Joshua had a bad view of the guy’s profile, because of his reclined state, but he recognized the sharp line of Van’s jaw. “Where are we?”
“Bay Bridge Tunnel, about ten minutes from your boyfriend.”
“What?” He groped the side of the seat for the lever, so he could sit upright. The action made his insides twist all around. His mouth tasted like stale Coke and fish.
Sure enough, they were on one of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel’s exterior bridges, surrounded by water on all sides, with the shores of Virginia Beach looming in the distance. The last thing he really remembered was Van demanding he go get Benji back, and then ordering him another drink. A really strong one.
“Christ, man, did you kidnap me?” Joshua asked.
“To be fair, when I asked if you were up for a road trip, you slurred yes, then tried to kiss me.”
He grunted. “Great. Now other people are orchestrating my love life. Fantastic.”
“You’re the one who laid your love life in my lap, pal. I’m trying to give you a kick in the pants to get over yourself and not lose a guy you are clearly in love with and don’t want to give up.”
“Idon’twant to lose him.” Joshua studied Van’s profile, stuck somewhere between annoyed at the kidnapping and grateful for the interference. He probably wouldn’t have had the guts to come by himself. “Thank you.”
“Paying it forward.”
“What’s that mean, exactly?”
Van’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter. “It means someone helped me out when I needed it, so I’m doing you this favor. You pay me back by doing someone else a favor with no expectation of return.”
“Got it.” Joshua glanced out the window. “How do you even know where to find Benji?”
“After you passed out in my car, I played an epic game of phone tag that eventually got me in contact with Danielle Townsend, who had quite an earful for me.”
“What did she yell at you for?”
“Oh no, not directed at me. Mostly about how miserable Benji is and what a selfish prick you are. I may have soothed her ruffled feathers by dropping hints that you were on your way here to grovel. It’s the only reason she told me what hotel they’re staying at.”
Joshua slumped deeper into his seat. “They must all hate me. You see? This is why I wanted to talk to you. Everyone is probably on his side, ready to crucify me for the entire thing. Heap all the blame.”
“Well, you are to blame, aren’t you?”
“Could you at least pretend to be on my side?”
Van laughed. “I’m staying a neutral party in this, sorry.”
“Fine.” He wasn’t the least bit angry at Van, though. Totally the opposite. Shut up inside of the sporty little two-door car, he caught the scent of Van’s cologne. A subtle mix of spicy and sweet that matched the man’s personality. It also made Joshua’s pulse speed up, just like the first moment he spotted Van at Off Beat. He caught himself leaning closer to get a stronger sniff and backed off. If he was going to try and fix things with Benji, Van was off limits.
Van was also sex on two legs, and Joshua hadn’t had sex in months, and those thoughts were not helping his body’s reaction to their proximity. The very last thing he needed was to arrive at Benji’s hotel sporting a boner for Van.
“What if Benji isn’t there?” Joshua asked.
“He will be.”
“Danielle?”
“Yup. It helps to have a secret ally to orchestrate things behind the scenes. Benji hasn’t been very sociable with the band outside of performances, so she didn’t have to do much to convince him to stay inside and mope.”
“He’s moping?” Joshua hated the idea of Benji miserable because of him. His sweet, bubbly front man, who had a smile for everyone. “I’m such a bastard.”
“But also a self-aware bastard.”
He glared. Van winked at him.
Joshua had never been to Virginia Beach before, so he studied the city as Van maneuvered them down the streets, past hotels and tourist traps and a lot of college-aged wanderers in various states of dress. Van pulled into the parking structure of one of the hotels and found a space. Joshua got out on stiff, unsteady legs. Long car rides spent passed out drunk were notconducive to proper posture, and he took a minute to stretch sore muscles.
