by Max Hudson
“Get me a list of everything you know. I’ll get it to the right people.”
“I’m sure everything is going to be just fine.”
“I’m sure it is. Don’t worry so much.” Eddy offered a smile. “You still have to be safe.”
“You think he’s a problem, don’t you?”
Eddy shook his head. “From what I’ve seen and heard he seems like a good guy, but you never know anymore.”
“Better safe than sorry, then?” Chance frowned. He didn’t like the idea, but it was needed. He had to protect himself. There were a lot of people that would take advantage of him if they had the chance.
But there was still that guilt that welled up in his chest. He should be able to trust the people in his life more than that. He should be able to trust Devlin long enough to get to know him.
He wondered if Devlin would ever really understand. Or if he would end up scaring him off if it was ever mentioned. He groaned and sat back down, plopping heavily into the seat.
“Hey, relax.” Eddy’s voice came back into his ears. It snapped him out of his own thoughts. That was probably a good thing. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure he’s got to be expecting this.”
“Should I ask him first?”
“If it all comes back clear there isn’t much point unless it ends up going somewhere.”
“This sucks.” Chance groaned.
“For someone rich and famous, you spend an awful lot of time complaining.”
“I know. Most people would give their right arm to have my problems.”
“I know I wouldn’t, but try to calm down. It’s all going to be fine.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I actually can.”
“Why did you show up anyway? You usually aren’t here until later.” Chance took the opportunity to change the subject.
“Oh, yeah. We’ve got a problem.” Eddy winced slightly. It was a slightly subdued way to bring it up, something he did to try to avoid causing trouble.
“What is it?”
“The last venue on the tour had a major water main break.” The manager groaned loudly, looking very frustrated. “We’re trying to find a place that can handle the crowd.”
“What if we can’t?” Chance had to hide how hopeful he was on that. He wanted it to be canceled so that he could see Devlin earlier.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to figure something out. Refunding all the tickets is a giant pain.”
“But it can be done?”
“Of course, it can be done.” Eddy shrugged. “Just about anything can be done these days, but it always looks bad.”
“How much would we lose?”
“It wouldn’t be too bad. We’re doing ok. And technically the venue would help with some of the costs of either switching or canceling the event.”
“That’s good at least, but I’m sure we could swing it even if we couldn’t.”
“We’re trying to figure something out.”
Chance nodded. “I know you are. This has happened before.”
“And we’ve always figured it out before.”
“What if we didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?”
“Try to do the show anyway?” Chance was grasping at straws. “Start the vacation a bit early. There are a lot of options.”
“I’m sure the crew would love that.” Eddy tilted his head. “Everyone likes having a break. Or even getting off early, but we may have to pay them anyway.”
“Would that damage anything?”
“Would make payroll squeal in terror.”
“What doesn’t make them squeal?” Chance laughed loudly. The payroll always worked so hard, even if they didn’t follow the band, they had to make sure that people weren’t getting paid for work they weren’t doing.
“They are always up in arms.” Eddy shrugged. “But there are a few other problems with it.”
“The label won’t like it.” He sighed. Chance knew Eddy knew that, but wasn’t saying it. It had become an unspoken thing to keep the label as happy as they could.
“They never do. Look. I’ll see what we can do. We’ve still got a couple of weeks to figure it all out.”
“No other big venues?” Chance sighed.
“They’re all being used pretty much.”
“And a smaller one won’t work well, would it?”
“Too many people want to come.” Eddy sighed. “It’s a hell of a trick we’re going to try to pull off. Do you want me to try a little less hard?”
Chance shook his head. “Nah, I don’t want your job at risk.”
“I don’t think they’d be able to tell.” Eddy shrugged. “I could do it.”
“Don’t worry about it. Try to fix it and I’ll deal with it. I can just take some extra time off before my next tour.”
“They’re not going to like that either.”
“I know, but it’s more my call. And they won’t do as much against me for asking for a couple of months.” Chance spoke plainly. “I normally don’t like disappointing people, but I guess I’m feeling a little burnt out.”
“And you’ve got a handsome guy on the back burner now.” Eddy grinned. “You’re a lucky man.”
“I don’t know. I just met him, but I want to find out if it’s got a chance to go somewhere.”
“And that’s worth it. But I don’t know how it could happen with your responsibilities. His life is just so different. One of you is going to have to give if it lasts.”
Chance felt another pang of guilt. But this one welled up into anger and he snapped. “Don’t you think I know that?”
“I know you do, but I don’t think you’re thinking with your heart.”
“Really? You’re going to accuse me of thinking with my lower head?”
“I’ve seen him. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Don’t start on that. I’ve met handsome guys before. I never did anything like this for them.”
“I don’t know what it is, but I’m worried.”
Chance sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I know you are. I’m worried to, but I shouldn’t be. I should be able to trust people. I shouldn’t be terrified of someone taking advantage of me. What kind of life is this to live?”
“Don’t start thinking like that. It gets you nowhere. Remember what your counselor said.” Eddy walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Look. I know it’s hard. Everyone knows it hard. Life like this isn’t easy, especially in your position. There are a lot of people out there that want to hurt you. I don’t think that about this guy, but I can’t count it out. Wait for the background check and then worry about it.”
“I know. I know. How long until I need to go out?”
“You’ve got about half an hour. Think you’ll be ready?”
“I’ll be ready.” Chance picked himself up.
“Do you need someone to cover for you so that you can have a couple of extra minutes?”
“I’ll be fine.” Chance forced a smile. “Why don’t you get back to work and stop fussing over me.”
“Am I being the mother hen again?” The stage manager grinned. It was something he had been accused of often.
“You absolutely are.”
Eddy smiled. “I’ll see myself out then.” He slipped back out of the room leaving Chance on his own with his thoughts.
The thoughts threatened to invade his very being. It was getting out of control. He thought about Devlin. About the trip that was getting planned where they would spend time together.
Chapter Ten
Devlin looked down at the small box. It was something that he had actually brought home to work on. He had to work late, getting a few more small items so that he could sell this stuff. This box was going to be pastel, pinks and purples swirled around in an abstract landscape. At least that was the plan, but he couldn’t focus on it. It had been a problem before. A block. And no way to handle it.
After a couple of weeks talking to Chance every chance he got, he
found himself behind. He needed stuff to sell so that he could pay his rent. He shook his head, forcing himself to think about anything other than the bills that needed to be paid. It wasn’t going to be easy and would be a late night, but it was going to be worth it. He just wanted to get it all done before Chance showed up in five days.
He yawned though. Energy drinks were all well and good, but the work felt overwhelming and that made him want to sleep instead of dealing with it. An easier prospect to be sure. He resisted the idea and unpacked the supplies onto the small dining table he kept off to the side of his living room. It was a work table, eating alone didn’t have much use for it to eat off of, even if it was technically his dining area. Through the small window of the wall, he could see the kitchen, with the little ledge that could be used to slide food across, if the cabinets hadn’t been in the way and the counters hadn’t made it impossible for anyone but the tallest person to reach.
But it was his home, and he used it for a place for his modem and Wi-Fi router so that he could use his laptop. It was a rare treat to randomly surf the internet, and definitely something that he was considering instead of all the work that he desperately needed to finish up. He sighed heavily. There was far too much that needed doing in his life. And he couldn’t focus on any of it.
“Get to work, Devlin.” He groaned at himself. “Just get started. The first step is always the hardest.”
He talked himself into it, putting out his paints, and within an hour or so he had refurbished a toolbox, a music box, and a jewelry box. Only a few more items that needed to be finished up before he could stop for the night.
But the knock on the door distracted him from getting anything else done. He glanced at the clock. “Nine? Who shows up at nine?” He checked his phone. A few messages from Chance, but nothing to show that anyone was on their way over. Chance was still on his tour. Another check of the date as the soft knock sounded again. Chance wasn’t due in town for a few days at least.
“I’m coming.” He called out and walked over to the door. There was paint all over his shirt. He ignored it and peeked through the peephole. “Chance?”
“Yeah!” He heard the response from the other side. The man was smiling on the other side of the door.
Devlin unbolted the door and unchained it to let the singer in. “I wasn’t expecting you yet.”
“My last show got canceled.” He was grinning. “I decided to show up early.”
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting this at all.” Devlin couldn’t help but grin. This was one of his happiest moments that he could speak of in recent history. It was a magical moment that caused the rest of the world to fade away from his view. “I’m glad you made it though.”
Chance laughed. “Thanks. I’m glad I got to surprise you.”
“Oh! Why don’t you come in?” Devlin realized that this man was standing there in the doorway and it was quickly rushing right over the edge of being awkward.
“Sure.” Chance walked in the offered door. “What are you working on?”
“I’m working on some projects. I got a little behind.” Devlin was a bit embarrassed. “I kind of got distracted.”
“I was that distraction, wasn’t I?” Chance looked a little ashamed of himself.
“Kind of, but it’s not a huge deal.” Devlin laughed. “I can catch back up.”
“Can I help?”
“Sure, if you want to. It’s pretty simple since I got my processes down.”
“I know mine isn’t going to be as good as yours are.”
Devlin led the way to the table, showing his small process. “What do you think?”
“It’s really amazing. I should follow you around and see what you do for this entire vacation.”
The artist laughed loudly. “I hope that we can find some time to do more interesting stuff to do.”
“I know we will. But let’s not screw your income over. I would feel really bad about that.” Chance sat down and started to reach for the supplies. “You know… you could advertise what I do as being worked on by me and maybe help a bit.”
Devlin laughed. “But then that would give you away, and you wouldn’t be able to sneak around here with me.”
“There’s not that much sneaking. I just don’t dress like myself. Most people assume they’ll never meet a famous person and it works to my advantage.” Chance shrugged.
“Plus, I don’t think anyone would believe me.”
“You would definitely need to produce some sort of proof.”
“I don’t think the downsides are worth it.” Devlin shook his head. “It would be so weird. People would assume I was lying even if I produced proof.”
“Probably. It’s pretty hard to believe that I would come down and hang out with a random artist in El Paso.”
“Is that what we’re going to do, just hang out?”
“I was hoping that we would be getting to know each other a lot better.” Chance grinned. “I really hoped that I would get a chance to get you alone and not working for at least a little bit.”
“I can definitely do that sort of thing.” Devlin couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face. This was such a surprise. And such a happy surprise. His heart was beating like a drum, thumping like crazy against his rib cage. He couldn’t control it, and he realized that he didn’t really want to. There was something magical sitting in the same room as Chance was. It was an amazing thing that he was feeling. Something he hadn’t ever really felt before.
He watched as Chance worked, providing small hints to help the man perfect his form. “You’re doing great.”
“I’ve got a great teacher.”
Devlin laughed. “I’ve just got a lot of practice.”
“You’ve got a really good eye for color, don’t sell yourself short.”
Devlin blushed. “Do you have to keep talking like that? Do you like looking perfect?”
“There isn’t really a problem with that, is there?”
“It’s really hard to feel like I stand on my own two feet when you do that.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
Devlin smiled. “That’s probably the best compliment you’ve given me so far. That you forgot that you’re a famous guy when you’re sitting in my crappy apartment.”
“It isn’t that bad. You should have seen the roach motel I lived in when I was trying to start out.”
“It can’t have been that bad.”
Chance shook his head. “No, it was really bad. You have no idea. It was the size of a matchbook. My car had the doors that would sometimes actually fall off until I hooked them closed with old wire hangers.”
Devlin laughed. “I actually used to have to live like that. But I’ve been doing a lot better lately.”
“The old starving artist cliché.” Chance brushed his hand over Devlin’s leg. It caused a shiver to travel down his spine. “I almost miss those days sometimes.”
“Really? I like not eating ramen noodles.” It was getting harder and harder for Devlin to focus on what was going on in the conversation. Instead, his focus was completely captured by the moving of the man’s lips. He leaned in closer.
In a heartbeat, Chance closed in. His lips were captured by the singer’s heat. A kiss that seemed to break down the desire to speak into something more primal. Within moments hands were roaming wildly over bodies, clothes being tossed to the side.
There was heat in the touch, but something more existed there, a feeling that seemed to well up from the pit of his stomach. The emotional connection that couldn’t really be fought or argued with. Just a need to be closer. To touch each other, to run their hands over the heat of the other’s body. And Devlin could feel Chance’s body begging for him as they stumbled back toward the couch, refusing to pull their bodies apart for even a second.
Devlin was the one who felt the couch on the backs of his knees, hitting the cushion hard with his ass.
Chance came down with him, a moan forming on his lips. “Lube?” It was the only word t
hat needed to be asked.
“Room.”
Another groan. They were going to have to move again. “Hurry.” Chance released Devlin, letting him rush off to the room.
He had never moved through his house so fast in the past, coming back with a condom and a small bottle of lube. Once again, the hands started to roam, Chance’s fingers wrapping around Devlin’s shaft and stroking.
Their bodies were grinding together, as close as they could be without going all the way. Devlin could feel the heat coming off the other man as he started to reach around Chance, his hand starting to roam up and down the man’s butt. There was so much need to touch each other, to feel the strength of the touch.
It was intoxicating and heady, and it was impossible to judge the time as their bodies started to intertwine even more.
At some point Devlin found one of his legs thrown up on the back of the couch and his other knee pulled up to his chest, with Chance working his lube covered finger into him.
He couldn’t help but moan loudly as Chance moved in, his hand wrapped around Devlin’s shaft as they joined together.
They couldn’t stop their bodies, as they hummed together in a perfect union of a moment that would last in their minds together. The couch was thumping against the wall with every single thrust, both men sweating their way toward a mutual release of passion, pushing each other hard with hands roaming over each other.
The release came to them both together, overflowing through them. A climax that left them both gasping for air for a few moments before they managed to pull themselves apart. “That was amazing.” Devlin forced the words out when he could finally speak.
“Yeah. It was amazing.” Chance grinned.
Chapter Eleven
Chance’s eyes opened with the morning light. It had been a night that seemed to draw out forever. And everything about it was absolutely perfect. The bed that he was in was warm and fairly comfortable. Well washed sheets and blankets surrounded him. The sun fell in through the blinds that hung on the window. There were no curtains in this room. Just blinds on the windows to block out a bit of sun that had fallen over the side of the bed that he was sleeping on.