Page 63 of My Five Daddies

“You want to make an album. You want to be a star. We’re making sure ithappens.”

He acts like I’m not responding. “But she just, she like, she gets me, you know? Really gets me.” There’s a stupid smile on his face. “Tori, it’s a good name. Pretty hair. I like herhair.”

I stare at him for a second, watching him closely. I don’t bother answering atall.

“I think about her a lot, you know,” he says. “I think I would have quit if it weren’t for her. I mean, I would have found a new label. But I like Tori, I want to be aroundher.”

“How much do you like her,Dustin?”

“I love her,” he says, finally looking at me. “I’m in love with her. She’s the only good thing in my life. I want to be around herforever.”

I sigh and stand. “Okay, bud. Let’s get you inbed.”

“Yeah, man. In bed with Tori.” He laughs at his stupid joke but he lets me help himup.

I lead him back through the booth and he keeps talking about how much he loves Tori and wants to marry her. I get the kid downstairs and back into my office. There’s a couch in there. I get him down on it, pillow behind his head. I put a trashcan down next to him, in case hepukes.

“Go to sleep,” Isay.

“Yeah, man. Sleep. Fucking Tori.” He grins, his eyes hangingheavy.

I snap off the light and shut thedoor.

“Shit,” I say softly to myself, hurrying upstairs to call theguys.

He really thinks he loves Tori, we have a seriousproblem.

21

Tori

The lights dim downbut the stage is still empty except for two stools and an acoustic guitar. I glance at Hunter and he grins at me.Wait, he mouths tome.

I look back to the stage. Suddenly a spotlight comes on, illuminating the stools. Ethan walks out from the back and takes a seat on one of the stools, picking up the guitar, throwing the strap over his shoulder. He quickly tunes it, ignoring thecrowd.

The club is a decent size and it’s packed. Most of the audience is younger, so we had to find a venue that could do an all ages show. The bar is closed in the back, which is a shame, because I’m actuallynervous.

It’s been a few weeks since the boys told me that they’re going to be my Daddies. In that time, we’ve been working with Dustin, polishing his act, getting him in the studio and working onsongs.

And of course, we’ve been seeing each other. Mostly in small groups, because it’s hard to get everyone together. But our relationship has grown, step by step, and I feel closer to them than I’ve ever feltbefore.

Their first rule seemed impossible to me. I couldn’t imagine treating them all perfectly equal. It sounded like a logistical nightmare. But as it turns out, it’s surprisingly easy, especially because I feelit.

That’s the oddest part. I expected to start to get closer with one or two of the guys, but it hasn’t happened. Instead, I’ve been growing closer, but to all of them at once. It’s like they’re just a single person for me, a collective of individuals, and I’m falling for the collective. Together, they make the perfectman.

“Here he is,” Hunter sayssoftly.

Dustin steps out from behind the curtain and the crowd starts cheering. I’m surprised at how many young girls are here. The guys keep telling me that they’re the main target audience, but still, I didn’t know Dustin has a followingalready.

“They love him,” Hunter whispers. “Can’t helpthemselves.”

I watch the faces around us, and sure enough, he’s right. The girls are all beaming up at him like they want to marry him, like they want to throw themselves down at his feet and let him take their virginity, one at atime.

Dustin gets on his stool, a cool and calm smile on his face. “Evening, everyone,” he says. “This song’s called ‘Promised Whisper’ and it’s from my upcomingalbum.”

Ethan starts playing then, a song I’ve heard a million times. It’s the opener to the album, and probably the first single. It’s an upbeat ballad, something danceable but still cheesy enough to have a corny love message. Ethan looks a little out of place up there, but we put together this showcase and test show at the last second, and he’s the only person that knows all the songs byheart.

As Dustin begins to sing, I’m actually blown away. I’ve heard him play and sing plenty of times in the studio, but out here in the real world, with all these people staring up at him, he sounds incredible. He has a presence on the stage that’s hard to define, like he was bornthere.

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