Page 8 of My Five Daddies

I nod and lean back. “Good of you tojoin.”

“Fuck off. I’m notlate.”

I grin at Hunter and he just rolls his eyes. Ethan’s always a little touchy after a night ofdrinking.

Jordan and Chris join soon after him. I sip my coffee as the guys bullshit. Tori is the main topic of conversation, and I’m surprised that all five of us are so smitten with her. I don’t think there’s ever been a girl to break into the group this quickly. Maybe it’s because we’ve all been searching for something new, or maybe it’s because Tori is genuinely exciting. It’s really hard to say this soon. But I want to findout.

“Okay, assholes,” I say finally. “Let’s get to it.” I look up at Hunter andnod.

“We’re here to talk about Dustin Trudeau. Will and I think he has seriouspromise.”

“I agree,” Ethan says. “I heard some of his stuff,and—“

“Who cares about his music?” Jordan cuts in. “It’s all about his image, and he’s got an image. Tests great with preteengirls.”

I can feel the tension between them immediately. Ethan’s the artist of the group. He owns a string of recording studios all over the country, though his main one is in the city. Jordan, meanwhile, runs an ad agency, specializing in personal relations for talent like Dustin. They clash sometimes when it comes to what actually sells the albums. Ethan thinks it’s always the music, and Jordan thinks it’s always theadvertising.

Personally, I think it’s both, but I just stay out ofit.

“Okay, let’s not get into this shit,” Chris says. “I’m meeting with Dustin later today and I need to bring him a realplan.”

Chris owns the largest talent management company on the East Coast, and he doesn’t typically manage guys anymore. He’s normally just running the company like a CEO and reaping all the profits. So it says a lot if he’s personally involved with thiskid.

“Can someone tell me what’s so special about him?” I askhonestly.

“He’s got that… special shit,” Ethansays.

“I agree,” Jordan adds. “I don’t know what it is, but he tests through theroof.”

“He’s talented,” Ethansays.

“He’s handsome and young,” Chris adds. “Although he’s a little…difficult.”

I glance at Hunter. “Difficult?” Iask.

“We’re handling it,” Chris says, avoiding thesubject.

I decide to move on. “Let’s get some actionable plans. If we’re going to sign this kid and make him a star, we need to all be on board and know what we’re doing. Jordan, you’re upfirst…”

Jordan dives into his pitch and the meeting gets started inearnest.

After college, we all decided to make a pact. We chose to enter into a single industry, one which would suit all of our strengths. We promised we’d always help each other succeed, because what’s good for one person can be good for the group. That idea has been incredibly profitable for us for a very long time, and in the last fifteen years we’ve slowly come todominate.

It’s not always paradise with us. When you get five big personalities together, there’s bound to be some fighting. And we’ve had our fair share offights.

But we always make up, because that’s what a family does. We make up and move on. I think our group is as much a family as any of us have, since we’re all bachelors, and none of us have children. We’re all happy this way, or at least we are as far as I know. We’re best friends, we’re brothers, and that’s been enough for awhile.

Sometimes though, I’m afraid it won’t be enoughforever.

Finally the meeting comes to an end. We have a good plan for this Dustin kid, and I think he has potential. I’m actually pretty excited about him, and I’m hoping he can take this outfit to the nextlevel.

“Okay, boys, we have one more piece of business,” Isay.

“No, Will, I’m not going to blow you tonight,” Ethansays.

I grin at Hunter and roll myeyes.

“Like he’d want you to do it,” Jordansays.

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