“Joshua’s bi.” He also hadn’t told anyone except Joshua about thinking he was asexual, not even his band mates. He’d wanted to tell Joshua first, and since then he hadn’t had time to come out to the others. Not that it was their business.
“I get that Joshua’s bi,” Danielle said, “but he’s with a guy, so doesn’t that make him gay?”
Benji resisted the urge to bang his head off one of one Andy’s drums. “That is so not how it works. Doesn’t matter if he’s with a dude or a chick, he’s still bisexual. Dating a girl doesn’t make him straight, anymore than being with me makes him gay.”
“Oh.” She glanced at Joshua, her expression thoughtful. “Okay. That makes sense.”
Benji made a mental note to send her a couple of memes better explaining what bi meant. He’d seen a great one about werewolves recently.
The bar manager got them together for a quick chat, and then it was about time to get started. Benji’s stomach twisted with nerves. He always tensed right before the curtain went up, but as soon as he sang the first lyric, he’d relax. Fall into the music and let it roll around him.
And he did, for the full twenty minute set. He and Danielle put their all into the lyrics, while Bobby and Andy backed them up. Benji played keyboard for two of the songs, then gave Danielle the spotlight for a solo Trey had written for her as a birthday present. The packed house ate it up, and by the time they reached their first break, Benji was vibrating with excitement and adrenaline.
Joshua met him backstage with a fierce hug and claiming kiss. “You were amazing, baby,” he said.
“Thanks.” Sweaty, thirsty, and very pleased with himself, Benji accepted a bottle of warm water from a stagehand, “It’s always such a rush going out there.”
“I know. I see it in your eyes.”
Van lingered nearby, seeming uncertain whether he should approach, so Benji waved him over. “I’ve never heard you sing live before,” Van said, oddly tentative now.
“Well, you’re still here so I guess I didn’t suck.” Benji caught the double entendre too late.
Heat flared in Van’s eyes, which he quickly shuttered by keeping his attention somewhere on Benji’s neck, instead of his face. “You sounded amazing.”
Benji preened at the compliment, but he was still confused by Van’s behavior. “Thank you. I’m glad you came to the show. It’s nice having more than one groupie.”
Joshua feigned offense. “I will always be your number one groupie, Mr. Moore.”
“Yes, you will.” He kissed Joshua’s cheek. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You guys want anything from the bar?” Van asked. “Cap and Coke, Joshua?”
Benji frowned at Van knowing Joshua’s go-to drink, until he remembered Off Beat. And Joshua’s hungover state when he arrived at the hotel.
“Plain Coke is fine,” Joshua said. “My stomach is still a little unhappy with how much I had this afternoon.”
Van nodded. “Benji?”
He held up his bottle. “I stick to water until I’m done singing for the night. But after our next set, I wouldn’t mind a Long Island Iced Tea.”
“I’ll remember that.” Van disappeared.
Benji tugged Joshua into a corner of the backstage area, away from everyone else. “Was inviting Van here a mistake?”
Joshua let go of his waist and shoved both hands into his pockets. “What do you mean? He seems to be enjoying himself.”
“I mean you.” Maybe this wasn’t the time or place, but they’d promised each other to always be honest. “You are clearly attracted to Van, and he wants you. Anyone watching the pair of you can see it.”
Joshua’s eyes widened and his lips parted. “I’m not intentionally flirting with him, I swear.”
“I’m not accusing you of that. It’s just . . . you’re attracted to each other, and I invited him here to hang out with us, and now I feel like the asshole who put a fun new toy in front of a kid, then said he couldn’t play with it.”
“You aren’t an asshole. You were trying to say thank you to Van for helping us get back on track.”
“Except I ended up torturing you both.”
Joshua looked like he wanted to deny it; instead, he shrugged. “A little bit. But you and me are committed to each other, and Van understands that. Maybe he’s attracted to me, but he won’t try anything.”
