Page 64 of Not Your Golden Boy

Nikky waited for more, but it didn’t come.

Then the full impact of what he’d said clicked.

“Holberg and Albion?” he asked, brows shooting up.

Harry winced like he’d given away a surprise birthday party. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, then got out of the car.

Nikky remained frozen for a few seconds before exiting the car. “Holberg and Albion,” he repeated. “Do they know each other? Are they working together somehow? Why would a producer as big as Albion want anything to do with a pond scum entertainment journalist?”

Nikky walked around the car to Harry as he headed for the elevator bank at the end of the garage, but instead of answering, Harry just sent him a pained sideways look. He didn’t answer as they walked, and he didn’t answer as they waited for the elevator to arrive.

It was like someone had already trapped him in an elevator that was flying up and down, out of control, and leaving his stomach far behind.

The elevator arrived and the doors slid open, but before they could step inside, Nikky grabbed Harry’s arm.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked, deadly serious.

Pure panic flooded through Harry’s expression. Nikky was sure he’d finally break down and tell him everything, but another, chatty couple walked their way and ended up joining them in the elevator once they stepped in.

“Please, just tell me,” Nikky whispered as they whooshed down to the hotel lobby.

Harry’s wordless answer was a tight sigh and a look of fear and vulnerability that melted Nikky’s heart.

Once they reached the lobby, Nikky tried to linger near the elevator in the hope that Harry would finally confess. But that hope was dashed when Drew and Lee strode over from the center of the lobby.

“Hey!” Drew greeted him with his widest, most charming smile, pulling Nikky into his arms for a warm hug. Nikky needed that hug like he needed air and squeezed his best friend back. “What are you doing coming out of the elevator. Get back in there. The party is on the twentieth floor.”

“We just got here,” Nikky said, letting Drew sweep him and Harry back into the elevator as Lee pushed the twenty button.

“Good. So did we,” Drew said, energized and ready for the party.

“Hello,” Lee introduced himself to Harry quietly. “I’m Lee Cresswell, Drew’s boyfriend.”

“Harry Bayonne.” Harry shook the man’s hand, his expression as threatening as a caged tiger.

Lee exchanged a look with Drew that made Nikky wonder what the two of them already knew about Harry, about their relationship, and about the predicament they were in.

“This party is supposed to be huge,” Drew said as they sped up, making Nikky go cold and prickly. “It’s more of a networking event than a party, so make sure you talk to as many people as possible. More producers than just Albion will be here.” He winked like he understood just how deeply uncomfortable Nikky had grown with the album he was recording.

“I bet you could find all sorts of producers to work with to record a comeback album,” Lee told Harry with sweet enthusiasm. “I know I’d buy whatever you put out. Love on the Line was one of my favorite songs back in the day.”

Nikky peeked quickly at Harry. Lee wasn’t trying to be offensive, but there was no telling how Harry would react with the mood he was in. Nikky even went so far as to reach for his hand and to brush the back of Harry’s knuckles lightly with a finger as the elevator doors opened.

He felt Harry tense, but that could have had more to do with the rush of voices and the music behind it as they stepped out into the penthouse entertainment space.

“Let’s dazzle these motherfuckers,” Drew said, walking out into the party with a look of triumph on his face.

“I’ll keep him in line,” Lee told Nikky with a lopsided smile before following after.

That left Nikky and Harry alone at the edge of the party. For a few fast, thumping heartbeats, Nikky had no idea what to do. The awkwardness between them ballooned instead of settling down as the party atmosphere reached for them and tried to suck them in.

“I guess we should make the rounds,” Nikky said, taking a deep breath then starting forward.

“Wait.” Harry caught him by the arm and held him. When Nikky turned back to him, Harry looked like he was about to explode. “There’s something you should know,” he said.

A paradoxical sense of peace settled over Nikky. Finally, answers.

Answers that he wasn’t going to get.