Page 71 of Half Notes and Highlights
Finally, everyone was ready. Ethan looked hot as fuck with a little eye makeup, and the conditioning masque made his hair extra shiny and full of body. Harris’ normal beachy waves responded remarkably well to a special curl definer, and a rinse brought out his natural blond highlights. Wolf just needed a blow out, since the guy’s hair was phenomenal to begin with. Marshall had the biggest, and simplest, transformation. His buzz cut had grown out, so it was a little longer and really showed off the deep royal blue color that he finally agreed to.
Tyler went all out with his own appearance. One of his expensive conditioners gave his hair extra bounce and deepened his light brown to a chestnut. He wore a favorite pair of navy leather pants with an alligator texture and laces at the crotch and up the sides, deep purple ankle boots with a small heel, no shirt, and an amazing cropped vest that exposed his chest and most of his midriff. The best part is that the vest had fringe in the back that started at his shoulders and fell all the way down to the floor and displayed the beautiful colors of the rainbow.
Ethan’s reflection appeared in the mirror behind Tyler, and the rock star’s arms slid around Tyler’s bare waist and caressed his midsection with a sensual touch.
“You look really hot tonight,” Ethan said. “I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you.”
“That’s the point.” Tyler turned his head to the side and kissed Ethan over his shoulder, a dramatic movie-worthy kiss with one hand behind his head and the other on his waist covering Ethan’s hands. He watched an old black-and-white movie one time and saw two people kiss like that and thought it looked swoony and romantic. And it was.
“Thank you for working things out with Wolf. It means the world to me,” Ethan said in Tyler’s ear.
“You already thanked me, and I told you thanks weren’t necessary.” Befriending Wolf was the only way this relationship was going to work. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer was an adage that Tyler knew all too well. Although he really couldn’t consider Wolf the enemy. Wolf’s reaction was understandable, and he never did anything hurtful. He was just being a jerk, for obvious reasons. The apology and talk they had put their differences to bed. As long as Wolf kept his word, everything would be fine.
Today had been so exhausting and eventful that one of the best parts of it totally slipped his mind until now, and he spun around to face Ethan so fast, the guy backed up with surprise. “I have a bone to pick with you, mister,” Tyler scolded, pointing an accusing finger at Ethan.
“Me?” Ethan placed his hand on his chest, a worried look on his face. “What’d I do?”
“You didn’t tell me that Tommy Blade was married to Jessi Blade, one of the most sought-after fashion designers in America.” He leaned forward at the waist. “Her signature leather jackets are to die for.” He pinched his thumb and index finger together to punctuate his words as he repeated, “To. Die. For.”
“I didn’t know.”
Placing his hand on his forehead, Tyler looked up to the ceiling and sighed dramatically. “Are you living under a rock? She’s world famous and designs for a huge catalog of rock stars. And I met her! I can’t believe it! I was like a starstruck teenager. I have an appointment with her in New York in a couple of weeks.”
“Is she going to make you a jacket?”
“No. Even better. A one-piece leather jumpsuit with a cutout open midriff with studs and spikes. It’s going to be a couture piece. I can’t believe I’m going to have a Jessi Blade couture jumpsuit. Can you imagine how hot that’s going to look? I think I just died and gone to designer heaven.”
A lecherous grin spread across Ethan’s face. “Are you going to be my leather daddy?”
Tyler chuckled, erotically. “If you play your cards right.”
Someone pounded on the door and yelled, “We’re leaving in five!”
It was Paul, the band’s manager, and Tyler flinched at the brash tone of his voice and force of his knock. “That guy needs a Xanax or something.”
A few minutes later, a car brought them to the stage where Wolf Pack would perform. Only, there was a barricade, so they still had to walk through a catwalk in the sand.
“This part is so much fun,” Tyler practically exclaimed as he glanced at everyone working at a furious pace. “There’s so much action going on behind the scenes. So many people doing their part to keep the show going. Everyone moving at top speed. I almost got run over by a roadie moving the equipment the first time I walked with you guys to the stage. It was like they didn’t even see me.”
“You don’t have to worry about that today. No one’s going to miss you in that outfit,” Wolf commented, trying to hide his smile and ultimately laughing under his hand.
“Don’t be a hater. You wish you were wearing something this fabulous on stage. I’m the best dressed one here.”
“If you say so,” Wolf snickered.
A day ago, that convo would have gone very differently. Banter was fun. Watching the shock and surprise on Ethan’s face at the good-natured ribbing was even better.
Marshall and Harris also looked at Tyler and Wolf strangely, unused to this sudden lack of attitude and hostility. It was a little odd not being on the defense all the time around Wolf, but life was so much better this way.
Someone on stage announced the band, the crowd roared, and the guys ran out and took their designated spots. The music was loud, echoing into the open air, but it was Ethan’s voice that had Tyler captivated. Sultry and raspy, harmonic and rough, it contained everything pleasing to the ear. The rock star looked absolutely gorgeous under the desert sun which was still bright in the distance.
The crowd was amazing and filled with tons of energy. This was the first festival Tyler had been to, and he loved it. The earlier show time enabled him to see the faces in the crowd. Girls sat on their boyfriend’s shoulders, wearing not much more than bikini tops. A time or two he thought those little bikini tops were going to go flying toward the stage, but everyone kept their clothes on. So far. Fists pumped in the air to the beat of the music. Mouths sang along with the lyrics. A group of guys at the front of the stage were professing their love for Ethan. There was so much going on that Tyler didn’t know where to look first. He was flying high, but his feet were still on the ground.
The entire show was electrifying, and he was having an awesome time. He couldn’t believe that this was his life now. He had a hot boyfriend who loved him and showed it all the time. He had new friends in Harris and Marshall, and most surprisingly, Wolf.
The set was short, but it was everything anyone could hope for. The fans yelled and whistled as they bid farewell to Wolf Pack, although some didn’t want them to leave and screamed for the band to play one more song.
“You were incredible!” Tyler wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck and stood on his tip toes to give his boyfriend a deep kiss. “The entire show was exhilarating!”
