“It should be.” Keeping quiet about how he shouldn’t drink.
Spencer sat in and went straight for the mini bar in the middle, taking a small bottle of wine out, he opened it and drank straight from the bottle. “Ah, heaven. Home, and fast. I have to smoke this shit afternoon out of my system.” His mocking eyes went to Duncan’s in the mirror. “Liked what you saw?”
“It looked like it’s going to be a great show.”
“Mhm…”
Not elaborating further, he sipped at his bottle, his eyes lost on the streets as the car crawled in that thick traffic. Glancing at Duncan sometimes, but he was focused on driving and other drivers’ behaving like asshats. A tiny idea in his mind, so he swiped his phone open and started typing a few messages. Waiting. Until files got sent to him. Opening one, a fact sheet with Duncan’s photo on top. His standard info sheet from the company. His sharp nail scraped down that stern face, reading the sheet. Opening another one, one that was not available to the public on their website. Reading, his lips curling up, his dark eyes going to him.Bingo.
Chapter 5
Next day, the whole family was due to the event so they went with two cars, one with the parents, and Duncan sitting in Spencer’s with Martin driving. They all had earpieces, alert, knowing that there would be a crowd around the hotel, and reporters. There were a couple of steps leading up to the main entrance, and celebrities were supposed to pose a bit for the press and the people.
Rolling in that dark night, Duncan kept looking in the rearview mirror to spot if they were followed. Spencer was on his phone, dressed in violet pants, with a black silk shirt on top and black boots up to his thighs. He seemed less wasted than usual, but he had just put out a joint before getting in the car, so… Duncan just hoped he could hold for the night.
Spencer glanced at him, his dark suit mirroring his black hair, that earpiece nestled in his ear. He answered a question, maybe, soft.
Nodding to Martin. “We’re close.”
Martin nodded, trailing the other limo as it turned on the street jammed with a crowd wedged behind the metallic barriers. Shouting and whistling as the limos slowed. Flashes and phones glowing. They stopped and Duncan got out, Cole and Vic too from the car in front of them, the flashes blinding them a bit, the projectors. Duncan went to open the door, the adrenaline flooding him as he scanned the crowd.
Spencer got out, flashing a smile and waving his hand, he followed his parents up the stairs on that red carpet. Turning to the shouting, he waved at the crowd, putting a hand on his hip. Posing a bit with that constant mocking curve of his lips. Blowing some kisses to his screaming fans, and the photographers trying to get his attention. He turned then and Duncan followed him, exchanging a few words with Sully and Vic who were at the front. They split once inside, Sully and Vic leaving to join the audience with the parents, and Duncan walked backstage with Spencer.
It was already buzzing, and somebody just grabbed Spencer’s arm and tugged him to a makeup chair. Duncan stayed close, out of the way of people rushing all over the place, carrying clothes, shoes, wigs.
Sully’s voice in the earpiece. “Duncan? All fine with us.”
“Here too.”
Watching Spencer being made up, led behind that portable partition to be changed. Same outfit as at the rehearsal. The models lined up then as the music started playing. Sultry, heavy with rhythm and sex. Duncan shifted on his feet, and walked close to the stage on the side, not leaving Spencer with his eyes. Their eyes met, that smirk on Spencer’s lips mirroring the lyrics of the song. Waiting for his turn, he seemed to float on that song, breathe with it, melt into it, and Duncan had to swallow.Shit. Concentrate.Watching him walk out, sway his hips as the audience started clapping.
Backstage again, hurrying to change. Another outfit pulled on him, his hair rearranged with a few clips. Spencer let them jostle him around, downing a large glass of something. Duncan could only hope it had no alcohol. A futile thought. Another walk. Changing clothes again. The finale then after a couple of more changes.
Spencer walked backstage to change back into his clothes, gesturing Duncan close when he was done.
“Time to mingle and sign a few photos.”
Duncan caught his elbow softly. “This wasn’t planned?”
Spencer’s dark eyes bore into his with that mocking light. “No. So what? It’s not like anybody would want to pounce on me. I’m not that important.”
“You don’t know that. And you seem to have more than a few fans.”
“Relax, mister Uptight…Relax.” He pulled his arm out and left, not leaving Duncan any choice but to follow.
Follow him outside where people had started mingling, drinking and eating off trays carried around. Flocking around the models when they made their way out. Duncan stuck close to Spencer, but not too close, not to intrude on his space. Watching him sign photos handed to him, pose for a few selfies. Duncan’s eyes never left the crowd around Spencer, scanning faces, gestures, movements of hands, and arms and legs. The world around him filtered, the sounds dimmed. Spencer snatched a glass of champagne off a tray, then walked close to Duncan.
Shouting above the music. “We’re staying for the after party.”
Duncan glanced at Sully and Vic, ready to leave with the parents. Duncan spoke into his mic. “Sully, we’re staying. Tell Martin to leave the car and go back with you.”
“Sure?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Spencer patted his arm. “Good boy. Ooops! Too personal?” Grinning, he left him and went to embrace a woman, chatting with her and a group which had formed around them, drinking more. The music had been amped up, and as drinks flowed, the guests started dancing, and Spencer joined them, drunk already.
Duncan sighed softly and took his earpiece out as the others had left. Standing near the wall, he kept his eyes on Spencer, moving when he moved around, dancing with strangers, people who would take him for a spin. Drinking more when he got a drink pushed in his hand. He was a good dancer, from what Duncan could tell, because he wasn’t a great dancer, and always had that anxiety when he had to dance. Rare occasions. Watching his dark hair flow around his face, his body move to the rhythm of that pounding music, his hips and ass. Alert, when people around him just started to push him from one to the other. Laughing, dancing more.
