Grinning, he turns to find Jermaine behind him looking handsome in a burgundy suit, with his hair grown out natural and free. Every time they meet up now, it’s refreshing to see Jermaine happier and less reserved, more like his true self than he was able to be for most of the time they were in the band.
They greet each other with a long hug, and then Skyler tells him, “Congrats, man! I watched the performance, you killed it!”
“Naturally,” Jermaine replies, with an arrogance that Skyler knows is completely fake. Jermaine stayed as humble as ever when his solo R&B music took off. But he did become a lot more confident in his talent once he was singing the kind of music he wanted to sing. He gestures to Skyler’s mostly full glass. “I see you’re good, but want to come to the bar with me anyway?”
Skyler nods and follows him. It takes a bit longer than necessary, since people keep stopping them to chat, but once Jermaine has a whiskey sour in his hand, they make their way purposefully over to a giant, red leather couch on the far side of the room.
Jermaine fills him in on everything that’s been happening with his career and personal life, and Skyler fills him in on his own personal life. He gushesabout how great it’s been going since he and Trevor decided to try again. And admits how scared he is about messing it up like last time.
“You didn’t mess it up last time,” Jermaine argues. “You both tried so hard even though the circumstances were shit. There was so much going on with the band and the garbage management put you guys through. What they put us all through. The constant pressure to keep working ourselves to death, the subtle racism and homophobia. We were too young to have to fight against all that.” He takes a long pull of his drink, then adds, “Honestly, I’m surprised we didn’t end up more fucked up from it.”
“Tell that to my therapist,” Skyler jokes. But like. Seriously.
Jermaine laughs. “I saidmorefucked up. Anyway, the happiest I’ve ever seen either of you is when you were together. Just being together, without all the other shit.”
“Right, but how do we stop that other shit from getting in the way again?” He drains the last of his drink and sets the empty glass on the small table in front of them. “I’m still in the industry and Trevor’s working his way back into it. And we’re still hiding our relationship, and I’m telling myself I can be okay with that, but I’m worried I won’t be. I thought I was done hiding who I am.”
Jermaine scoots closer and throws a friendly arm around his shoulder. “You shouldn’t be forced into something you’re not okay with in order to make someone else happy. But I think Trevor’s happiness and yours have always been linked, so you’ll find a way to make it work. You guys may not be able to go out in public as a couple, but you don’t have to pretend to date other people anymore. It’ll be different this time.You’redifferent. You’ve grown so much as a person in the time you two have been apart. I think you’ve realized now that you don’tneedTrevor, but you still want him. And that’s worth a hell of a lot more.”
“All right, you sound like my dad,” Skyler says, shoving him away playfully, even though the closeness is nice. “And you’re barely a year older than me.”
“Now son,” Jermaine says, adopting an authoritative voice, “don’t talk to your father like that, or I might have to give you a spanking.” Then he smirks and adds, “Although I’m pretty sure you like that.”
Skyler squawks indignantly. “How would you know that?”
Jermaine gives him a pointed look, and says gravely, “Hotel walls are not that thick. Even five-star ones.”
“Oh god!” He throws his hands over his face in embarrassment as his shoulders shake with laughter. He tries to think of something to say to steer the conversation away from his sex life, but then a familiar pair of jean-clad legs appears in his sight line, and he’s sure Jermaine is smirking again at Trevor’s timing.
Jermaine jumps up and rushes forward with his arms outstretched. “Hey, man!” he says, hugging Trevor. “It’s been too damn long.”
“I know.” Trevor pats him on the back. “I missed you.”
“We were just talking about you,” Jermaine informs him with an evil grin.
Skyler shoots Jermaine a dirty look as he stands.
Trevor turns to him, unfazed, and casually sticks his hand out in greeting. “It’s good to see you,” he says, a playful twinkle in his eye.
Skyler shakes his hand. “You too.”
They’ve got the illusion of privacy at the moment, tucked away in their little bubble, but they’d be foolish not to assume there are some curious eyes on them. As far as the people in this room know, they haven’t seen each other in five years, so this is what they need to do. The pretending isn’t ideal. But Trevor is here, acknowledging Skyler in public and seemingly not freaking out about it, so it’s a start.
Jermaine points to the almost empty beer in Trevor’s hand. “We should get you another drink.”
As they all make their way back to the bar, Skyler realizes he’s put his hand on Trevor’s midback, gently guiding him the way Trevor used to always do for him in crowds. He contemplates moving it, but instead sticks with his instincts and curls his fingers loosely into the material of Trevor’s shirt.Screw it.
Trevor doesn’t seem to mind. His posture is relaxed as he sidles up to the bar and orders another beer. When he turns to ask Skyler if he wants something, Skyler shakes his head. It could be a long night, so he’ll pace himself.
A couple of Jermaine’s friends approach them, and Jermaine makes introductions all around. Their new group gathers around a high table, conversation flowing easily.
He catches Trevor at one point staring at him like he wants to eat him, so he clears his throat to get his attention, and Trevor’s eyes dart up to his face guiltily before he looks away, cheeks tinged pink. Skyler tugs at his outfit tomake sure his nipples are covered, and even though Trevor’s not looking directly at him now, he swears Trevor’s trying not to laugh.
He opted to wear black skinny jeans with silver ankle boots, and an open, green-fringed vest with no undershirt, leaving his chest and stomach on display. So he can’t blame Trevor for staring—he doesn’t wear an outfit like this for it not to get noticed. But Trevor did see him before he left the apartment, so he should be immune to it already. Skyler’s secretly pleased that he’s not.
Trevor turns farther away from him and starts talking to a brunette girl in a shimmery gold jumpsuit that Skyler wonders if he could pull off. As Skyler gets brought into a conversation with Jermaine and his friend about skydiving, he keeps one ear trained on Trevor and the girl. She’s telling Trevor about how she’s been trying to get signed with her music, but she keeps getting told it doesn’t fit well enough into any specific genre, which means it won’t sell. Trevor declares that bullshit and goes into a mini rant about the music industry, which has Skyler smiling to himself because he loves when Trevor gets passionate about things.
He doesn’t even realize what he’s doing until Jermaine elbows him in the side and says, “What’s with the dreamy look?”
