Page 82 of Filthy Rock Stars

I hesitate for just a second before dialing. “Hi! I saw you called?”

“Yeah! I just talked to Fox. I’m not sure what’s going on. He said it would be up to you to talk to me if you wanted to. But I did gather that you might be having a bad day, so I just thought I’d reach out and see if you need anything.”

My heart melts. Wow, did I ever need this phone call.

“Thank you. Yeah. It’s been a rough day.”

“Tonight’s the night I was going to get together with Damian to play that bird game he was telling us about. Remember? Do you want to join? Could be a fun distraction.”

I hesitate. I’d love to see my friends. Except I’ve already invited Shadow over, and I’ll probably lose my mind if I don’t see him. After the overwhelming afternoon, I need to just touch him and remember he’s still there.

My phone buzzes with an incoming call from Shadow. “Uhm.” I fumble over my words. “I’m so sorry. Can I call you right back?”

When I switch over, Shadow starts talking. “Hey, babe. How was the rest of your afternoon? You doing okay?”

“Yeah. I was just talking to Owen.”

“Fox’s partner?” His voice tenses. “I don’t think I made a very good impression,” he says with a sigh, then adds, “How’s Owen?”

“He’s good. He’s hanging out with Damian tonight. He was trying to invite me over.”

“Oh. Do you want to see your friends?”

“It’s weird,” I confess. “I can’t tell Owen about us.”

“You might as well,” Shadow says. “Fox and Damian know.”

I tilt my head to the side. That’s true.

“Do you mean that?” I ask.

He lets out a rough laugh. “Sure. If you want to talk to him, I don’t mind.”

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth. “What if I asked you to meet them?” I asked. “Damian and Owen? Would you do that?”

“Meet them?”

I’m being emotional, and I don’t want to push him. But the meeting with the band was demoralizing, not at all the step forward I hoped it would be, and I’m hit with a need to replace that memory.

I want to prove to myself that Shadow doesn’t have to be a problem, that he doesn’t have to stay my dirty secret forever. And weirdly, standing there in the middle of my apartment, introducing him to Damian and Owen feels like the only possible solution.

“Maybe even tonight?” I add.

* * *

SHADOW

“What? No fucking way, man.” I lean back on the couch and throw my arm over Nico’s shoulder. “How come he can be a geek and a rock star, but I can’t?”

Damian rolls his eyes. “Reality calling. Because Nicoisa geek and a rock star. And you’re a rock star, but clearly not a geek.” He frowns at Nico. “Does your new boyfriend seriously think he’s a geek?” he stage-whispers.

“You could be a geek if you wanted, though!” Owen adds helpfully. “Anyone can! There’s no secret tests or anything.”

“True. You just have to claim it,” Nico agrees.

“So if there’s no such thing as being a geek poser…” I trail off, then shoot Damian a smile. “I’m choosing this moment to fully embrace my geekiness.”

Damian rolls his eyes playfully but relents. “Fine. I refuse to gatekeep! You’re a geek and a rock star, too.”

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