AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because it’s not,” I admit as I grip my phone tighter.
Tenn gives me a once over, then drops to sit on the couch beside me. Wherever he’s got to be, it’s clearly not urgent. Not if he’s stopping to assess my mood over a few bitten out words.
“Talk. Tell me where your head is.”
I sigh. “My head is here. I’m just nervous about how it'll go. I wrote a song yesterday.”
His eyes widen comically as a Cheshire grin takes over.
“That’s what I’m talking about! One day with me and you’re back on your game. How does the song sound? Tell me all about it.”
“I thought you had somewhere to be.”
He leans back on the couch slowly, his gaze never wavering from mine. “Best friend duties prohibit me from leaving.”
“Well, too bad for you because I have a meeting to get to soon. I don’t have time to geek out over this with you.” My confidence builds the longer he sits with me. Tenn knows me better than anyone. As my best friend, he’s heard the ups and downs of the music process. For me to hint that this is different and that he’ll like it is like shaking a bag of bacon flavored treats in front of an eager puppy.
Tenn scowls over at me, then checks his phone. “Shit. I’m already running late anyway. This conversation isn’t over. I want details, and I want to get first listen. I call dibs.”
“You don’t have to call dibs. Who else am I going to play it for?”
“I don’t know! The band. Or the label. Or hell, even Austen. He loves listening to your stuff, so he’d likely be a good source to get feedback from.” He taps his chin. “Actually, yeah. When you and Austen get home, you should play it for him. It’s his short day, so you’ll have plenty of time.”
He so casually drops this bomb on me, then takes off for the door. I try not to let my jaw drop at what he’s saying, even though I feel completely shocked.
Sure, I figured Austen knew the music. I was around enough that he’d probably heard me singing, or maybe he’s heard the song on the radio.
I never dared to imagine he enjoyed the music enough to be a fan. At least not in the way Tenn was implying.
After Tennyson leaves, I sit alone for a few minutes to gather my thoughts. I can’t fathom a world in which Austen Page likes the music I create. Like he likes it, likes it. Enough to probably have it downloaded to his phone or to know the words well enough to sing along.
I get so lost in the idea of him and his appreciation for my craft that I almost miss seeing the man himself come out of his room. When my gaze focuses, it’s to find him shuffling to the bathroom in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs.
Boxer briefs that are struggling hard to contain his monster cock.
Fucking hell.
Now I’m horny.
My alarm goes off to remind me I need to be leaving soon. With Austen in the bathroom, I’m forced to wait. Gathering my clothes and stuff, I get as prepped as possible before he comes out. I don’t have time for a long shower since I spent so much of the morning talking to Tenn and debating all my life decisions.
Ok, maybe not anything that dramatic but still. I feel wrung out emotionally, and it’s barely eight in the morning.
“It’s all yours,” Austen calls out while I’m digging through my duffle bag. I already have everything I need. I’m just trying to kill some time since I don’t need another peek of him half naked for my body to go haywire.
When I pivot, he’s thankfully tucked away in his own space again. I make quick work of jumping in the shower, rinsing away the dirt from yesterday, and then hopping out to get dressed. My erection stands proud as fuck despite the coldness of the water and my demand that it go down. Just knowing Austen was in here before me is enough to keep me hard.
Gently, I tuck myself into my jeans before throwing on the rest of my clothes quickly. By the time I’m done, the object of my lust is eating a bowl of cereal at the counter in the kitchen.
“I’ll drive us both. I’ve got a half day today, though with Stryker still in town, it could go over. Do you mind coming back to grab me later?”
It’s such a couple-like question that I stumble over what to say. I don’t mind picking him up, obviously. My schedule is wide open since I’m not doing much right now outside of writing the next album. Besides, being with him in any capacity feels good. Why would I turn that down?
“Yeah. I can come back. No big deal. Do you have any clue what Stryker wants?”
We make our way to the car side by side. Austen shakes his head in reply, a frown on his handsome face.
“Your guess is as good as mine. He seemed to know who you were — though who doesn’t these days?”
