Page 85 of Tell Me Lies: Manlove Edition

Will reeled. He had to be hearing this wrong. Carsten … nothing made sense, yet it felt so right.

A knock on the door split the silence in the room. “Car? It’s nearly time to go on. The band is playing the last song and our guys are getting ready in the wings.”

“Who is that?” Will whispered.

“Frank, my stage manager.” Carsten stood. He offered his hand to Will. “I’d love it if you’d watch me play. I saw all your productions and concerts. You might have thought I hated you, but I didn’t. I was transfixed.”

Will allowed Carsten to tug him to his feet. “Every one of them?”

“Uh-huh. You were fantastic as Tommy in Brigadoon and the sexiest Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.” Carsten winked. “I need to head out. Frank will show you to your seat. I promise it’ll be a great show.”

“I had no doubts.” He reached for Carsten’s hand, moving on instinct. When he grasped Carsten’s fingers, electricity shot through his body again. For a second, he was transported back to high school, but not the one they’d attended. A better version. The version where he and Carsten were together. Where they were a team and could face anything. A place where he and Carsten were a couple, just as they should’ve been all along. “I can’t wait.”

Carsten beamed. “Neither can I.” He kissed Will, lingering a moment before stepping back. A warmth filled his eyes and a blush spread across his cheeks.

“Have a great show.” Will didn’t want to release his grasp on Carsten’s fingers, but he had to let him leave. The crowd didn’t want to see him show up late. Will stayed back, giving Carsten time to take the stage.

Frank stood in the doorway after Carsten left and grinned. “So you’re the infamous Will.”

“Should I be afraid that you know my name?” Or that he was infamous? “I created the art for the show.”

“The posters, I know.” Frank’s grin widened. “You’ve also been the inspiration for at least a third of his musical catalog. He’s been inspired by you for so long.”

“You’re joshing me.” He shrugged. He wanted to say something snappy, but the words didn’t come. “He’s not that taken with me.”

“He is. When you listen to him tonight, think about who he’s singing for. It’s not the woman in his life. Not his latest boyfriend. It’s deep, longing love … it’s for you.” Frank waved his hand. “This way. You’ve got a performer to inspire.”

“I guess I do.” He followed Frank back to the curtained-off area where two velvet-covered seats waited. “Am I sitting with anyone else?”

“Nope. This is all for you. He wanted to be sure you’d be comfortable. I guess he thought you’d have someone with you. Good thing you don’t.” Frank lingered another moment. “Do you want a drink or anything? Snacks?”

“A beer?” He hadn’t known he could get anything. “How much?” He withdrew his wallet.

“You should know better than that. Whatever you want is on the house.” Frank left, then returned a moment later with a bottle of beer. “Just don’t throw it at him.”

“No.” Why would he do that? He wasn’t without manners. Jesus. “Thank you.” He debated sitting or standing. The chairs sure looked comfy, but wasn’t it concert etiquette to stand? This wasn’t an instrumental concert. He could stand, dance, and cheer if he so desired.

The second the curtain rose, the spotlight shone on the lead guitarist as the music swelled. Will’s excitement increased. He’d never been to a concert like this. The electricity was palpable. The guitarist played, then nodded over his shoulder. The larger set of curtains parted and the spotlight converged right on Carsten. Seeing him on stage stole Will’s breath.

No wonder Carsten was a star. He oozed power and charisma. The more he listened to Carsten sing, the more he fell under his captivating spell. He swayed to the music and drank in the atmosphere. Carsten knew how to work the crowd, singing to the attendees not only in the first row, but throughout the arena.

Will sank onto the chair and embraced the sexual magnetism coming from Carsten. He’d thought he was immune to Carsten’s charms, but he hadn’t been. No blowjob could cement his feelings this way. He hadn’t been with Carsten as a simple tryst. Something deeper had happened. Was he in love? Hardly. But he’d known this man for a long time and saw the changes within him. Carsten wasn’t that kid from school. He might be cutthroat in the music business—Will wasn’t sure—he hadn’t been around him during business meetings. But his heart was different. He knew his shortcomings and had tried to make up for them.

Before he knew it, the concert ended and Carsten ducked backstage as the lights dimmed. The crowd didn’t leave. Instead, they chanted his name. Will glanced around, expecting either the crowd to jump the stage or for Carsten to return.

The lights came up slowly, but Carsten wasn’t on stage. His slide guitarist and the drummer sat on stools. The drummer played a small set of bongos while the guitarist strummed a regular guitar. Will didn’t know most of Carsten’s music, but this song sounded different.

The crowd cheered more and the lights dowsed again. When the spotlight came up, it focused right on Carsten.

“I wrote this song a few weeks ago and we’ve been tweaking it ever since. The guys don’t know who it’s for, but I do. We’re still working on it and it’s a little rough, but bear with us.” Carsten sat on the stool between them. “This is called ‘Redeem My Heart’.” He broke into the first verse of the song.

Will paused. A new song for someone … the second he heard the title, he knew. Carsten met his gaze and winked.Carsten sang:

“I came, I saw, I messed things all to hell.

I let my pride rule my life, despite knowing all too well.

You showed me how to be a man. How to love who I am.

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