“Fuck me.” Bowen steps away and his eyes dart up to his house and then around to the fields and the road at the bottom of the long drive. There’re no prying eyes. I don’t look but I can tell by the way his flushed face remains impassive.
“I’ve already done that, but I’ll gladly do it again,” I reply, and he laughs.
“I’ve created a monster.” Bowen walks backwards towards the stairs that lead to his porch.
“You really did.” I walk around and get into the car. “I’ll text you later.”
“Okay.” Bowen turns and climbs the porch steps before turning back. “Ask the guys. I swear I’m okay with it.”
“Okay.” I nod.
He turns and pushes open his front door and disappears inside. I am grinning like a lunatic the whole way down his driveway, and most of the ride home until I find Joe dropping Grant off outside our building and I ask them their thoughts on the event.
“I know this sucks for you, Chase, but if I’m being honest,” Joe says with sympathy shining in his dark eyes. “I need all the extra cash I can get.”
“I wouldn’t turn it down either, not because I need the cash but because I love playing,” Grant replies. “And I know Joe needs that cash and Baldwin has deep pockets backing her so we could give her a stupid fee and she’d likely pay it.”
“Yeah,” I nod, resigned.
“But only if Bowen is cool with it,” Joe adds, and I give him a smile. I love that he thought of him. “I’m not voting for the chick, but I’ll take her cash.”
“He’s cool with us doing it, but obviously he won’t play with us.” They stare at me and wait for me to state the obvious. I look over at Grant. “So maybe you can ask Bennie to play for us.”
“He’s not going to want me to beg him. He’s gonna want you to do it,” Grant replies. “I’m not the one he’s pissed at.”
“Yeah. Yeah,” I grumble and yank my phone out. Then I pause and shove it back in my pocket. “I should probably do this in person.”
“I’m sure the puppy dog eyes would help sway him,” Joe replies with a snarky grin.
I flip him the bird but he just laughs and drives off. Grant and I are left standing there. He raises an eyebrow. “This is going to be awkward as fuck for you.”
“You think, Captain Obvious?” I quip and Grant laughs.
He puts his overnight bag over his shoulder and digs his keys out of his pocket and lowers his voice. “Maybe you should stop banging our drummers.”
Our eyes meet and I know in that instant he is fully aware of where Bowen was this morning. “This is different.”
“How can it be? You giving up that inheritance?”
I shake my head. “No. But Bowen knows about it and he’s cool with keeping us on the down-low until I get it.”
“So, he’s what? Your secret boyfriend.”
“Yes. And then one day he’ll be my not-so-secret boyfriend,” I reply. “But not for another six months so can you just pretend you know nothing.”
“Yeah of course. So, you’re… gay now?”
I blink. “When was the last time you saw me with a woman?”
“I don’t see you with anyone.”
“I like Bowen. Only Bowen. He’s a dude.”
Grant still looks slightly confused, but not in a homophobic way. “Wow. Well, cool. You know I am there for you no matter what and I won’t breathe a word to anyone.”
He starts to walk toward the front of the building. “But if you cost us another drummer, I will kick your ass.”
“I won’t. I promise,” I reply and pull my phone out and text Bennie and ask him where he’s at and if we can talk. He responds that he’s at home and I can swing by anytime. So I sigh and tell him I’m on my way.
