Page 92 of If the World Was Ending

His head reared back like he’d been slapped by Colby’s question. “What? No. Why would you think that?”

Colby shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket to keep himself from reaching out for Hunter. “Because the media thinks it.”

“Like they thought it about you and Hannah?” Hunter lifted an eyebrow.

“And you could. You have before. Women. They’re the norm for you.”

“Nothing is normal in this version of life we’re living now. And yeah, I guess I could. But I haven’t…” Hunter stared at him for a long second, and Colby found himself holding his breath. There were a million ways Hunter could end that sentence, but he didn’t finish it at all. “I should go. I’m an ambassador for the brand.”

“So you don’t miss me.” It was a statement, not a question.

“It doesn’t matter,” Hunter shot back, and his eyes darted to the path. It was empty, and they couldn’t see or hear anyone else. “We both got what we’ve always wanted, right? That’s what we need to focus on.”

“Your willpower would be admirable if it didn’t apply to us.” Colby slipped around Hunter and back onto the main path. People walked by, laughing, enjoying the night. Once they were gone, Colby turned back to Hunter. Hunter looked stunned, as if Colby were the problem.

“So much for not fucking it all up.”

Colby realized, in one heavy, painful moment, that Hunter would never be his. Not the way he wanted. He would forever be some guy he had never gotten to love. And it was crazy how something that never got to become real could crush a person anyway.

“Hey! Wow! Colby Keaton and Hunter Law!” The voice sliced through their moment like a knife tearing through a spiderweb. They both startled, like they forgot anyone else was in this place. The guy was lanky and wearing a cheap blazer, with sunglasses pushed up into his messy brown hair. There was a camera around his neck.

“Official photog for Marmont. They want candids to commemorate. This would be golden.” He waved a finger at the small space between Colby and Hunter. “Can I?”

Colby nodded and turned to face the guy, his shoulder brushed Hunter’s as he angled in for the pose. Hunter gave his head a little shake, ran a hand through his hair, and stuffed his hand closest to Colby’s in his pocket. The guy lifted his fancy camera. “I didn’t know you guys knew each other. Or did you just meet tonight?”

“We used to be roommates,” Hunter blurted out.

Colby stiffened beside him. “I had to couch surf at one point, and his was one of the couches.”

“That’s fucking great! Talent finds talent in this town.” The guy snapped away. “Did you know Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas used to be roommates? And Jason Segel and Kevin Hart. Crazy, huh?”

“Yeah. Nuts.” Colby cuffed Hunter’s shoulders like they were teammates on a baseball diamond or some shit, and then he stepped away. “Good seeing you again, Hunter.”

The photographer dropped his camera back around his neck and continued down the path. Colby stormed into the Chateau and straight to the bar. Hunter never came back in, or if he did, Colby didn’t see him. He had two more vodka sodas as he decided what to do next, and the conclusion was to move on. Finally. Completely.

“Judging by the look on your face, your night is going worse than mine,” Kenner said, slipping into the space beside him by the massive fireplace. His dark brown eyes, filled with sympathy, slid over Colby. He had only learned Kenner was bisexual a couple of weeks ago. He, too, was keeping it private because Hollywood. But he’d confessed to Colby when he’d explained the toxic relationship with his old agent. And Colby had told Kenner he was gay. Kenner had just smiled like he already knew. “When I saw Hunter here tonight, I thought maybe you would finally get closure.”

Their eyes locked. He’d never told Kenner he’d been with Hunter, but clearly he didn’t have to, and that was a bit terrifying. So instead of denying it, Colby just shook his head. “No. But I think I know how to get that.”

He dropped his empty drink on the mantle. His hand lifted, and his fingers pressed into the metal hanging around his neck, under his expensive shirt. “See you at the rehearsal tomorrow afternoon.”

They were getting ready for their first tour as a headlining act. It started in three weeks.

Kenner nodded. Colby smiled and then left Chateau Marmont. He’d booked a car service, knowing he would be drinking and not wanting to monitor himself. The car was waiting at the curb just around the corner from the front entrance, and he hopped in. “I need to make a stop before home.”

“Sure thing. Where to?”

“Twelve forty-five North Hayworth.”

The apartment was actually stumbling distance from Chateau Marmont. Colby probably could have walked more quickly. He pulled the necklace with the key over his head as the car finally pulled up next to a string of parked cars in front of the wide flagstone stairs that led to the front door. “Be back as soon as I can.”

“Take your time. You paid for the whole night. I’ll be here.”

Colby stepped onto the sidewalk and looked up at the tree that had crushed his van less than two years ago. The severed branch still stuck out awkwardly above him. Fuck. He had probably fallen in love with Hunter that night while he tenderly patted the cut on Colby’s head and took care of him.

And now they were strangers.

And now it was time to let go of the hope they would ever be anything more than that again. He climbed the stairs to the building. Being one of the older, less looked-after buildings in West Hollywood, it had a metal gate that didn’t lock. More than once, the neighbors had had a package stolen from the mailboxes just inside. And a couple times Bob had found a homeless guy sleeping on the loungers by the pool.