Their gazes locked in a silence broken by the buzzing of the exhaust fan above them. Kaj had behaved like a bully toward Noah in the beginning, and practically until a few weeks ago. But someone else doing this felt wrong. More so since it seemed they were doing it on his behalf, which meant it was a Kaj fanatic. That was creepy, to say the least.
Only their bandmates, Val, and Mads knew about their past. Was there someone out there so obsessed with Kaj they found out about their history? A former hookup? A stalkerish asshole who never got their chance and was trying to get the drummer’s attention? Could it be the same one who harassed him years ago making their big comeback?
“I’m sorry.” Kaj cut the distance between them and stopped right in front of Noah, his bare feet flanking Noah’s as he cupped his face. “Niels can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he knows what he’s doing. It’ll be okay.”
“Hope you’re right.” Noah closed his eyes and leaned against Kaj’s touch, deflating.
For reasons unknown, Kaj felt the need to get even closer and comfort him. And so, he kissed him—gently, slowly, warmly.
It had been two days since that… impasse. Kissinglike thatand outside of sex was a distant memory for Kaj, so foreign he didn’t know how to feel about it. He’d been shrugging the image out of his mind every time it tried to sneak in. Didn’t have the energy to analyze what it meant. Neither did he want to give it space in his head. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that things were slowly changing between them and within him.
Good thing they’d been out sightseeing and always in a group, so it wasn’t like he’d been alone with his thoughts that much.
“Fuck, this is so good,” Hilde said while chewing her ham and cheese croissants. “Can I stay here forever?”
“In Argentina?” Ben asked with a chuckle. “Or in this hotel?”
“If I had to choose, I’d rather live inside this deliciousness. I could marry it.”
“You already married me,” Ben said with a dramatic pout.
“I’d leave you for it in a heartbeat.”
“And no one would blame you.” Giulia laughed. “It’s so good.”
Kaj sipped his coffee, smiling at the comfortable scene unfolding around the table. Breakfasts since they’d arrived in this country had been so relaxed, like a rare Sunday in the middle of winter when the sun shone up bright in the sky. It wasn’t like they rushed everywhere and were stressed. Touring was frantic, but it was part of their routine. However, days off were undeniably cozy when they all spent time together like this.
“Anyone want more coffee?” Val offered as he walked over to the table lined with various beverages.
Before anyone could answer, Niels strode in and stopped beside them, his normally composed demeanor fractured. His face was pale, his jaw tight, and he was clutching his phone so hard his knuckles had gone white.
“Noah, Kaj,” he said, his voice strained. He didn’t sit down, didn’t even acknowledge the others. “I need you both outside.”
The table fell silent, the earlier laughter evaporating like morning mist. Kaj felt his stomach drop, cold dread washing over him.
“Everything alright?” he asked the manager, already pushing his chair back.
Niels merely shook his head, a subtle movement that sent alarm bells ringing in Kaj’s mind. “Just... outside, please.”
“What have you done this time?” Val asked the drummer in a whisper.
“Nothing.” Kaj frowned. “That I know off.”
He could feel the entire crew’s eyes on him and Noah as they followed Niels out of the restaurant. The marble floors of the lobby gleamed under the abstract chandeliers. A few hotel guests milled about, some lounging in plush armchairs with newspapers or laptops, others crossing the space with purpose.
Kaj and Noah exchanged a few worried glances as Niels led them to the private lounge room reserved for the team. The air felt dense around them, the pressure building with every step they took. The manager had known about their relationship for a couple of weeks, so it couldn’t be about that.
Once the three of them were alone behind closed doors, the manager ran a hand through his hair, letting out a bleak sigh.
“What’s going on?” Noah asked.
Niels took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at them again. “Photos of you two together have been leaked.”
The words hung in the air, heavy as lead. Kaj’s mind reeled, trying to process what Niels just said.
“What photos?” Noah asked, his voice unnaturally calm.
Niels swiped at his phone screen, then turned it toward them. Kaj leaned in closer to Noah, their shoulders touching as they stared at the screen.
