“Yeah, me too,” I answered with a smirk. “Then I was introduced to frottage and it’s pretty much a good thing.”
Ora plugged his ears. “No, nope. Don’t want to hear it.”
Aaron finally looked up and his lips rose in a half smile. “Then make sure your room isn't near ours.”
“Oh-kay, ew.” Ora laughed.
“Honestly, though, you guys...” He looked a little lost. “You’re really okay with this? I mean, I’m the new guy here and I’m suddenly sleeping with the lead singer.”
Holland shook his head. “Why do I think there’s very little sleep?”
“We’re fine with it,” Rand said, cutting off Holland before he could get another innuendo in. “Really. Maddox has had that albatross around his neck for too long and he finally looksfucking happywith you.”
“I was wondering why he was so smiley when he walked in,” Ora said.
I grinned. “Orgasms. And Rand, did you really just call Essie an albatross?”
He folded his arms. “Yeah, I did. None of us have liked her, ever. She’s a user and you let her. How many of her bills have you paid, how many pairs of Louboutins has she bought without asking you? She has apersonal shopperat Bergdorf. And they have your card. I really don’t understand why you’d let her hang around so long.”
I glanced at Ora and Holland, both of whom shrugged in agreement.
I sighed. “I don’t know. I really don’t. I guess I thought that it was as good as I was going to get.” Glancing at Aaron, who was tucked against me, I let out a humorless laugh. “I was so, so fucking wrong.”
Aaron turned bright red, and tried to hide again.
“All right, so,” Rand said, slapping my other arm. “You’re bi. And you’re seeing the drummer. Naked. A lot. We’re good. If you’re okay holding hands and showing this off, we’re behind you one hundred percent. Let Hailey and Dietrich know as soon as you can. Let’s not blindside the support staff, eh?”
Aaron looked up at me, and I could read his expression easily. This was my call, completely. He’d go along with whatever. Thinking back to Austin’s and Uriah’s mess with the secret relationship, I shrugged. “We’re good. We’re not going to hide this from anyone.” I held up our joined hands. “Clearly, since I’d suck at keeping it a secret. You good with that, babe?”
Nodding, Aaron squeezed my hand. “Yes. Absolutely.”
“Good, we’re all set,” Ora said.
Aaron piped up, “Good. I’m hungry and we’re in Italy. Feed me. This needs to be good. Really good.”
Aaron and I didn’t get a single look on the way to the restaurant. Ora, however, kept trading looks with Ford, the whole way there, and all the way through the meal.
Huh. I suddenly suspected I wasn’t the only one who was finding out they were bisexual.
* * *
After the wholedebacle of the past four days, being back on the stage felt amazing.
GaGaGirls was doing this one last show with us and then flying home. They were understandably exhausted, and really needed to get home in the safety of the United States. We only had two more shows after Milan and I was looking forward to going home as well.
The audience was as lively and energetic as ever and even though four-fifths of us didn’t speak a word of Italian, we could hear the shouts of joy. I loved when audiences sang along, or even better carried the song.
Italy was always one of our favorite places because Ora was fluent, and they adored him. We let him emcee all the shows when we visited. He had a blast doing it, too.
Our usual cadre of rabid fans were waiting by the dressing room—and I caught the very sweaty figure of Aaron watching me as we walked by.
They were pawing at us, of course, and I didn’t want to put up with it. I just wanted a bottle of water and the chance to sit down, chat up the band about the night, and go shower.
There was a very simple solution to escape all the pawing, but…was Aaron ready? We would be the hot topics of discussion in a few hours, and every interview would focus on us and our relationship for months.
Ora slipped around me and grabbed another CD to sign while Aaron and I just sort of stared at each other. He was so fucking gorgeous, even the sweaty mess he was at the moment, and his talent just turned me on like no one and nothing else ever had.
After another second, I held out my hand.
