I finished my drink and got back on stage, my head now swimming with images of Rex. Rex was hot; there was no getting around that. And he was compassionate, and smart, and… how was he single? Did he have a fatal flaw of some kind? Did he sleep hanging upside down like a bat? Did he pick his nose at the dinner table? Did he have incurable flatulence?
The second set was mostly songs we did by request. Sometimes we could predict the kinds of songs we’d be asked to play based on the demographic in the bar, and sometimes they’d surprise us. But the lead guitarist was one of those people with a golden ear who could hear a song once and reproduce it. The lead singer had one of those brains that was a trap for song lyrics. Together, they were the deadliest combination for a cover band.
We finished our second set just before midnight, and I was helping pack up their gear when Ben glanced at me.
“Your friend looked familiar.”
I glanced at Ben. “Watch a lot of gay porn, do you?”
He shrugged. “I’m bisexual, so it’s not really hard to believe that I watch all the combinations of partners.”
“That was Blue and he was just here to ask a favor of me.”
“You know you can introduce us to your other friends, right, Perry? I’ve seen a bunch of different ones show up to support us when we play. Blue has been here before. And there’s some otherpeople I’m sure you know from your other gig that have shown up.”
“You want to meet my friends?”
Ben blinked at me. “Please don’t look at me like you’re surprised that I even speak to you. Of course we want to meet your other friends. You’re an important part of this band, Perry.” Ben grinned at me. “Plus, your friends are hot and I’ve been single so long my hand has a dick-shaped imprint in it.”
“Blue already has two boyfriends.”
“Two?” Ben’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Damn, and I can’t even get one.”
“What about girlfriends?”
He shook his head. “I know I’m bi, but I’ve already dated women and tried the girlfriend thing, and don’t get me wrong, I love women. Women are hot as hell, but the relationships I get in always feel like they’re missing something.”
Moved by Ben’s vulnerable confession, I slid an arm around him. He had shoulders the world could sit on they were so broad. He was solid all the way from top to bottom, and though at one time I’d have been so there if he’d have made a move on me, that ship had sailed and Ben was now too close of a friend for me to think about having sex with.
Not that I’d ever wanted to.Much. There had been ten minutes when we’d first met when I considered jumping his bones. But he’d been with a girl at the time, and though I’d let myself date supposedly straight men, I drew the line at helping someone cheat on their partner. Not that Ben was the cheating type. The only dog-like thing about him was his loyalty.
“I know what you mean.” I let myself lean on him. “Dating is hard.”
My only hope was that fake dating would be easier.
FIVE
REX
Even as Isat and waited for Perry to show up, I wondered if I was really going to do this. I could come clean to Nigel, but even thinking about telling him that I’d dated his fiancé made my skin crawl. He’d looked so happy, and I didn’t want to jeopardize that. I could tell him I broke up with my boyfriend, but I’d rather eat glass than go to his wedding alone.
The more I thought about it, the more I thought that them eloping would save me a lot of stress. They could do a small, intimate ceremony at city hall. Hell, I could fly them to Vegas and they could get married by Elvis and leave me out of it.
The bells above the door jingled, and I looked up to see someone walk in. They were backlit by sunshine and it gave the illusion that they were an angel descending straight from heaven.
It turned out to be Perry, who was right on time and far more gorgeous in person than in his picture. His dark hair was a bit longer than in the photo, and he brushed it out of his face as he scanned Bennett’s for me. The brief moment before he spottedme gave me time to look at him. He had one of those faces with sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline, but still managed to look soft somehow.
Then he saw me and he turned his smile on, and I was a fucking goner. Perry’s face lit up when he smiled, and maybe it was as fake as our relationship, but it still made my heart race.
“You must be Rex. Blue has told me a lot about you.”
“Good things I hope?” I shook Perry’s hand, which was incredibly smooth and warm, and offered him a seat across from me. Ethan Bennett, the owner of the diner, came around with a pot of coffee, filled our cups, and passed over a couple menus.
“Blue absolutely loves his job.” Perry stirred two sugars and a single cream into his coffee.
“I’m glad to hear it.” I took a sip of my coffee to try and cover for the fact that I didn’t know exactly what to say or where to begin. How did one go about arranging a fake boyfriend? This was uncharted territory.
“So, I hear you have a wedding coming up.”
