In a flash, they were setting up the equipment Dee had dragged from New York. The cottage wasn’t ideal for sound quality, what with its creaky old walls and thin windows, but when Gray hung up some of the old wool blankets and Dee fiddled to position the equipment properly, they were able to secure the sound they wanted.
Jameson threw his arms around Gray’s shoulders, kissing him quickly. “I love you, handsome, but I got to say. I was beyond ready to see Dee.”
Gray laughed. “Good. I take it you’re feeling ready for the trip back to Albany next month?”
Jameson nodded, then pressed his cheek against Gray’s chest as he held him tight. “I am. I needed this full year away, I think. This year with you, so that I could figure myself out. But I’m ready. And anyway,” he sighed, “it’s time to check in withNew Nightly, and I’m sure Justin Sweet’s coming out is going to receive a lot of attention.”
“Duty calls,” Dee joked as she fiddled with the keyboard.
Gray let his hand dangle down by Jameson’s butt, and he gave him a quick squeeze. He realized they were so used to being alone he had practically forgotten how to behave around other people.
Jameson shrugged with a smile. “I’m not complaining. I’ve got everything I ever wanted. If I have to go act a couple of times a year, so be it. Maybe Justin Sweet can even do some more good in the world, now that he’s come out of the closet.”
Dee pressed her hands down on the keyboard, and a strange noise hummed out. Gray could tell it wasn’t a standard chord, but somehow, the jarring noise was beautiful, too.
“Beautiful Scotland,” Dee crooned, making up a lilting fake melody. “I ate too much fish on the ferry ride in Scotland!”
Jameson laughed. “That will happen to you.” He adjusted his tiny keyboard, then switched to his singing voice. “At least a razorbill seabird didn’t try to steal your French fries,” he sang out beautifully.
Everyone laughed, and Gray took a seat on the couch. Dee had brought some microphones and other recording equipment with her, and Gray played with the sound levels on Jameson’s laptop while the two singers warmed up.
“We’ll start with some of the songs you wrote,” Dee said brightly. “I’ve been practicing with the music you sent along.”
Jameson nodded. “Sounds great, thank you!” He ran his finger across the keyboard one more time, then turned to Gray. “Can we just do one Queen song first, to warm up with Gray?” Before Gray and Dee could say anything, Jameson broke out with a musical laugh. “I’m sentimental!” he joked.
Dee and Gray both laughed along. Gray cranked down the volume on the laptop, then stood up with a nod. “Pick a song, beautiful. You know I’m here.”
They started singing together, the raucous noise filling the tiny cottage and bouncing off the hills outside. The afternoon quickly turned into the early evening, and Gray hurried back and forth, playing with the recording equipment and then making snacks and drinks for everyone. Dee and Jameson would record a beautiful duet, and then five minutes later, the three of them would all be screaming nonsense and making each other laugh hysterically. It was chaotic and fun, and somehow, by the time it was dark out, they’d put a few solid recordings down on the computer, too.
Tired from the travel, Dee put herself to bed first, leaving Gray and Jameson alone for a cup of tea on the back porch. Gray noticed the light in Jameson’s eyes. He was always bright, and there had been no lack of fun over the past year. But Gray knew there was nothing like having your best friend around, and as they listened to the sea, he tried to brainstorm ways to bring Dee with them on their travels, or at least make sure she came out more often.
Tea turned into whiskey drinks, and soon enough, Gray and Jameson were undressing each other in their bedroom. They had propped open the tiny round windows above the bed, and they rubbed each other’s bodies to stay warm in the evening chill. Gray took his time, kissing Jameson’s hole to open him, then using a couple of fingers to stroke the spot on the back of Jameson’s neck that he found, coaxing out those whimpers that he loved so much. He lost himself in the wet, warm pleasure of Jameson’s mouth, then steadied Jameson from behind once they started fucking, his boyfriend taking his cock easily. Trying their best to stay quiet and not disturb Dee, Gray still let out an accidental growl when he came that shook the house, and Jameson had to bury his face in his pillow to hide his giggle.
The next morning, Dee was already up when Gray and Jameson crawled out of bed. She’d put on some coffee, and when they wandered out in their robes, she heated up some muffins from the fridge, too, slathering them with butter. When they all sat down at the table together, Gray noticed a small folder, sitting there.
“What’s that?” he asked, nodding down to it.
Dee and Jameson shared a glance again, and Gray had to laugh to himself. He was used to being the one with all the secrets with Jameson, but now, he thought he might be getting a little of his own medicine.
Jameson put his fingers on the envelope, then slid it across the table to Gray. “Take a look,” he said, then sipped his coffee. “I had Dee and Seb start putting this together a few months ago.”
Gray scrunched his eyebrows, confused, then opened the envelope. He slid the papers out onto the table, and when he started to fan through them, he saw photograph after photograph of gorgeous homes, all surrounded by familiar, wooded landscapes.
“Houses,” Jameson said. “All within a fifty-mile radius of Albany.”
Dee pushed aside a few of the papers, gesturing. “There’s aerial photos, too,” she explained. “You can see how big the properties are and how much distance is between you and the neighbors.”
“And Seb has already run research on those neighbors,” Jameson added, excitement making his voice jump up. “Anyone with serious problems, he already excluded the property. For the ones that are left, he added profiles at the end, so we don’t end up living next to someone who is going to give us problems.”
Gray blinked, then blinked again. “Albany?” he said. He wanted to ask so much more, but he couldn’t get past that one thought.
“It might not last forever,” Jameson explained. “Someone might figure us out eventually. But that’s okay! With all of our skills and everyone working together, I really do think we can make it work and build a home there.”
“And there’s some really cool houses,” Dee added. “We can visit them when you’re in the States next month, if you have any favorites.”
Suddenly, Gray felt dizzy. The yellow morning light cut through the windows, and Pickles was lying at his feet, keeping them warm. It was a normal morning, like he’d gotten used to on the little island, but seismically, everything had just shifted, too.
“I didn’t think you’d want to move back yet,” Gray said. “I thought you wanted to travel more.”
