“How did you guys meet?”said Bex.
There it went.“Through someone at work,” I said.“Long story.”I prayed he didn’t ask any more questions.
“Nice to meet you, Eddie,” said Bex.
“Likewise,” said Eddie.
“Got to get set up.Enjoy the show.”
Bex and Ben left, both waving to Eddie.
“That went okay,” I said.“I think.”
“Brian seems like a dick,” said Eddie.
“To be fair, heisa dick.He hates me anyway because I had sex with his ex-girlfriend after they broke up.”
Not my finest ten minutes.We did it in the back of Ben’s van—her idea.Turned out she only hooked up with me to get back at Brian for dumping her.I’d wanted to keep seeing her, but she ghosted me afterward.
“Ben and Bex are cool,” I said.“I figured they’d be cool.Alan just needs time, but I think he’ll come around.Here: VIP seating.The band has reserved seats.This one’s yours.”
I let go of his hand, put my arm around him, and shepherded him to his seat.“Not too far from the stage, not too close to the speakers.I gotta get ready now.When the show’s over, I’ll come get you.”
He sat there looking sexy.How could he look so sexy doing nothing?I looked over my shoulder at everyone setting up.Fuck it.I leaned in and kissed him on the mouth.I didn’t care if everyone saw.I had to stop, though, because I was getting excited.
I looked at him again, squeezed his shoulder, and said, “I love you.”Because I couldn’t tell him enough times.
I went back on stage to finish setting up.It wasn’t my best show.I was too distracted by him in the crowd.Only a couple hundred people were in the audience, but I could have spotted him in a crowd of ten thousand.He had his hook in me, pulling me in.I couldn’t wait for the set to be done so I could go back to him.
Finally, the gig ended, and because I couldn’t wait any longer, I jumped off the stage, went up to him, and hugged him.“I gotta pack up, then we can go.”
“Sure,” he said, with that half smile.
I couldn’t wait to get him home.
Brian walked off without saying a word.Bexley and Alan were chatting about the next gig.Ben helped me stow my keyboards in the van.Then he went back inside to say goodbye to the rest of the band, and I kissed Eddie, leaning against the side of Ben’s van.I guess we got a little too into it, because next thing I knew, Ben was out there with us, closing the van doors.We got in.
“Are we gonna get paparazzi following us?”said Ben.“Like, ’cause there’s a celebrity on board?”
“Can it, Ben,” I said.
“I’m looking you up on IMDb when I get home, Eddie,” said Ben.
“Stop being such a groupie,” I said.
This was typical Ben.He’d get really into a fandom for a few months and talk about it constantly.Then he’d move on to another one.
Ben dropped us off at our apartment.
“Eddie and I can take it from here,” I said.
“Have a good one,” said Ben.
Eddie and I carried my keyboards up to the apartment.After we’d stowed them, I reached for him.“C’mere you.”I pulled him into another kiss.“Can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Why would you want to?”
I’d come out to my band tonight, and it hadn’t felt like a big deal.The big deal was here with me.
