Page 49 of Half Notes and Highlights
“I was going to tell you today. Right now.” Ethan flung his arm toward his hotel room. “That’s why I said I had something important to tell you. I hoped you’d be happy that I found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“The rest of your life?” Wolf raised his voice with shock. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything.” Ethan’s tone softened, because he didn’t want to argue anymore. He wanted his best friend back. “Tyler makes me really happy, Wolf. I’ve never met anyone like him. From the minute I met him, I can’t stop thinking about him. I didn’t know he felt the same way. But he does. We’re in love. I thought you’d be at least a little bit happy for me.”
Wolf grunted and his brows shot up. “Happy? You expect me to be happy that after 20 years you’re just going to cast me aside?”
“I’m not casting you aside.” With a heavy heart, Ethan tried to cup Wolf’s face in his hand to soothe his best friend, but Wolf slapped it away. “You’re still my best friend, Wolf. Nothing’s going to change that. But me and Tyler want to be exclusive now. We kept saying it was casual, but things got serious, so we want to take the next step.”
“You’re getting married?” Wolf exclaimed, his eyebrows and voice skyrocketing.
“No.” Ethan smiled. “We’re not getting married. Not yet. Maybe in the future.”
“Oh my God!” Wolf paced and threw his hands up to the ceiling. “Who the fuckareyou?”
“Why can’t you be happy for me?” Ethan’s brows pinched together, and he shook his head. He understood this was hard for Wolf, but if the situation were reversed, he’d be happy for his friend.
“Because everything changed so fast and you’re cutting me out of your life!” Wolf shouted.
“I’m not cutting you out of my life. When did I ever say or act like I don’t want you around?”
Wolf snorted. “Whenever he’s here! Which is all the time! You just said you don’t want me anymore!”
“I did not. I only said that me and Tyler are in love and in an exclusive relationship now. I was only clarifying that me and you are just going to be friends.Withoutbenefits.”
Wolf took a deep breath, pressed his lips together firmly, and nodded. “Fine. It’s better that way, anyway. We should have ended it a long time ago, so we could both move on. I’m happy for you.” But his voice was filled with anger and vehemence. “Good luck.” Then he turned and walked into his room and shut the door. The sound of the lock clicking was the only noise in the otherwise quiet hallway.
Ethan stared at the closed door and considered knocking but decided against it. Instead, he went back to his room and came face to face with Ruby standing in the open doorway. He forgot she was there. Why was she still here listening to everything? Why didn’t she just leave? “I don’t want to hear it,” he said walking past her. “I just want to be alone, so if you don’t mind . . .”
“I’m so sorry that happened, Ethan. That was awful. I want you to know two things, and then I’ll leave you alone. One, security has an ironclad NDA, and the only other people on the floor are Harris, Marshall, and Paul. No staff or anyone else. Not a word of this is going to be leaked. Second, I want you to know that after what I just witnessed, I’m going to ease up regarding your personal life and let things simmer for a while.”
Like she had a choice. Wolf probably wouldn’t even speak to him anymore. There wasn’t a chance in hell they’d play up their chemistry on stage.
“You know where to reach me if you need me.”
Ethan collapsed onto the couch as soon as Ruby shut the door behind her. This morning, he’d been happier than he’d ever been in his life. Now, his life was a mess. Wolf would come around, hetold himself. The guy only needed to calm down and see things clearly.
But what if he didn’t? Ethan could lose his lifelong friend. He couldn’t handle that. He didn’t know how to fix this. Suddenly overcome, he covered his face with his hands and did something he hadn’t done in years. He cried. Sobbed. His chest ached and his stomach felt like he’d just been punched.
When someone knocked, he shot to his feet and ran to the door, his heart racing so fast he felt a rush in the center of his chest. But it was only Marshall, not Wolf.
“Mind if I come in?” Marshall asked.
Ethan quickly wiped his eyes, nodded, and sat back down on the couch.
Marshall sat next to him and rested his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “That was fucking brutal, dude.”
“Did you check on Wolf? Is he OK?”
“Harris is with him.”
“Good. I don’t want him to be alone.”
“Things are going to be OK. You guys have had your ups and downs before. It’ll work out in the end. It always does.”
“I hope so. But I’m not so sure this time. I’m worried. Fucking petrified.” Ethan hung his head, never feeling lower. “I hurt him. It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”
“Once we get on stage tonight, everything will calm down. The music will take over. Emotions will settle. You’ll see.” Marshall patted Ethan’s knee. “It’s going to be OK.”
