Page 28 of Love Notes and Late Nights
“The show was awesome. I could have played all night.”
“It was a great crowd. I wish we were here for another night.”
“I can’t believe we’re heading out in a couple of hours.”
“Better make the most of it.” Marshall held up his empty beer. “Wanna do a shot?”
“Yeah. Let’s grab Ethan and Wolf.” Harris hadn’t seen either of them in a while and tried to scan the crowd, but it was too thick with bodies. “Do you know any of these people?”
“Not really.” Marshall pointed to a small group of people nearby. “Those two guys are with the road crew. I think I saw the singer from the opening band here a little while ago with some chick.”
“Ethan!” Harris yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth, when he spotted his friend.
Ethan looked around as if he wasn’t sure he heard someone calling his name, then saw Harris waving his hand and headed over.
“Sick party,” Ethan said. “Killer tunes and awesome drinks.”
“I know. We were gonna get a round of shots and celebrate,” Harris said. “Where’s Wolf?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him.”
“This place is packed. We’ll never find him.” Harris began to worry Wolf took off, preferring to be alone than in the middle of a crowd. “You don’t think he went back to the hotel or the bus, do you?”
“Why would he do that? Look at this place. All the fun is right here.”
Marshall began to search the room, moving a few feet to the right then to the left and stretching his neck above the crowd. “Maybe he wanted some fun in private.”
Tightness clenched in Harris’ gut. Wolf had always had a notoriously prolific sex life on the road. Available men threw themselves at him everywhere he went. Harris wondered why the hell he’d forgotten about that. He frantically raced through the room, asking total strangers if they’d seen Wolf. He sent a bunch of texts but knew Wolf wouldn’t even notice with all the noise. Where the fuck was Wolf?
Harris spun around and headed for the restroom—just in case—and that’s when he saw Wolf with a guy pressed up against the wall. Bile churned in Harris’ stomach, and he felt as if someone just punched him in the gut. He bolted toward them, pushing people out of the way and almost knocking over a waiter carrying a tray full of champagne flutes. He didn’t even apologize or slow down.
When he got about three feet away from Wolf, he stopped. What the fuck was he supposed to say? Get your tongue out of that guy’s mouth? Get your hands off my man? Neither were appropriate. Wolf wasn’t his guy. They were friends. And friends didn’t cock block one another.
Harris’ entire body deflated like someone let the air out of a balloon, and heartache stabbed him in the chest. He didn’t move. He didn’t say anything. He just stood there, paralyzed, watching Wolf make out with a random stranger. He wanted to leave and run as fast as he could in the opposite direction, orat least stop staring. But he couldn’t look away. People walked around him and in front of him, but he still didn’t move. He was rooted to that spot as his heart crumbled a little more with each second that passed.
Finally, Wolf broke the kiss, took the guy’s hand, and started to walk away—directly toward Harris. He didn’t see Harris at first, then almost walked right into him.
“Dude. What are you doing standing there?” Wolf asked.
“What are you doing?” Harris asked, the words sounding accusatory.
“Nothing.” Wolf’s brows furrowed. “Are you OK?”
“No. I’m not. What are you doing?” Harris repeated.
“What?”
“What are you doing?” Harris was shellshocked and couldn’t seem to say anything else.
“What are you talking about?”
“With him?” Harris’ eyes shot daggers at the guy with Wolf, who flinched a little.
The guy looked from Wolf to Harris and back to Wolf, obviously aware that he was in the middle of something. “I’m gonna get a drink. I’ll see you later.”
“Wait,” Wolf called after the guy, but he was gone. “Why’d you chase that guy away? Do you know him or something?” Wolf’s eyes widened, as if he just realized something. “Did you just fool around with him? Did he just give you a blow—”
“No!”
