Aaron
We flew back from Ithaca on the private jet.
It was utterly surreal that I had access to a private jet all I had to do was pay gas for.
Of course, I saw the receipt for the gas and promptly gasped as Maddox just put it on his credit card. His American Express Black. Of course.
My friends were all just as shocked as I was, sitting in the plane with Robot Servant and coasting back to New York in half an hour, instead of the six it had taken all of us to get there.
There were also two limos waiting for us—and the sudden reality there were just under two weeks until we left for Europe. Me. With Robot Servant as drummer on stage. The reality that I had two weeks to get my shit together with these guys and my housing before I was gone for six weeks.
“Mel.” I stopped him at the limo door. “I have to go with the guys. I need you to find us a place big enough for the three of us. I should be able to pay better than half the rent now, so find something nice, and I don’t care where in the city. Just something nice. Two beds, three if you can manage it. Send me listings and I’ll check the prices. You and David check the actual apartments.”
“You don’t have to pay—”
“Mel? I saw what we’re supposed to be getting paid for this tour. Trust me. Find something nice and I’ll tell you how much of the rent I can pay.”
“I’m still staying modest,” he said.
“That’s fine. Just make sure there’s room for you, you mountainous heap of a human.”
“Are you coming with us?” Gertie asked.
“Nope. I have to go with the guys for rehearsal.” My eyes went wide, as did hers and Drew’s.
“This is slightly unreal,” David said.
“You’re telling me? In two weeks, I’m leaving for a European tour with one of the most successful rock groups currently recording. I’m about to shit myself.”
“Come on, kid,” Ora yelled. “We have to pick out drums for you! Taylor is waiting!”
David squealed at the name. Mel and I just cracked up and I patted him on the shoulder. “I promise you will meet him, and the rest of the group, okay?”
“Including Austin?”
“Get in the limo,” Mel growled, totally non-threateningly. “Git.”
The group climbed in and I slammed the door. Alexei rolled down the window. “Break a leg, Ay-ay!”
“Shots on goal, Shostakovich! Shots on goal!” I screamed back. I could hear Mel laughing.
“Fuck off, shorty!” Alexei yelled back and offered me a middle finger as the window rolled up.
“Ready?” Maddox’s voice wasright therein my ear.
This guy was doing things to me. I’d loved Robot Servant’s music, and I’d always thought that Maddox would be a god in person. I just didn’t think that for all his surreal beauty, I’d find myself sexually attracted to a straight man. And now bandmate.
That was a recipe for disaster. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease your pan.
“No,” I finally answered. “But here we go anyway.”
I walked to the limo just ahead of Maddox, so I wouldn’t get caught staring at his perfect ass.
“Why do they call you Ay-Ay?”
“Oh, God,” I groaned. “A-a-ron? Key and Peele?You done messed up A-a-ron.They never ever forgot the skit and it’s come down to just calling me Ay-Ay at this point.”
“A-a-ron!” Rand leaned out of the back of the limo. “You done messed up! Get your ass in here!”
