Page 31 of Half Notes and Highlights
The camera panned out and then focused on Harris behind the drums for a bit, pounding away and spinning his sticks. Then it showcased Marshall, standing on a small platform at the front of the stage and taunting the crowd with his killer guitar playing. The camera returned to Ethan, who was singing directly to Wolf now. Wolf’s eyes never left Ethan’s as he plucked on hisbass, and Ethan was looking straight back at him. The two were sharing a connection that jumped out at you right through the television screen. It was undeniable and in your face. And Tyler didn’t like it. Not. One. Bit.
A weird feeling stirred in Tyler’s gut as he intently watched Wolf’s face inch closer to Ethan’s as he continued singing the lyrics. Then, it happened. Tyler couldn’t tell who initiated it, but the next thing he knew, Ethan and Wolf were sharing a kiss that exuded lust and passion. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but it was intense and exaggerated and the fans went wild. The crowd roared and whooped, and then it was over. Wolf pranced over to his side of the stage and Ethan leaned into the crowd and slapped the palms of the eager outstretched hands.
A surge of jealousy and heat rose in Tyler’s chest like a volcano. “Motherfucker!” He jumped to his feet and threw his cup of cocoa at the flatscreen. It immediately went black, his mug shattered, and hot, chocolate liquid covered everything.
He stood there too stunned to move. First, what the fuck? And second, he just broke his TV and his favorite mug. Probably five minutes went by while his thoughts catapulted around his head before he calmed down enough to think sensibly. He and Ethan had discussed this. They’re not in a committed relationship. He knew Ethan has a friends with benefits thing going on with Wolf. They’re both free to see other people. And that’s exactly what Tyler wants. He didn’t want to be tied down. Or . . . does he?
He shook his head to clear it because he didn’t have time to go into those feelings right now. He needed to focus on his reaction. He’s had his fair share if hissy fits in his life. He was always a drama queen. But the anger and betrayal he felt were uncalled for. He should have been more hurt than angry. Maybe it was just seeing them together that caused his temper to flare. Or maybe it was because it somehow meant that Wolf won. Tylerleft Portland feeling as if he had the upper hand. Now, Wolf clearly had control of the wand.
Tyler grunted and placed his fist on his hip while his mind worked on double time thinking of ways to get the ball back in his court. He narrowed his eyes and addressed Wolf through the blank flatscreen. “You haven’t been up against the likes of Tyler Kennedy before. You . . . you . . . you . . . wolf!”
Without bothering to clean up the mess, he found his phone and called Ethan. Luckily it hadn’t been in his hand when he saw the now infamous kiss heard round the world or it would have been as smashed as his mug of cocoa.
It took three rings before Ethan answered. “Hey, baby! I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.”
“Hey yourself, rock star. I missed you,” Tyler said, laying on the charm in his most sultry voice. “I had such an amazing time in Portland that everything seems so dull here now.”
“Dull? How could anything be dull when you’re in the room?”
“Because you’re not here with me. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. I think about you all the time when we’re not together.”
Tyler scoffed, as the image of Ethan kissing Wolf on stage flashed in his head.
“It’s true. You don’t believe me?”
Tyler needed a second to calm down and swallow his jealousy so he could slip back into his usual good mood. “What do you think about?”
“I think about the first day we met. The day you cut my hair.”
The answer surprised Tyler, and he wanted to hear more. “Really? Why?”
“Because I had no idea what to expect. I was so mad and so upset. I had this horrible burn on my arm, but I didn’t care about it because I was climbing the walls about my hair. I wanted to somehow salvage the length, and Paul told me that if anyonecould fix it, it would be you. And then you wanted to cut it all off. I almost jumped out of the chair, but you talked me off a ledge. I have no idea how you did it, but you calmed all the crazy and frustrating emotions that were spiraling out of control inside me. Not to mention that you were the cutest little thing I’d ever seen. You had this effervescence that bathed the room. It was overpowering. It was like I forgot everything bad that happened and you were presenting me with a whole new image. A makeover I wasn’t expecting. You transformed not just my look, but my mood too. How’d you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Tyler replied, modestly, not expecting the elaborate answer. “I was just being myself and taking control of the situation. I know hair, and I knew you’d look hot with your hair framing your face instead of overshadowing it. You’re gorgeous. The hair doesn’t make you beautiful. It frames your beauty.”
“No. You make me beautiful. Because you’re beautiful. Inside and out.”
Tyler inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. This call definitely turned out way better than expected. It started out as catty payback. A way to get Ethan thinking about him instead of Wolf. It did that, but it did so much more. It opened the door in Tyler’s heart a little wider. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me.”
“It’s true.”
“I wish I was there right now. I miss you more now than before I called.”
“I wish you were here now too. Maybe . . . I don’t know. It’s crazy, but I really want to see you.”
“I have to be at the studio tomorrow. I have appointments. But I’m free on the weekend.”
“That’s four days away.” Ethan paused. “Let me see what I can do.”
Tyler raised a brow and couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “Are you thinking about flying here for a few hours? That’s insane. We can wait four days.”
A long groan came through the phone. “It’s killing me to be away from you. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“You just keep thinking about me, because I’m right here. A phone call away. Call me whenever you want.”
“You mean I can call you every day?”
