“Everywhere. No exceptions. We have to be consistent.”
I released a heavy sigh. “Fine. Come get me, He-Man.”
Phantom laughed at my put-out reply. “Okay, Rockstar. I’m on the way. Sit tight.”
I never expected this situation to become so complicated. He really had no idea how difficult this was going to be. I was a flirt; he was a flirt, and this could get very messy. Also not in a good way. I’d just have to do my best to shove down my growing attraction to him. The last time I’d been this attracted to someone, I ended up with a broken heart. And that shit wasn’t happening again.
Once we’d reached the front door, I hit the doorbell while Phantom observed the area doing his security thing. His black t-shirt clung to his chest and those aviator sunglasses he wore made him even sexier.
Thankfully, it was Cole who opened the door and drew my attention away. Problem was, he’d just gotten out of the shower, and was only wearing a towel.
I looked over at Phantom. “See, I told you.”
Cole chuckled and backed away from the door. “Give me a minute to get dressed. Head on back to the studio.”
“Is Patrick naked, too? Or is he gone?”
“Gone. Had practice.”
I turned to He-Man like he was my best friend. “Must be all that ‘working out’.”
Phantom didn’t reply, but the grin on his face said he wanted to.
“I’m going to go get started. See you later.” I threw up a hand and waved over my shoulder, heading for the studio.
Ten minutes later, I was working at the piano when Cole walked in. He was dressed in jeans and a Pirates t-shirt. It made me smile when he showed his support for Patrick like that.
“How’d things go when you got home?”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It was fine. He wasn’t expecting me to out myself on the radio. Evidently, he’s been hearing comments that it’s kinda weird for two best friends to live together at our age. Especially since he’s got more money than he could ever spend, and now we’re getting some traction.”
I watched my best friend as he picked up his guitar from the stand. “What’s keeping him from coming out? He plays for the most accepting team in the league.”
“I know.” Cole ran his hands through his damp hair. “He’s got his reasons. But I honestly didn’t expect us to still be in the damn closet at our age.” He strummed his guitar and mindlessly tuned it.
“I know. Was he mad about the interview?”
Cole’s gaze met mine, yet his eyes were unfocused. “Not mad. More like angry out of fear. You know, the kind that makes you irrational because you’re afraid. And it didn’t help to hear about the notes you didn’t tell anyone about. That just made it worse, asshole.”
My friend wasn’t really mad, just concerned.
“I’m sorry, Cole. It just didn’t seem like a big deal. But if someonereallyhad it out for me, it could be good publicity for the band.”
I looked down at the keys on the piano. “It’s not like I have anyone worrying about me.”
The slap to the back of my head was unexpected.
“Ouch, asshole! What was that for?”
I looked up into the seething eyes of my best friend. He was hot, and not in the sexy way.Eww.
“Don’t you ever say that self-deprecating shit again. You have me,” he said, pounding his chest, “and our parents. You have Patrick and our management team. Don’t you ever discount our relationship again. You’re my brother and have been since the day CPS placed you in our home. So stop that shit right now.”
A twinge in my chest caught me off guard remembering the day the Bradleys saved my life when I was eight years old. Cole and I had been friends at school, and when he found out I was a foster kid, he went home and told his parents about me and how much he wanted me for a brother.Hemade that happen for me when my mother hadn’t given a shit.
I stood and turned to him, then grabbed him up in a hug, his guitar sandwiched between us.
“You’re right,” I said, into his hair. “I’ve been up in my head about family since lunch. I’m sorry. You’re the best brother a guy could have.”
