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But a small part of me still worried about all the what-ifs. Van and I were both new at this relationship thing, and God knows I had an artistic temperament that could try the calmest of people.
The past week had been amazing, but reality was now setting in. Would we grow closer together or would working and living as a couple be more than we could handle? I guess only time would tell.
We’d gotten home after a nine-hour bus ride and reluctantly went our separate ways, me to my house on the outskirts and Van to his condo downtown.
I was already counting down the hours until I saw him again. I hated being apart from him before we were lovers, and now even more so.
It was like a vital part of me was missing.
Still, I crashed hard when I got home.
The adrenaline ride of the past week, plus the tour before that, finally caught up to me. I slept for the better part of two days and woke up to find my assistant Bibi at my door with coffee and my favorite donuts in hand.
She entered my house in her usual whirlwind—talking at fifty miles per hour, her phone buzzing, her long red ponytail whipping around her head. Bibi was a southern ball of energy. She had enough buzz to light up the city and then some.
“I’m glad to see you, but aren’t you still technically on vacation?” I asked her as we sat around my kitchen island.
“Yes, but I’m not leaving for Hawaii until next week. And I wanted to stop by since there are a few things we need to deal with before I take off. I brought a ton of promo merch for you to sign; it’s in the car. That should be the last of it for the year. Also, and as per your text, I’ve arranged to have the cottage in Rhode Island cleaned and stocked with food. The private plane is ready for you tomorrow, and there’ll be a car waiting when you arrive at the island airport. I’ve emailed Van and Dawson all the deets.”
“Awesome. Thanks for that. You know I hate interrupting your time off, but I didn’t want Van to have to deal with it. He was overworked this past week as it was.”
She waved me off. “You know me, I’m never really on vacation. The phone is always on, so if you need me, I’m just a text away.”
“How would I function without you?”
“You wouldn’t,” she replied with a wink. “So, you and Van are going to be together for a whole month? How’d that happen?”
She gave me a knowing smirk.
Like everyone in my inner circle, Bibi knew about my long-term crush on Van.
“We’re gonna work on songs for the next album,” I replied and took a bite of my chocolate-glazed donut. It was good, but I was already missing the beignets from NOLA.
“Is that all?” she asked. “I only ask because you’re much more relaxed and happier than when you left here. The European tour was exhausting for everyone, but you were more stressed out than usual.”
“Let’s just say me and Van have taken our partnership to the next level,” I replied with a filthy grin and licked the chocolate off my fingers.
“Thank the Lord Jesus, and finally! I didn’t think I could take any more of that sexual tension. Ahh, I’m so happy for y’all!” Bibi screamed and clapped her hands.
I winced at the decibel level of her voice. “You ever consider being on stage yourself? You can project like no one else.”
She playfully whacked my arm.
“And keep that info on the down low for now, please,” I added as I sipped on my coffee. “We’re not going public with our relationship. Yet.”
Bibi squealed again and reached for a donut. “These donuts were all for you, but fuck it. This news calls for a celebratory pastry. So, spill. How was it? Are you exclusive? What do the guys think? Are you going to—”
I held up my hand. “Whoa. And to answer your questions, it was amazing, fuck yes, and the guys are cautiously happy for us. And I have no idea what your fourth question was since I interrupted you.”
“The guys aren’t happy?” she asked before she bit into her glazed donut.
“They are, but they also have concerns. We don’t know how this is gonna play out yet, right? I mean, hello, spoiled rock star,” I pointed to myself. “Maybe me being his boyfriend and the guy he manages will be too much for him, yeah? Fucking and falling is one thing, the reality of day-to-day living is another.”
Bibi blinked and stared at me. “Who is this mature Brodie, and what have you done with my fuckboy?”
I burst out laughing. “Fuckboy is still here, but now there’s only one man I fuck.”
Bibi took a sip of her coffee and nodded. “And how is Van dealing with all this? He’s never mentioned he was gay. In fact, thinking back, he told me about a woman he was dating shortly before he signed on with Bandit, so I always assumed he was straight. Or bi, since I knew the way he looked at you was not the way a manager looks at his artist. Still, he isn’t one to talk about his private life.”
