Page 69 of Half Notes and Highlights
“I don’t know why I’m still always ready for a fight. I thought I was over it, but I guess not.”
“Over what?”
Wolf hesitated before speaking, obviously unsure if he should continue. But he did, with his head lowered and staring at the floor. “I don’t talk about my personal life or my family. I hate them. My parents. I can’t believe I’m talking about them right now.” He slowly shook his head back and forth and wrapped his arms around his body. “They threw me out and tossed me aside when I was 15. I was just a kid, and I had no one. I haven’t spoken to them since that day. Ethan is the reason I got through it. He was always there for me. My whole life, he’s the only one I could count on. And then you came along, and I felt like I was getting tossed aside again.” Wolf still didn’t lift his head, but his brows pinched together, and his face scrunched up with emotion. “I thought that shit from my past didn’t affect me anymore, but obviously it does.”
Tyler’s heart sank to the floor at the turmoil and insecurities Wolf openly displayed. The vulnerability he exuded was palpable. Tyler couldn’t imagine losing his family and being alone at such a young age. A frown covered his face while his insides felt pulverized for this guy in front of him who looked so alone and distraught. He hated seeing people in pain and in need. He was too empathetic to sit there and do nothing, so he stood up and approached Wolf, his arms wide open. “You need a hug.”
Ethan was bored. Tired of waiting in his RV for Tyler to finish his appointments, he strolled outside and stared up at the bright sun. He was about to send a group text to the guys to see whatthey were up to but saw Marshall and Harris walking toward him. “I was just about to text you guys.”
“We were at the festival listening to bands.” Marshall wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “It’s hot. Want to grab a cold drink and some food?”
“Yeah. Where’s Wolf?”
“I don’t know,” Harris replied. “We asked Wolf to come, but he said he had something to do.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
Marsh and Harris looked at each other and laughed. “We stopped by this morning,” Harris explained. “But there were too many noises coming from your RV.”
Ethan smiled as he remembered this morning’s antics. “I’m enjoying having Tyler here. I wish he could come on tour with us full time.”
“Yeah. He’s cool,” Marshall said. “I like having him around.”
“I don’t know,” Harris added. “I really like Tyler, but when he and Wolf are in the same room, the tension is through the roof.”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” Ethan complained, still hoping things would change. Maybe going out for food, just the four of them, would make Wolf feel less left out. It would be a sign that Ethan wasn’t pushing their friendship aside and meant what he said about paying more attention to Wolf. “Let’s check his RV.”
The three of them put their fists to the door of Wolf’s RV and called his name, but there was no response.
“Do you know where Wolf is?” Ethan asked a security guard standing nearby.
“He’s in the salon.”
“What?” Ethan practically shouted. He had no idea what Wolf was up to or why he was seeking out Tyler, but the guy clearly went too far. Ethan was out of patience and, frankly, fed up. The remarks and attitude were bad enough, but seeking Tyler out fora confrontation wasn’t going to be tolerated. “How long has he been in there?”
“About an hour,” the security guard answered.
Ethan’s heart started to race, and his face got hot. “He’s been in there the whole time?”
“Yes, sir,” the guard replied, cautiously, as if he said too much.
Ethan raced toward the trailer, kicking up sand and, at one point, almost twisting his ankle in the uneven terrain. He had no idea what he was about to walk in on and only hoped the two of them weren’t killing each other in there. He flung open the door and ran inside, his heart pounding.
Out of all the scenarios he envisioned, he never imagined the scene in front of him. Wolf was sitting in the salon chair, a cape draped over him, with Tyler leaning in front of him dusting his cheeks with a big fluffy brush.
At the commotion of Ethan’s entrance, Tyler stood up straight, and Wolf looked at Ethan through the mirror.
“Good grief! You scared the hell out of me,” Tyler said, a hand to his chest. “Knock next time. Or enter like a human being. I could take an eye out or something.”
“What’s going on here?” Ethan looked from Tyler to Wolf and back again.
“What does it look like? I’m doing Wolf’s makeup.” He swiveled the chair so it faced Ethan. “I gave him a natural contour with bronzer.”
“It looks good, right?” Wolf asked, turning his face from side to side so Ethan could get a better look. “You can’t even tell I’m wearing makeup.”
Ethan stared at him, too stunned to answer.
Tyler swiveled the chair back around so he could study Wolf’s face. “You were so deathly pale. You looked more like a vampire than a wolfman.”
