“Nah, you’re keeping up fine,” Alex said.
“And thanks for inviting me along last minute.”
“Of course.Time to go.No groaning until we’re at the top.”
Ry coughed another laugh and then followed Alex up the trail.His boots crunched along, the beat mismatched to his companion’s.Birds darted in and out of the trees, a chorus of chirps and squawks as the two of them walked the trail.A steady breeze kept the air cool.Every so often, fading sunlight glinted off the ocean.The next few breaks were silent, with nods their only form of communication.
They reached the end of the trail to a commanding view of the valley to the east.The Pacific Ocean sparkled to the west, the sun hovering above the horizon.Both of them panted now.Alex sat down at the base of an oak, and Ry sat next to him.
“Damn,” Ry managed.“It’s gorgeous.”
“Isn’t it?”Alex said, finishing his water.
Ry pulled out his phone and took pictures as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky a vibrant orange.He took a few selfies and got a picture of both of them—and even got permission to post it on Instagram.
Ry enjoyed the silence and the view.He rubbed his legs.They’d be sore tomorrow, but it was worth it for the view.And the company.When the sun kissed the horizon, Alex stood up.
“Ready to head back?”Ry asked, standing up as well.
“Yeah.”Alex sighed.“Wanna grub out when we get back down?”
“Oh my god, yes.”
“Thanks for coming along with me.”Alex smiled.
Ry wondered if he should bring up the letter, but let it simmer between them.“I’d hug you, but we are both pretty gross.”
But Alex crushed him in a hug, laughing.“We have done much worse than hugging while sweaty before, Ry.C’mon.Keep your phone out with the flashlight on.”
Ry saluted him and followed him down the trail.The light faded.By the time they’d returned to the truck, full night had fallen.While he may have set out to make things right, to do better, hoping to get Alex back, that no longer mattered.Or perhaps it was because Alex was back, at least in this manner.An awkwardness and something weird still shifted between them.Perhaps he’d read the message and knew what had been in Ry’s heart.
CHAPTER 18: PAST
Arend gestured Ry to the deceptively uncomfortable chair.Sunlight dazzled from the late morning sky, glinting off the Los Angeles skyline.There was nowhere to escape the light in the corner office.A behemoth of a desk hunched between them.
“Orion,” Arend said, leaning back in his gargantuan chair.“You’re looking peaky.”
“I’m exhausted.”Ry wasn’t sure if that was the right word or not.Ry, utterly drained by the relentless schedule, moved through airports and cities with stale coffee.The icy glares from Alex had frayed the edges of his connections with Lon and Brand.Sharing tight quarters on the road amplified the tension, making everything feel suffocating.When his hand brushed against Alex's by mistake, it might mean a powder keg.
“To be expected of a rock star.”Arend waved away his concerns, then leaned forward.“I’ve come across a few tabloids that talk about how a breakup is imminent.I must say, I’d hoped that your tiff with your ex wouldn’t be such a problem, but you both need to at least pretend to like each other on stage.This is show business after all.”
“What do you want me to do?”Ry slumped, the chair digging hard into his back.He shifted his posture.The man wanted the impossible.
“Pretend, Orion.”
“I’ve been fucking pretending,” he said, his voice quiet in the stuffy room.“We barely speak, and it’s hard to carry on.”
Arend picked up a crystal paperweight.“Well, I’m sure we can come up with a suitable solution between the three of us.”
“Sure, we’ll just hold hands and frolic.”Ry’s fist clenched.
“You know how corporate is.”Arend spread his arms.“I’m trying to look out for you.Being brotherly is the goal.Now, you are all wonderful, talented individuals, and the world needs your voices.Will you please consider this?”
The other man’s face was smooth and blank.A prickle of unease crawled up Ry’s spine, and he searched for the discordant note, a subtle flaw he’d overlooked.What was his game?
“Fine, I’ll do better,” he said through gritted teeth.Light stung his eyes, and the stiff chair under him seemed to grow harder.Each breath he took pinched, his edges coming undone.
“Excellent,” Arend said, all smiles now.“Very good.We need to get you all back in the recording booth for the second album.”
