This was just beyond. “How about you shut up for once, Abraham?” Mage snapped back.
Lolly rolled his eyes and loudly crunched chips in his mouth.
Dawn pulled away from Mage and sat with his shoulders slouched as he looked up at his brother. “Why would you act like this? I’ve just confessed something really important.”
“Maybe because I’ve just found out this guy here,” he pointed at Mage, “has been perving on my little brother! What the fuck?”
Mage clenched his teeth and smacked the coffee table. The noise and the ache trailing up his wrists got rid of some of the anger, but he wasn’t content with the way things have gone down so far. “What a load of bullshit! You’d really rather have Dawn dating Gulliver than me?”
That question at least gave Dusk pause, and he clenched his fingers in his hair. “I don’t know! All I thought would happen between him and Gulliver was awkward silence and a nice dinner. But this? I’m in freak-out territory! If I’d known any of this I wouldn’t have stuck you two in a room together!”
Mage counted to three, because ten would have been too much of a strain on his nerves. “You put us in a room together because you wanted privacy to fuck your endless hookups!”
Sid cleared his throat and silently pointed to Dawn, who hid his face in his hands again. His shoulders were trembling, and he let out a little sob.
All the burning anger evaporated from Mage’s heart, extinguished by the tears he could imagine already forming in the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. He pulled Dawn closer and kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry. Please, don’t cry.”
Dawn instantly hugged him, and there was, at least, some comfort in that gesture. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell Dusk. Now we’re all fighting, and everything will fall apart, and everyone will hate each other. And I love Mage so much. What am I supposed to do?”
Dusk almost fell over his own feet getting down to the floor to reach Dawn. “No. Dawn, don’t cry. It’s okay. We’re just getting some stuff out of our system. I just… had no idea. You should have told me. If anything, I would have helped you hook up with Mage. You know all my rules go out the window when it comes to you, right?”
Mage silently rolled his eyes, but he appreciated that they were on the same page over this. He pulled out a packet of tissues and offered one to Dawn. Sid and Asher were completely silent, to the point where he didn’t want to look their way for fear of what kind of message he might get. “Look Dusk, I get it that you’re surprised, but you know I would never hurt Dawn. This isn’t an experiment, if that’s what you’re thinking, and it’s not a fling either. I’ve felt like this about him for a long time now.”
Dawn rubbed his eyes with the tissue and nudged Mage’s pec with his forehead like a happy kitten.
Dusk sighed deeply and took his time, for once not spewing whatever came to his mind first. “I can live with this.” He glanced at Mage. “But if you ever hurt Dawn, I will end you, understood? And that will also break up the band, because you will be dead. And I’ll go to prison for it, so you would have ruined everyone’s lives.”
Mage exhaled, meeting his gaze, mentally tired but happy that they’d worked things out in the end. “Duly noted.”
The happy moment was put to an end by a sharp knock on the door. Sid got up and looked out into the hallway, but he then stepped back, and Gulliver followed him into the room. Just brilliant. Was it date-time already?
Gulliver’s appearance was the usual minimalism, but he did carry a small bouquet of forget-me-nots—Dawn’s favorite flowers—and roses. This was about to get super awkward.
“Did I interrupt something? Because you told me to come at nine, and it is nine.”
Mage glared at Dusk, because if he created this mess then he had to be the one to deal with it.
Their gazes locked for half a second before Dusk spun around and walked in Gulliver’s direction. “Change of plans. Turns out Mage and Dawn have been fucking behind our backs. The date’s cancelled. Sorry,” he added at the end, with his usual lack of tact.
Gulliver’s eyes widened, and he slowly put the flowers behind his back, but must have realized it was no use hiding them, so he let them hang upside down like a testament to his broken hopes. “Oh.”
Dawn sat frozen on the sofa, like a mouse caught in a trap.
Asher groaned. “You can stay if you want to,” he said, most likely only to soften the blow.
Gulliver cleared his throat. “Maybe it’s for the better. I’ve got some news, and I thought it would be more sensible to communicate them after the date, in case it put my potential partner in a bad mood.”
Oh. Ohhh.
Asher leaned forward, resting his elbows on his upper thighs. “What is it?”
Gulliver cleared his throat and held the flowers in front of his chest, as if he expected them to be his shield. “The label called, and they’re still interested. That is the good news. The bad news is that they want to have creative input if the deal is signed. I know you don’t want that so…”
Mage exhaled, relaxing on the sofa. “Oh, that’s fine. Of course they would say that. It’s all part of negotiations.
Asher shook his head. “You might be a bit too optimistic about it.”
Mage dismissed him with a gesture. He could already envision the faces of his parents when they saw the contract with Gray Shark Records. For once, he wouldn’t be the family’s black sheep, but a successful man. “Come on, I’m sure we can all work things out once we sit down and talk details.”
Dawn pulled on Mage’s T-shirt. “Are you saying they want to change my songs?”
Mage stroked Dawn’s hair. “We will work it all out.” He sealed the promise with a kiss, and couldn’t help but feel giddy about Dusk gasping.
Chapter 11
Since Dawn had finally admitted to everyone that he and Mage were a couple, days passed like dreams. He’d believed that the whole coming out thing would have been stressful beyond what he could physically take, but the fact that they no longer had to hide and lie to those closest to them lifted a huge weight from Dawn’s chest. And while he was still shy about touching Mage in public, Dawn was over the moon about holding his hand when they were among people they trusted. Nothing changed for the worse within the band. If anything, Dawn was overwhelmed by how supportive everyone was.
Dusk got over his initial outrage fast, which meant Dawn’s endless stressing out about telling him had been unnecessary. Dawn did have to draw a line, though, when Dusk had tried to give him sex tips.
A few weeks on, he was still riding the high of being with the man he loved without anyone questioning their relationship. He knew fans would be supportive of Mage if they found out he had a boyfriend too, but there was still one group of people whose reaction he was apprehensive about.
Mage’s family.
He did know them, of course, and they’d always been civil toward him, but their opinion of Mage’s career choice was pretty clear, and he feared that Mage’s decision to be with him would create even more of a rift in that family.
In the past, Dawn would have moved aside if he were in anyone’s way, but his love for Mage was something he’d cherished too much to let go of. If Mage’s parents didn’t approve, Dawn would do everything in his capability to change their mind, but he had no doubt Mage would stand at his side, rock solid in his love.
Mage did care about his relationships, but he was also the kind of man who followed his dreams and expected those who cared for him to adjust their expectations. But even if for a period of time, he wasn’t able to find common ground with his own family, Dawn’s would be there for him.
“Would you hand me some more of the hay, honey?” Mom asked, reaching out to Mage across the table.
He offered her the large basket before returning to his own task of making a straw garland for the Christmas tree. Dusk had already made a tree topper that suspiciously resembled a penis, and to Dawn’s dismay, Dad had laughed and let him put it
up. The shameless jokes that followed as Dusk adjusted the tree topper had Lolly in tears and Dawn going lobster red.
His own sex life was flourishing like never before, but he still had a hard time discussing anything even close to the topic. Was it so bad that he considered these things private?
Fortunately though, most of the comments and questions made by his parents were PG, a Godsend after being on tour, surrounded by people whose moral brakes failed once liquor bottles were opened. This Christmas Eve, he was free to enjoy his mother’s homemade cookies and hot chocolate with marshmallows, while spending time with those most important to him. It was a tradition at the Hill family farm that all the seasonal decorations were DIY, and the sense of belonging it created always made him long for home, no matter where he was.
Mage never said as much, but Dawn found it telling that he’d rather celebrate with them than with his family.
“Where did you say your parents went this year?” Mom asked, tying thread along a hay-filled cloth sleeve, to create sausage-like shapes.
“Oh, Cuba.” Mage rolled his shoulders, irresistible in his Star Wars-themed Christmas top and with his dreadlocks tied into a large bundle. Dawn had sneaked mistletoe in there earlier to have an excuse for endless kisses. Some of the hair touched the bare skin of Mage’s neck, which made Dawn’s thoughts drift away from family fun and toward lustful fantasies that needed to wait until later.
He’d been afraid of making his dream a reality, but now that it was true he loved everything about his intimacy with Mage. They would lounge together for hours, talking about their plans, dreams, and music between long make out sessions. But it wasn’t just about the physical pleasure of it. The connection they shared had been built up over years and not only had become more intense, but had also revealed whole new layers of belonging. Dawn barely remembered what life was like before he met Mage.
Dusk snorted. “I can just imagine your dad in flip flops and one of those fancy cocktails.”
Dawn smiled when he imagined Mage’s dad in a casual outfit, because he hadn’t seen the man out of a suit. Once, Dawn might have witnessed him walking around the house without the jacket and tie, but still in a formal shirt, even if the sleeves had been rolled up.
Mage sipped his hot chocolate and smirked. “I guess he deserves a bit of downtime. His job’s very stressful.”
Lolly, who was busy painting a scene featuring farm animals frolicking in the snow on a large sheet, looked back with his brush still working on the picture. “Did you ever go with them on those expensive Christmas holidays?”
Mage snorted. “Yeah, but I wasn’t much into it. I’d rather be home during that time.” He then continued to tell them about the one time when his family had spent Christmas in the Middle East, and Santa had come to the hotel on a camel, but all Dawn heard was that Mage considered the Hill Farm home.
He considered Dawn, Dusk, and their parents family.
Which he could only hope Dusk wouldn’t pick up on, or he’d have to deal with all the incest jokes flying their way. And then Dawn would be forced to say that Mage was his family in the same way a husband would be. That in turn could make things even more awkward if Mage assumed it was a proposal.
If it were though—a proposal—would Mage have said ‘yes’? Surely, he wouldn’t have. They’d only been together for three months. Mage had experience and didn’t jump to conclusions the way Dawn did.
“I’d love to tour the whole world as a band. Concerts in London and Tokyo,” Dusk fantasized, with a big smile.
Mom picked up on that fast. “Oh, you will, I’m sure of it. You’ll be signing that contract any day now.”
Right. The contract. Mage and Asher were constantly on their phones, talking things through with one another, or negotiating with the record label. It was taking a lot of time, and while Dawn tried not to think about it too much, he was torn between telling his friends that perhaps they shouldn’t be so fussy, and calling the whole thing off. The terms have been largely agreed to, and they might be signing the papers very soon, perhaps just a couple of days into the new year, but some of the clauses still left him with stomach ache or caused sleepless nights if he thought about them shortly before bedtime.
Not because of royalty arrangements or other payment-oriented issues. Dawn feared the creative input clauses. Those needed to be carefully assessed if they didn’t want to end up losing the spirit of what The Underdogs were as a band.
Dawn caught Mom watching him so he looked up.
“I’m just so happy about you and Mage,” she said. “Dad and I were always talking about how nice it would be if you found someone just like him.”
Mage scratched the back of his neck. He didn’t say anything, but his hand discreetly found Dawn’s under the coffee table.
“Yeah, like an older brother,” Lolly said in a neutral tone, officially beginning the incest jokes season.
Dusk’s face relaxed before twisting into an evil grin, but before he could run his mouth, Mage pinned him with a steady glare. “Go on, I dare you.”
Dusk spread his arms, showcasing his T-shirt that read Jingle my bells and had a candy-cane arrow pointing at his crotch. “What? Just saying it’s a very close bond you’ve got with Dawn.”
Dad nodded. “Thinking back on all those sleepovers, I’m surprised it took so long.”
Dawn’s eyes went wide. “Dad!”
Dad poked Dusk in the ribs, as if they’d planned to gang up on Dawn all along. “What can I say? A fuck a day keeps the doctor away!”
Really? Really, Dad?
Mom wasn’t coming to his aid either and instead winked at him, as if they were all sharing a secret that he too was sexually active. “And it gets even better when you can share happiness with your friends.”
Dawn cringed, wishing he could become invisible. “Please don’t go there.”
Mage laughed, and for a horrible moment Dawn’s mind flashed with fear that his boyfriend would eventually tell him he’d like to have some sort of open arrangement. But no, it couldn’t be, because Mage had often suggested his lack of comprehension of the lifestyle led by Dawn’s parents.
They were good then, even if forced to endure all the uncomfortable comments.
Mom wouldn’t give it a rest though. “I always told Dawn our bodies are the most natural thing in the world and that there’s no reason to be shy about them. We’re all born naked.”
Dawn groaned, eager to change the topic. “Err, so… I was thinking we could spend the night in the tree house for old times’ sake.”
Lolly grinned, twisting away from the painting. “Yass! Sleepover!”
Mage grabbed a ball made of candy wrappers and tossed it at him. “It’s not an invitation... right?” he asked, glancing at Dawn without the earlier certainty.
Dawn got flustered, staring into Lolly’s disappointed face. “Um, I… if you really want to, I guess—”
Dusk pulled Lolly close. “Lolly forgot our other plans. You two have fun in that shack.”
And just like that, the earlier smile was back on Lolly’s face. “Oh, those plans. Yeah, don’t mind us guys. You go ahead and enjoy your vanilla selves in the treehouse!”
As if on cue, Mage yawned. Whether it was intentional or not, Dawn had no idea, but he took it as a sign. He wrapped his arms around Mage, and got a kiss in return, as if there was a branch of mistletoe in his hair.
Dawn smiled. “Are you saying we should take all the cookies?” He pointed to the basket of vanilla bean ones.
Dusk stared in silence for a while, and it gave Dawn a sense that he was missing something. “Y-yeah.”
“All right, thank you all. We will see you at breakfast,” Mage said, using a paper napkin to pack all the vanilla cookies, so maybe Dawn hasn’t misunderstood anything, after all.
“Goodnight, honey,” Mom said, busy making an angel out of colorful wire.
Mage grabbed his bag on the way out, and when he was ready, Dawn took his hand and led the way. He could
n’t have been more excited about this. Knowing there would be people stopping by the farm throughout Christmas, he’d decided to create a nest of safety that would offer him and Mage privacy. This way they could spend some quality time in the little house that smelled of wood and the fresh evergreens which Dawn used for decoration.
They exited through the back door. The path led between neat hedges and wildly growing trees, which divided the family garden from the vegetable plots. Tomorrow, the whole place would be swarming with guests, as his parents loved to throw a massive Christmas dinner, but tonight he could spend his entire evening with Mage, in the same tree house where he’d written so many songs.
They didn’t have to use a flashlight in the dark garden, because Dawn knew the way by heart. Once they entered a copse of oaks, following a narrow path leading around the perimeter of the farm, the structure built in the crowns of two mature trees obscured some of the moonlight. Made out of wood, it featured a small balcony and even a little platform above the roof where Dawn would sometimes watch the sunset. Cozy, familiar, and as safe as Dawn’s relationship with Mage.
They stood by a bush of wild roses for a few moments, just enjoying their smell, but since the cool air was getting to them, they eventually climbed up the wooden ladder to enter the little cabin.
Dawn gave Mage another kiss, because there were never enough of those, and once they were up, he stopped Mage in front of the door. “Close your eyes, okay?”
Mage stroked Dawn’s back before letting go. “I hope not for long?”
As soon as Mage did what he’d been asked for, Dawn walked into the large tree house and turned on the lights. Electricity here came from solar panels Dusk had installed years ago, not long after this place had been built. He switched on the heater, which was strategically positioned close to the bed, and only spoke once he was certain nothing looked out of place.
“Okay! You can look!”
Dawn couldn’t have gotten a better gift than the wide smile that bloomed on Mage’s face when he crossed the threshold. Ruby lights hung around the room, illuminating his face and making his eyes glint. It had taken Dawn an entire day to install them and tie the pine branches and red baubles to the ceiling. And then, there was their very own mistletoe.
The Underdogs Box Set - Books 1-3 (gay rockstar romance) Page 53