggies?”
“Okay.” Ravi stood beside him and started deseeding the capsicum. They worked silently for a while, the knives hitting on the chopping boards, the only sound apart from the music drifting from outside. Eventually Ravi spoke. “It’s been a while since we did this.”
Bo glanced at him. “Yeah.” He didn’t know what else to say. He passed a bunch of parsley to Rav then got out a can opener and started removing the lid from a tin of chopped tomatoes. Eventually the silence became too much. “I’m sorry, Rav. For the way things ended between us. I hate that my being here is making it hard for you.”
Ravi stopped chopping and put the knife down. “I’m not going to lie. It hurt like hell when you broke up with me, and I was wary when I heard you were coming to Sydney, but I’m with Harvey now.”
The words were like an arrow through Bo’s heart. “I know. And I’m really happy that you’ve found someone else.”But how the hell do I tell him that Harvey is the very reason he and Ravi couldn’t be together?He just wished Ravi had found his happiness with someone else; anyone else but Harvey.
“Iamhappy.” Ravi’s brown eyes sought his. “It’s early days, but we have something special.”
“I can see that. It’s clear you’re good together.” The words were like more knives to his heart, but he smiled regardless.
“I’d like us to be friends too. I know it’s awkward, but hopefully we can move past this. I don’t want what happened between us to destroy our friendship.”
Bo let out a breath. It was what he wanted too, despite the heartache. “Our friendship goes back too far to let anything come between us.”
“I’m glad. You mean a lot to me, Bo.” Ravi offered a tentative smile. “And I think Parker and Harvey will be glad to hear we’re talking again.”
“I think so, too.” In fact, Bo knew so because Parker had been on his back about communicating with Ravi and talking things out. At least it was done now. They could all get on with things going back to how they used to be.
Ravi nodded and went back to the parsley.
Bo focused on slicing the haloumi, ignoring the sting behind his eyes.I can do it.
He took a deep breath and asked Ravi about his new job, relieved when their conversation hit an even keel. Soon the dish was ready and in the oven. “Great job, Ravi. Why don’t you head back outside? I’m going to get the bread ready.”
“You need some help with that?”
“Nah, it’s all good.”
As Bo cut up the sourdough, he couldn’t keep his gaze from drifting to the window. He had a perfect view of the barbecue where Ravi now stood next to Harvey. Ravi’s face was lit with a broad grin, and Harvey laughed at something he said. Bo’s chest clenched. Harvey pulled a grinning Ravi into his side. Bo had to look away, as jealousy burned hot and heavy.
He didn’t know who he was most jealous of—was it Ravi because he’d found love again with Harvey, or Harvey because he was now with Ravi, the very man Bo had turned away.Dammit!His head pounded and the beer sat heavy in his stomach. Whatever way he looked at it, he was the loser.
Chapter Ten
EversincetheRocktoberfestperformance, HyperOctane was in more demand than ever. Their latest tour of Sydney and the east coast was sold out. The next out of town gig was only a week away, a last-minute concert arranged to raise money for disaster relief. Floods had devastated vast communities and it was awesome to be able to play for such a good cause. However, the idea of leaving Ravi behind didn’t sit well. Their relationship was still in its early stages, and Harvey knew Ravi was struggling, no matter how much he reassured him everything was cool.
Harvey glanced at Ravi who was seated beside him. No matter what he said, Harvey had no doubt that Rav was doing it tough. After all, it couldn’t be easy starting life in a new city, beginning new job, and the relationship changing between the two of them, all at the same time. Plus, along with all those changes, Harvey’s fame brought with it its own set of challenges. It must have been like being on a roller-coaster; totally out of control.
“Who wants the last slice?”
Harvey snagged the piece of supreme pizza from the tray Rafe held and dumped it on Rav’s plate, knowing he’d hardly eaten anything, and he’d be too polite to take it himself.
“Hey!” RG said, “what if I wanted that?”
Harvey laughed. “You snooze, you lose.”
“You can have it if you like?” Ravi offered, pushing his plate forward.
RG waved a hand. “Nah. You have it. Got to watch my waistline anyway, if I’m going to try to snag the ‘most eligible rock star’ title from the lead singer of Sikorski.”
Everyone groaned. Harvey didn’t know the full story but something had happened at Rocktoberfest where the management team of HyperOctane and another band, Sikorski, had tried to set up something between their lead singers for publicity. Rafe wanted nothing to do with it, but he had no idea about Van Cole, the other guy involved. All he knew about Van was he’d been crowned Most Eligible Rock Star by some magazine.
“So we’ll meet tomorrow and go over the set list, right?” RG looked at them all for agreement.
