Page 31 of Love Notes and Late Nights
“You were sleeping on it,” Ethan pointed out, then turned around and started stuffing clothes into his travel bag.
“How come you didn’t feel that?” Wolf asked.
“I don’t know.” Harris opened his laptop and started tapping on it. “I guess we need to rewatch a bunch of episodes. My laptop died.”
The bus doors opened with a whoosh and Paul entered. “Good morning. Security is in place whenever you’re ready. Make it quick.”
When they were all huddled together on the elevator, Paul announced, “We’re leaving for the meet and greet in two hours. I’ll give you guys a heads up 30 minutes beforehand.”
“I was hoping to get a little more sleep in a nice soft bed instead of sleeping with a laptop in the middle of my back,” Harris complained quietly.
“I slept great,” Wolf added, realizing it was one of the best night’s sleep he’s had in a long time. “Maybe I was knocked out by your foot odor.”
“Happy to oblige,” Harris joked.
The elevator doors opened, and they all stepped into the hallway. As they walked down the corridor Ethan caught up to Wolf and slung his arm over his shoulder as they walked.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” Ethan said to Wolf, not whispering but low enough to indicate this was a conversation requiring privacy.
“What about?”
“I hear you’ve been having nightmares again. How bad?”
Wolf exhaled a deep breath. He wasn’t intentionally keeping the nightmares a secret, but he was hoping not to involve Ethan. After all the years he burdened his best friend with his internal demons, Ethan deserved to be free of the bullshit. “Not bad,” he lied.
Ethan looked at him skeptically.
“Some worse than others,” Wolf admitted. “But I haven’t had any in a week. So that’s good. Right?” It didn’t mean they wouldn’t return, because he knew better than to lean on that kind of wishful thinking, but it was a step in the right direction. For now, anyway.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” The genuine concern and worry in Ethan’s voice settled in Wolf’s chest like a warm hug.
Wolf stopped walking so he could look directly into Ethan’s eyes. “You’ve done so much for me. More than any person should have to do for anyone. I don’t have to bother you all the time, and I’m not going to. You deserve to—”
“That’s bullshit,” Ethan interrupted. “Your problems are my problems. If you have a nightmare, I have a nightmare. If you’re upset, I’m upset. That’s the way it is, Wolf. That’s the way it’ll always be. If you need anything—anything at all—you call me. Idon’t care if it’s in the middle of the night. I don’t care if I’m in the middle of . . . heart surgery. If you need me, I’m there.”
Wolf smiled at the analogy, as if Ethan could be a heart surgeon, then his stomach lurched. “Do you need heart surgery?”
“No. My point was that nothing is more important than you, if you need me. Don’t feel like you can’t come to me anymore just because me and Tyler are living together.”
Wolf nodded, eyes glued to the carpet. He loved this guy so much. They were brothers by bond—found family—and that was their fate which had been forged when they were five years old.
“Come on.” Ethan wrapped his arm around Wolf’s shoulder again, and they resumed walking down the hall. “I’m glad you got a good night’s sleep last night. Get some rest if you need it. It’s gonna be a long day.”
***
The meet and greet took place at a radio station with 100 winners who also received free tickets to tonight’s show. The crowd was in good spirits, and the signing was going smoothly. Sometimes, it was hit or miss with these things. Unruly fans could easily get out of control with pushing and shoving, and it was a nightmare for everyone, but today things were in order.
The guys all sat in a row at a long table and signed photos like a well-running assembly line, then took one group photo at the table. But there was always one who bypassed the lineup in order to seek out their favorite band member first, and this one was headed straight for Wolf.
The guy looked to be about 20 years old with long, dark hair, eyes sparkling, and a smile spread across his cheeks. “Great to meet you, man,” he said to Wolf. “I’m a huge fan. You’re an awesome bass player. All the guys are awesome and talented, but you’re my favorite.”
That’s something Wolf would never get tired of hearing, and his ego inflated a few notches. “Thanks.” He nudged Ethan with his elbow and gave his best friend a mocking smile as he signed an autograph. “Hear that? I’m his favorite.”
Ethan rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to the guy in front of him.
“What’s your favorite song?’ Wolf asked the fan.
“‘Running Nowhere.’ The bassline on that song is sick! You have such an amazing stage presence.” The fan eyed Wolf up and down. “I love your hair. It was the first thing I noticed about you. Even before your bass playing. That’s why I grew my hair long. But mine’ll never look as good as yours.”
