Page 27 of Counterpoint
When they broke for a rest, it was Ray who joined Dom by the window. The AC was on now, so this time the window was shut, but there was still something about peering out into the world after being surrounded by the motion and rhythm of their songs. A reset of sorts, to remind Dom that this wasn’t a dream even when it felt like it.
“You’re in a better mood today.” Ray tried to sound casual.
He eyed Ray, who couldn’t pull off innocent if his life depended on it. “You’re fishing for info.”
That earned Dom a laugh. “Yeah, but not really. I’m grateful to see you happy, whether you wanna share the reason or not.”
Dom leaned up against the wall. He was still a tiny bit bruised from being well-fucked and fucking well, and he so enjoyed that, but there was more, too. “I have a date.”
“Same guy as before?”
“Wait, you know about that?”
Ray’s cheeks reddened. “Zavier mentioned it. After practice.”
Okay, that made sense. Dom nodded. “Yeah, same guy. I...like him. Quite a lot.”
Ray got a look like he couldn’t understand what was coming out of Dom’s mouth. “Well, you better if you’re doing more than a hookup!”
And there was what elated and frightened Dom. “Yeah, it’s more than that.” He paused. “But I don’t know if it should be.”
Ray looked confused. “Why the fuck not?”
“Because of this.” He gestured to the studio and their instruments.
From across the room, Zavier looked up from his conversation with Mish. Dom must have spoken loudly enough, because the next words were out of Zavier’s mouth. “Because of this what?”
Of course, Mish looked over, too. Dom sighed.
“Sorry,” Ray murmured.
Dom knew better. “You are so not.” He punched Ray in the arm and strode over to the table Zavier’d been sitting at. “It’s that guy I met. I like him, but I’m not sure I should be dating him.”
Zavier cocked his head. “Because of the band?”
Mish beat him to replying. “It’s because of Domino, isn’t it?”
Ray gave Dom a look like he’d grown rabbit ears or alien antenna on his head, but Zavier nodded.
Dom sank down into one of the folding metal chairs. “Yeah. Because of Domino.”
“I don’t—” Ray shook his head and seemed to chew on his thoughts. “Are you saying, if you got serious with this dude, you wouldn’ttellhim who you are?”
“Ihavetold him who I am,” Dom said. “He’s seen who I am. I’m Dominic Bradley.”
“Sweetheart,” Mish said. “This is you, too.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I know. But who I am here, who Domino is, is so different from the guy Adrian met at a bar.”
“So the gentleman has a name,” Zavier said. “Youlikehim.”
Couldn’t help the heat that rose to his cheeks. Dom shrugged, but he met Zavier’s gaze.
There was amusement in those eyes. “Friendship’s a good thing, Dom. I know you’re not asking for advice—”
“But you’re gonna give me some anyway.”
“He always does.” Ray looked up at Zavier and got that little dopey grin he always got when he looked at his husband. For his part, Zavier merely touched Ray’s hair. But that seemed to be all the connection they needed, because Ray laughed.
