A table is set up in the middle of the gym, and on the stage at the back of the gym is—
“Dude!” Basher cries. Letting go of my hand, he rushes to the stage where recording artist Denzel Duke has just launched into his latest hit.
“Basher!” Denzel stops playing as Basher jumps on the little stage. I watch with surprise as the two men hug, slapping shoulders noisily.
Hasan gets the entire thing on film.
It turns out Basher and Denzel have known each other for years, so what was supposed to be a romantic concert with slow music and champagne becomes a reunion.
And a jam session.
Basher is quite happy to leave my side and climb behind the drum kit when Denzel suggests it. I’m happy as well, because watching him play really increases his sex appeal.
After a few songs, it gets even better; Basher gives me the sticks and gives me an impromptu drum lesson.
All for the camera. Rue loves it.
Eventually, we leave the stage for Denzel to perform, swaying together in the darkened gym.
“Sorry about that,” Basher murmurs into my ear. “I got a little carried away.”
“It was amazing,” I tell him. “Who gets a lesson from Basher Doyle?”
“Denzel’s a good guy. I can’t believe he’s here.”
“I love it. Spontaneous, completely unscripted. It’ll be good for the show.”
“But not for me.” He pouts. “It was great, yeah, but I missed out getting to know you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“What it’s really like to kiss you? Not when we’re flying fifty feet in the air. And don’t say you feel like you’re flying,” he adds with a smile.
“It’d be a good line.”
“I don’t want lines with you. I want the real deal.”
I motion to the stage. “That was the real deal. Think you’re up for the challenge?”
“I’m willing to give it a try.” And then Basher brushes his lips against mine, soft and gentle, and unlike what anyone would think a rock star’s kiss would be like.
I have kissed a few rock stars in my time and it’s very different.
Basher pulls back with a smile, like he’s waiting for me to refuse, but I tell myself not to.
Earlier in the day, Rue told me to feel free to kiss when I felt like it, but there needed to be a kiss near the end, for the audience to feel invested in the relationship.
This is that moment and so I lean in and kiss him.
It’s brief, closed mouth, the perfect TV kiss.
I’ve been kissed by a lot of men. It’s one of my favourite things to do, which isn’t surprising, since it’s really theonlything I do. I might have a reputation, but it’s not based on much, because I can count on one hand the number of men I’ve been with and I’m not using very many fingers.
There’s a spark with Basher, and I lean into it, waiting for it to catch fire.
It doesn’t.
Frustrating, because Basher is fun and sweet and funny and hot. Plus, I was vulnerable with him and talked about my feelings, and it wasn’t even that difficult.
