Page 74 of Conquest

“Yeah,” Jesse said, wearing a tentative smile. “But it sort of fell apart and I had to put it back together again with frosting, but I think it should still be okay.”

“You baked me a cake,” Evan said softly. He raised his eyes to Jesse. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

Jesse’s lips curved upward with mischief. “This isn’t all I have planned for you, so don’t get too overwhelmed.” He flicked his head toward the cake. “Make a wish.”

Evan closed his eyes, took a breath, held it, opened his eyes, and exhaled a hard gust that extinguished every candle.

Jesse leaned toward him and gave him a light kiss on his lips. “Happy birthday.”

“And that would be fifty-one times now,” Evan chuckled. He delivered a deeper kiss. “Thank you.”

Jesse gave Evan the knife. “I wouldn’t thank me until you’ve tasted it.”

Evan gave him one more tender kiss before sitting back to cut the cake.

“How’s JJ doing?” Jesse asked.

“Good.” Evan slid a piece of cake onto a plate and handed it to him. “He was a little rattled because the plane went through some heavy turbulence, but I got him tipsy and sent him to bed, so he should be fine. He’ll need tomorrow to rebound from the flight, but after that, he’ll be in the studio.”

“I bet he’s excited to be playing with you again.”

“So excited he started crying when he saw me. When I quit performing, so did he, even though he didn’t have to. He could’ve easily picked up a lead guitar gig with another artist or band, but he made himself believe he could settle down and do the family thing. Of all the people who’ve ever played for me, he’s the only one who’s been with me since the start of my career.” Evan took a bite of the cake and paused. “Damn,” he said with his mouth full. “I was expecting it to suck, but it’s actually good.”

“Thanks for the faith in my abilities!” Jesse laughed. “I’ve cooked for us before.”

“Yeah, I know. How anyone explodes instant potatoes is beyond me.”

Jesse shoved him on the shoulder in a light reprimand.

Evan chuckled and swayed away from the push. “So has Greg set a target release date for the album yet?”

“He’s thinking the first week of August for ‘Euphoria’ to come out as the first single, then release the album the last week of August, which should give us plenty of time to finish recording now that everyone’s clicking. Trish is having some issues with ‘Vanish’ because the beats have to be so hard and fast, she can’t keep up with it, but we’ve decided we’ll have Jeremy adjust it during editing, and we’ll slow it down a touch when we play live. I’m not thrilled about it, but there’s nothing else we can do.

“And Greg told me today that he’s got a photo shoot scheduled in July to get some promos and shots done for the liner, and we’re going to be making the video for ‘Euphoria’ then too, so July’s going to be a busy month, but I already told him I need the 30th free for Brandon’s birthday. Other than some small publicity stuff he’s planning on for August, he’s already talking up his contacts to have us go to New York in September for interviews and photo shoots. And it looks like we’ll be kicking off our tour on my birthday.”

Jesse poked at the cake, his voice softened. “You know, I always thought I would be torquered about doing stuff like this, traveling for publicity and interviews, going all over the country on a professional tour, but now I’m dreading the day when I get on the bus. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

Evan laid his hand over Jesse’s. “I know. But with what I’m projecting for recording, my album won’t be released until December, so I can catch up to you anywhere you’re at until I hit the road, which probably won’t be until mid-January or early February.”

“But what about after that?”

“Then we’ll do the best we can.” Evan brushed Jesse’s hair back from his forehead. “I trust you. I know you’re not going to screw around on me, no matter how long we’re apart. And I know you’re headlining your own tour, but Greg will probably book you for about a four month run, so if you wanted, when your tour’s finished, you could join me on mine as my opening act. If you did, you’d get to play bigger venues and get more exposure since it’ll be a world tour, and most importantly, we’d get to be together.” He softly touched his lips to Jesse’s and grinned. “Just think of all the different countries we’d get to make love in.”

Jesse returned the kiss. “I was sold when you offered letting us open for you, now I would beg to tag along on your tour.” He saw that Evan had finished his cake. He stood up with Evan’s hand in his. “Dance with me.”

Evan rose and followed Jesse away from the table. He wrapped his arms around Jesse’s waist. Jesse tucked his head into the curve of Evan’s neck, his arms embracing Evan’s waist as well. As they slowly danced, Evan noticed every time Jesse’s right leg moved, something hard pressed against him, but it was too square and small to be what he was used to, and besides, Jesse hung to the left. “What do you have in your pocket?”

Jesse stopped dancing and retrieved a small box wrapped in gold paper from his right front pocket and set it in Evan’s hand.

Evan stared at the gift. “You got me a present, too?”

“Of course I did. Open it.”

Evan freed the box from the paper and opened the gray velvet lid. Nestled in black velvet was a white gold ring holding a round cut, finely faceted, deep burgundy gemstone. Eight sparkling diamonds embraced the gem, four on each side.

“It’s your birthstone,” Jesse said. “Well, one of them. June has a couple, the pearl and this one, and I had to get this one because it’s called alexandrite. It changes color naturally when different light hits it. In the daylight it’ll be bluish-green, but in lighting like this, it’s that color.”

“It’s beautiful.” Evan lifted the ring free. His eyes fell on an inscription on the inside of the band, Forever Yours-Jesse. He stared at it, then slowly looked up at Jesse. “That’s the best present I’ve ever gotten, and the ring is nice, too.”