Page 48 of Bassist With Benefits
“Security is waiting downstairs,” Felix said as they boarded the elevator. “Twin Media is going to film you leaving the hotel and boarding the bus, so stop to sign an autograph or two, but don’t take all day.”
“No problem,” Brandon said. “I’m always happy to interact with the fans.”
Derek grunted a laugh. “No shit.”
The lobby was crowded with people, all trying to get close to Bulletproof. The band’s bodyguards kept a tight circle around everyone as hotel security navigated them to the front entrance. Screams filled the air as soon as the front doors opened. Outside, fans were secured behind barricades to their left and right, opening an aisle down the center that led to the bus. It was lined with a red carpet – an actual red fucking carpet. “Look at this fancy shit.” Alan pointed out the carpet to Jeremy.
Jeremy rubbed the knap with the tip of his boot and chuckled. “You know what would be really funny? If the dog took a crap on it. Imagine the horror on Felix’s face if the cameras caught something like that.”
Alan threw his head back and let out a deep, bellowing laugh. He turned to look at Brandy, in case by chance she happened to be coincidentally taking a shit on the red carpet, but she was standing next to Cam as well-behaved as always.
Cam and Brandon were hand in hand, smiling as the fans snapped photos with their cell phones. The two were the perfect couple, and the fans went nuts at the opportunity to take a photo of them together. They even screamed for Brandy, who happily wagged her tail at the attention, but Cam held her leash tight, not wanting the crowd of fans to get too close to his beloved dog.
When Alan turned back to Jeremy, his lover was posing for a photo. Alan ran up next to Jeremy, stuck his head in the photo flashing rock and roll horns, and wrapped an arm around Jeremy’s neck. He envisioned the day when a photo with Jeremy wouldn’t look like a simple photo of friends and bandmates, but one of a rock star couple, just like Brandon and Cam. He smiled wider at the thought and pulled Jeremy toward the bus, with an arm still around his lover’s shoulder. “When we get to Lincoln, we have the rest of the day free. Do you want to go to that brewery? The one with the 23 different beers on tap? I’ll bet I can drink more than you can.”
“You mean puke faster than I can. Like the time we had the bet who could drink more funnel shots. Did you forget that I won?”
“But you still puked.” They shared a laugh at the memory.
There was a commotion up ahead when a dude jumped the barricade. It was a good thing one of the security guards was at the doors to the tour bus, because they were open, and it looked like the guy was intent on becoming a stowaway.
“I’ll bet that’s another publicity stunt for the movie,” Jeremy pointed out.
“Yeah. I bet—”
“Let go!” the fan yelled. “I know him! Alan! It’s me, Eddie!”
Alan looked carefully at the excited fan, expecting it to be a stranger and part of Twin Media’s plot to show that fans can’t control themselves around Bulletproof. But he raised his brow in surprise when he recognized the guy. “It’s not staged. I really do know that dude. It’s the guy I outed that night outside the bus in Orlando.”
“Oh, yeah,” Jeremy said. “I remember that guy. I barely busted a nut that night. All I could think about was you sitting next to me getting a blowjob from some dude that wasn’t me. I was so relieved when he and his friend jumped off the bus right after we were done.”
“Me too. I didn’t know what to say to the guy, so I thanked him for the blowjob, right in front of someone he knew.” The guy was still struggling with the security guard, but stopped when he saw Alan looking in his direction.
“Alan! Remember me? It’s Eddie! We met in Florida about a month ago! Tell them you know me!”
“It’s alright!” Alan called to the bodyguard. “You can let him go.”
“He probably wants to thank you for letting the cat out of the bag so he can live his life like a regular person.” Jeremy shook his head. “I don’t know how anyone can live in the closet at his age.”
Guilt tugged at Alan’s heart. Hiding their relationship from the rest of the world wasn’t any better.
Eddie ran toward Alan, out of breath from struggling with the guard. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. I want to tell you what happened after you blurted out that I gave you a blowjob in front of my brother-in-law.”
“Sorry about that,” Alan apologized. “But sometimes it’s better to just rip off the Band-Aid. Did it all work out?”
Eddie’s face turned bright red. “No. It didn’t. That was my wife’s brother.”
Alan jerked his head back, confusion clouding his brow. “You have a wife?”
“Yeah. She’s fucking divorcing me.” Eddie spoke through clenched teeth, venom coating his words. “She’s suing me for half of my business, as well as future earnings. She’s taking everything. I’m gonna be fucking broke thanks to you!”
Alan’s jaw gaped, and he felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He ruined this guy’s life, albeit unintentionally.
Jeremy stepped forward, shoulders back and chest out, eyeballing Eddie with suspicion. “This guy’s trying to blackmail you, Alan. He’s probably full of shit.”
“I’m sorry,” Alan apologized for the second time. “I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble or fuck up your life. But I’m not giving you any money.”
Eddie stared at Alan, a perplexed look of disbelief on his face. “I don’t want your fucking money!” he finally shouted.
