Page 43 of Bulletproof
Unable to watch the heated kiss, Derek stood from the table. “I need a cold drink.”
“Bring us a round of beers,” Jeremy said loudly, as Derek left the table.
Derek was just sneaking away to call Travis, but now he was stuck playing fucking waiter.He found the cooler on the counter, stuffed it full of beer bottles, and covered it with ice from the freezer. He let it sit while he checked his phone again. No text. No missed call. Nothing. He punched Travis’ speed dial number into the phone and listened to the unanswered ring. When voicemail answered the call, Derek hung up. Aggravated, he dropped his phone on the counter and opened the fridgein search of a late night snack. A tray covered in tin foil caught his attention. It dominated the center shelf. The weight of it intrigued him and woke his appetite as he placed it on the counter. Once he removed the tin foil top, he uncovered a gorgeous homemade lasagna, with a glistening white cheesy top, golden in some places, red sauce peeking through, and curly edges of pasta that had a crispybite. He knew right away that Brandon, the only Italian in the bunch, had ordered it. It made him think of Travis’ last name – Fontana. That was probably Italian, too. Even a fucking plate of lasagna reminded him of Travis. “Hey Bran, I’m eating your lasagna.”
“Don’t eat the whole thing.”
“Just having a taste.” Derek cut a chunk of lasagna that equaled a quarter of thetray, slapped it onto a plate and nuked it in the microwave.
Minutes later, a tantalizing aroma filled his nostrils as fresh as a Sunday dinner at Brandon’s mother’s house. Ah, the memories of when Mrs. B. had them over every Sunday for a family feast, centering around her famous lasagna. His stomach growled with a ravenous craving. He’d better stop thinking about it, because nothingcompared to Mrs. B.’s lasagna, and he’d be in for a big disappointment. He shoveled a huge forkful into his mouth and let out a groan of satisfaction. Fucking delicious.
A whine at his knee made him look down, and pleading brown eyes stared up at him. “Brandy, are you after my lasagna?” She wagged her tail, and he swore she fucking nodded her head. “Do you know what lasagna is?” Thedog’s eyes widened and she drooled. “My God. You do know what lasagna is! In that case, you have to have some. But it’s too hot.” He cut a piece for her, put it on a plate, stuck it in the fridge for thirty seconds, and then gave it to her. She gobbled it up greedily, just as fast as Derek shoveled it into his face. Although the lasagna was a welcomed surprise, hunger didn’t bring him into thekitchen, nor was it to get everyone a supply of beer. He left their card game to do one thing – call Travis. But the guy wasn’t answering his fucking phone.
Derek checked his phone the moment he woke, but still no word from Travis. “What the fuck are you up to?” he asked aloud, while he debatedleaving another message. They needed to head out soon for a promo event, so he left the bedroom in search of breakfast and followed the scent of coffee.
Felix was sitting at the dining room table, calmly sipping from a mug. “Nice of you to join us this morning. Honestly, how many hours of sleep do you guys need? Look at Cam. I saw him running with the dog two hours ago. The rest ofyou look like you haven’t even made it to bed yet.”
Brandon was slumped over on the couch with his head in Cam’s lap, snoring like a buzz saw. Jeremy and Alan were cuddling together in the recliner, awake, but their eyes were hooded with sleep.
“We had a late night playing cards.”
“Well, at least you didn’t get yourself into any trouble. Please be careful,Derek.”
“Be careful of what?” He poured himself a large cup of coffee and looked at the empty table. “Where’s the chow? I’m starved.”
“Room service will be here any minute. I want you to be careful with Travis Fontana.”
Derek paused with the coffee cup at his lips, annoyed with Felix’s warning. “What I do in my personal life is none of your business, andyou need to back off.” He saw Jeremy and Alan come to life out of the corner of his eye. None of them mouthed off to the band’s manager.
“You are my business, Derek. And I don’t just mean financially, either. I worry about you guys. I don’t want you going down the wrong path or getting mixed up with people who may not be good for you.”
“Why the fuck do you think Travisisn’t good for me?”
“He’s a nice kid. Don’t get me wrong. I truly like him and wish him the best. But, come on. He’s a train wreck. Surely you can see that.”
Derek slammed his mug down on the table. Felix’s statement echoed everything Travis had confessed about how no one believed in him. “Don’t fucking judge him. You have no right.”
“I’m not being judgmental.I’m being realistic. I do background checks. He’s been in and out of trouble since he was a teen. He makes you seem sedate. I don’t want you sucked into bad behavior. You have too much to lose.”
“You meanyouhave too much to lose.”
Felix stood. He wasn’t an exceptionally tall man, but his confident demeanor filled the room with an imposing presence. “It’s not about myfinancial gain all the time. I worry about you as individuals. Have I ever given you any reason to think otherwise? Yes, the band is at the heart of it all, but you’re human beings. Young, talented individuals with infinite opportunities. I didn’t have to offer the opening gig to Reckless. I did so because I saw possibilities. I wanted to give them a break.” His attitude and sarcasm deepened ashe went on. “I’m not getting anything from having them on tour. I’m not making money from it or from them. I suggested Reckless to the label. I gave my recommendation because I wanted to help them. I’m not the greedy, heartless bastard you all seem to think I am.”
“Whoa.” Brandon had woken and joined Derek. “No one thinks you’re a greedy bastard, Felix. We may give you a hard time,but you got more integrity than anyone I know.” Brandon placed his hand on Derek’s shoulder in a show of support. “But Derek’s an adult. He’s got a head on his shoulders. He’s not gonna get mixed up in something he can’t handle.”
“Thanks, Bran.” Derek was silently seething. Pissed as fuck, he took his coffee and waited in the kitchen for food to arrive. In a way, he understood Felix’sconcern and regretted accusing their manager of having an ulterior motive. Still, listening to Felix list Travis’ faults and assuming that Travis’ wild behavior would influence him in a negative way irked the hell out of Derek.
He stewed in the kitchen for his lover and the humiliation of being stereotyped as trouble and no good. Room service arrived and Derek listened as Brandongreeted the hotel staff.
“Hey, Derek. C’mere and sign a menu and take a photo.”
Derek groaned and let his head fall into his chest. Just once he’d love for Brandon to pass up the opportunity to interact with fans, but he knew that day would never come. Brandon Bullet wouldn’t be Brandon Bullet if he didn’t cater to the fans.
After they took a photo, and afterBrandon handed the signed menu to the staff as if he was presenting them with a Grammy, the group finally sat down to breakfast. Derek felt Felix’s stare. He tried not to look up, and focused on his omelet. He took another helping of bacon, skewered a few pancakes and placed them onto his plate. Eyes still lowered, he drank his coffee, while Felix never budged. Derek finally put down his fork,unable to enjoy his breakfast with Felix hoovering over him. “What is it, Felix?”
“You hurt my feelings. Look, I didn’t mean to say anything derogatory about your boyfriend. I’m only—”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
