Press Play

by Sam LaRose

  “You’re referring to the contract we signed? To be fair, I didn’t fry the phone. I drove over it. The only breach I committed was getting drunk. Surely you can understand the strain I was under? Learning that the guy I’ve been sleeping with was in fact being paid to do so in a sick attempt at protecting me.”

  “You’re twisting the situation into something it wasn’t,” David warned.

  “Really? What does by any means necessary mean to you? To Benjamin, it meant fucking me. I was a willing party, but you must realize how messed up that is.”

  “You’re the one who coerced a member of the security team in the first place.”

  “A member who has been my tail for the last six months! He followed me to Boston? The whole point of going to Boston was to get the hell away from you!”

  David’s face went carefully blank. His hands went to his hips. His lips pressed into a thin line. His breathing slowed as he got control of his emotions.

  “Dylan,” he finally spoke, “I have a job to do. I take my job very seriously. Benjamin also takes his job seriously and is very good at that job. That doesn’t mean he didn’t take it too far. Now, he’s compromised. He let his feelings for you get in the way.”

  “You must be joking.”

  “He handed in his resignation this morning.”

  Dylan clenched his jaw. His head told him he had no reason to feel upset about that. His heart disagreed. He turned back to the box, pulling another row of paint tubes out of the holder to drop into the box.

  “What are you doing?” David finally asked.

  “I’m picking up my property.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Dylan whipped around. “Our contract that I broke? It stipulated that if I broke it, I lost all privileges to security and could, as you said, fuck off. So, I’m taking my supplies and doing just that.”

  David’s jaw tightened. His eyes roved the room. Dylan had a box of blank canvases set on the drafting table. The first box he’d filled was of various paper, drawing pencils, charcoals, pens, ink, brushes, and the like. The second he was filling with paint and the oddities he’d collected. David forced his hands off his hips to his sides.

  “This is unnecessary.”

  “Is it?”

  “I have a new phone for you in the office—”

  “I don’t want your fucking phone. I’ll be getting rid of the car today too. I don’t want anyone following me. I don’t want anyone tracking me. I don’t want any of it.”

  “Your parents—”

  “My parents can fuck off. After all, Dad is the one who gave Benjamin the anything goes orders, isn’t he? Was he actually punished after drugging me? Or for the quicky he bartered or did he go back into stealth mode for a few weeks?”

  “Dylan, I can’t let you—”

  “Can’t let me what?” Dylan cut him off again. “Live my own goddamn life? What do I have to do? Make a public renouncement like a fuckin’ British royal? I, Dylan Montgomery, will not accept my place as the inheritor of the Montgomery billions. Is that it? Because I don’t want it.”

  “You don’t mean that. You’re angry.”

  “Wouldn’t you be? I don’t know what’s true and what’s lies. Are my friends in on this? Did Jack want to live with me? Was it a ruse to let me feel like I was gaining independence, when in actuality, I’m as sheltered as I ever was?”

  David didn’t deny the accusation. Dylan felt his face flush. He’d already been pissed off, but that made it worse.

  “It wasn’t his idea, was it? Mora was in on it. You put an idea into her head, she put an idea into Jack’s. All because poor little Dylan couldn’t possibly take care of himself.”

  “Calm down.”

  “Fuck you!” Dylan picked up the box, moving toward the door. “I’m done. I am so done with all of it.”

  David’s hand gripped Dylan’s bicep as he passed him. “It’s not that easy and you know it. You can’t walk out of this house, away from this family.”

  “You say that like you’re part of the family,” Dylan bit. “You’re not. At the end of the day, you’re paid to be here. Everyone in this goddamn house is paid to be here.”

  He jerked his arm free, carrying the box toward the elevator. David didn’t move as he carried the second box and then the canvases. When he returned to start removing the artwork from the walls, David cleared his throat.

  “Are you at least going to say something to your parents?”

  “Why should I?” Dylan asked. “Dad isn’t even home. He’s in DC this week. My Mother is who knows where.”

  “She and Mora are in Vermont,” David informed him. “That doesn’t mean you can’t call either of them. Have you replaced your phone?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “Will you at least leave a number so they can reach you?”

  “They can reach me at Stuart’s offices. My new assistant, Harriet, will pass along any messages.”

  David grumbled, cursing under his breath.

  “Tell me, is it going to be a problem to return the car with the lojack installed? Or is that something you or one of the team can pull off before I take it to the dealership?”

  “I’ll have someone remove it right away,” David said. There was a beat of silence. “You’re not going to let me try and explain any of this, are you?”

  “I don’t want explanations. I’ve been very clear with my feelings about the tracking, the cameras, and now the stalking. It’s my right to decline your service, regardless of what my parents think. If I find out that anyone is tailing me after I leave today, you inform my parents that I’ll be pressing charges for harassment.”

  “I wish you’d reconsider.”

  “Do you know something I don’t? Have there been threatening letters? Creepy phone calls? Stalkers not on the payroll?”

  “No,” David admitted, “but there could be.”

  “If I feel I ever need your service, I will come directly to you. Hat in hand, and beg forgiveness. Today, I want you to promise to uphold your end of the contract I broke and let me take care of myself.”

  David lowered his head and raised his hands in defeat. “If that’s what you want, sir.

  “It is,” Dylan confirmed. “You said you’d get the lojack off the car so I can return it. I suggest you get it done before I get these boxes completely loaded.”

  ***

  “How are you celebrating your first night of true liberation?” Jack had taken a seat on the couch and was staring at Dylan expectantly. “Should we see who’s playing at the Chop Shop? Or, there’s a cabaret at Tricky Dick’s. We could get dinner and drinks and hang out here.”

  Dylan frowned at him. “Just because I got drunk last night doesn’t mean I want to drink today.”

  “That doesn’t mean I can’t,” Jack reminded him. “I was supposed to get together with M and K tonight. I gave them up to spend it with you instead. Humor me.”

  “You didn’t have to cancel your date night for me. Reheating the last of Rosa’s leftovers and working on a commission seems like a fine way to spend the evening.”

  Jack perked up. “You started taking commissions?”

  Dylan nodded. When he and Jordan had gotten back from the dealership that afternoon, he’d gone straight for his computer. While he had his trust fund to fall back on, and now a little money from Stuart’s estate, he refused to take money from his parents any longer. So, he’d flipped the switch and opened his online store on his website and thrown a couple posts on various social media accounts that he was taking commissions. Within an hour, he’d had to close the offer, because there were just too many. It was hard being a well-connected person.

  “Yes. I’m going to be working on them for a while. I had over 50 in less than an hour, including three large paintings. It’s a good thing I’m moving into Stuart’s studio. It has more space.”

  “Are you selling your old pieces too?”

  “I’ve been listing some prints
as I finished them.” He bit his lip. “I, uh, I might have listed that comic that Tyler saw.”

  “You did what now?” Jack blinked at him in surprise.

  “It’s a good piece.”

  “It is,” Jack acknowledged, “but you said you didn’t want to give a public response. That was part of what you fought about last night.”

  “I forgot it had gotten listed when I was putting the store together. It was a test. Then I got orders for it.”

  “You know people are going to latch on to that, right?”

  “I know. I’m sure Harriet is going to have a ton of messages for me on Monday.”

  “Harriet?”

  “My PA.”

  “You have a personal assistant now?”

  “She was Stuart’s,” Dylan explained. “I need someone who can catch me up on things with the Foundation and to keep me organized on that side of things. She’s excellent.”

  “Did you warn her when you realized?”

  “I texted her. She said she’d let me know if there were problems.”

  “If we’re staying in tonight, what should we order?”

  “We?” Dylan repeated. “You have a date with your boyfriends. Go have fun.”

  Jack gave him an exaggerated pout. “Are you kicking me out of our apartment?”

  Dylan grimaced. “Actually, we need to talk about the apartment.”

  “Why?”

  “I have a house now. Plus, I don’t think you wanted to live with me. Not really.”

  “Dylan, I did, or I wouldn’t have asked.”

  “You don’t have to pretend. I’ve been an asshole the whole time we’ve been here.”

  “Are you telling me you’re moving out?” Jack finally asked.

  “Not right away. Mora’s leases are iron clad. Besides, the new studio and house are about half way between here and school. I’ll leave here in the mornings to work, go to school, then work some more, and then come home. It’ll work for at least the rest of our lease.”

  “To be honest, Heath and I have started talking about getting a place together. He doesn’t want to ditch Ty and Jordan. We don’t want to move too far from Kyle and Markus. Being here is incredibly convenient.”

  Dylan sighed, tipping his head back against the couch. “I’m hungry. Are you really going to pass up sex with your boyfriends to hang out here with me? If so, we should make something or order in. I don’t think I have enough enchiladas for both of us.”

  “I would never come between you and Rosa’s enchiladas,” Jack assured him. He patted his knees before standing. “If you’re sure you don’t want the company, I’ll go. If you want me to stick around, I will.”

  “Go enjoy your night. I’m just going to be doing some work.”

  “I hate to think of you here all alone...”

  “It’s not like that. If I start working more regularly during the week, my weekends will free up. I promise to be more sociable in the future.”

  Jack pursed his lips. He didn’t quite believe him, but he couldn’t argue with him either.

  “I’ll be home in a couple of hours then.”

  “You don’t need to come home at all, if you don’t want to.”

  “I hate sharing a bed with both of them,” Jack said. “Markus is a blanket hog and Kyle is a heat seeker. I’ll come home and sleep alone.”

  Dylan laughed. Jack gathered his keys, wallet, and phone before making his way out of the apartment. Alone to his own devices, Dylan went to the kitchen. He turned on some music while he reheated dinner. He ate at the counter before going into the office. He was about to slide on his blue-blocker glasses when his phone pinged. He ignored it, opening his art software, and getting comfortable at the desk. He’d made a list, prioritizing the sales and commissions. He was starting with the simplest firsts; digital avatars and single portraits. A few had already sent in the materials he’d requested; photos to work from and color palate preferences. He’d tried to give them hard deadlines based on response, but he wasn’t sure how well it would work. Doing artwork specifically for paying customers was a new experience. He was nervous about how it would pan out.

  The phone pinged again. And again. He picked it up to change the music and saw the text notifications.

  [BENJAMIN] Going on a hunch that you’ll get this at your newer number. If you do, please text me back?

  [BENJAMIN] That was ominous. I want to talk about last night. I gave David my resignation this morning. What we did to you was underhanded and cruel.

  [BENJAMIN] What I did to you was disgusting. I should have been honest with you from the beginning. You don’t owe me the opportunity to explain, but if you’d give me the chance, I’d appreciate it.

  Dylan scowled. It had been less than twenty-four hours. He wasn’t ready to accept excuses or explanations. He tossed the phone down after switching the music as he’d intended and got to work on the first commission. He was the master of his own future now. Benjamin, along with the rest of the present and future Montgomery security team, could fuck off.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  At around the same time that Dylan was waking in his apartment, the morning after his drunken stupor, Tyler was doing the same in his own apartment. Sunlight streamed through the slightly parted curtains, making him groan as the beam hit his face. He tried to shift to the opposite side of the bed, away from the offending light. Unfortunately, he found that he couldn’t. A very solid blockade seemed to be taking up that part of his bed. The night before, after Dylan left, washed over him.

  Simon had cut his hair for him, as arranged. They’d talked while he worked. Simon had been part of their group for as long as Dani had. He’d become more entangled when he’d begun his very open relationship with Mora. Tyler didn’t try to understand the mechanics. He knew that Simon identified bisexual and Mora was pansexual. They both enjoyed company with people of all gender identities. Sometimes, even together. What, exactly, it was that made them not polyamorous was a definition he didn’t understand, but they firmly denied the label for themselves.

  After the cut, he’d invited Simon to stick around. All their other friends were busy, it seemed. Dani was already deep into Drag Wars on her own, Mora had left for vacation with Martha Montgomery, and Jordan was off doing who knew what. He was lonely, and Simon was always an agreeable person to spend some time with.

  As had happened to him a few times, he couldn’t pin-point the exact moment that he’d decided to kiss Simon. They had settled on watching the first season of Ameri Khan. It was one of Simon and Mora’s favorite shows. Tyler had never seen it before. Before he knew it, he was in Simon’s lap, their lips pressed together. Simon’s hands roved under the confines of Tyler’s t-shirt. Tyler’s had taken hold of Simon’s face, pressuring more kisses out of him.

  “Wait.” Simon had finally taken hold of his senses. “You’re upset about earlier. I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret.” He looked annoyed with himself as he said it. “I don’t want to mess up our friendship.”

  “You’re right. This is stupid,” Tyler acknowledged before kissing him again.

  Simon moaned, pushing him away again. “Tyler, I am one hundred percent on board for a casual, no-strings hook-up. Before we go any further, I need you to be too.”

  “Casual. No strings.” Tyler repeated. He regained a little of his senses. “What about Mora?”

  “What about Mora?” Simon raised an eyebrow. “She texted me earlier. She’s hooking up with an attractive bellhop tonight. She even sent pictures.”

  Tyler laughed. “That sounds right.”

  They’d kept kissing until the TV asked if they were still watching the show. The break coaxed them into moving to the bedroom.

  Tyler held back another groan, rubbing his eyes. The sex had been nice. Falling asleep had been an accident. Waking up next to each other certainly had not been planned. His sudden restlessness awoke Simon who also had to take a moment to reconnect to the unexpected surroundings.

 
; He grunted, shifting onto his back. He cracked open an eye to peek at Tyler with a twisted look of apology.

  “I didn’t mean to stay over,” Simon finally spoke up. “Since I did, should we grab breakfast?”

  Tyler laughed. The whole situation struck him as ludicrous. He hadn’t slept with anyone since Greg had broken up with him, eight months before. Since Dylan’s reappearance, his head had only been on one thing; getting him back. It was par for the course to end up in bed with someone unexpected after giving up.

  “I’m sorry, Simon.” He pulled himself back together, wiping dampness from the corners of his eyes. “I’m not laughing at you.”

  “Is this about last night?” Simon guessed.

  “Last night was great,” Tyler assured him. “It was fun.”

  “It was fun,” Simon agreed. “You didn’t answer me about breakfast.”

  “Don’t you have things to do this morning?”

  “Nope. Other than laundry at some point, this is my free day. Mora is out of town until tomorrow night. I’m all yours, if you want me.”

  Tyler gave him a slight nod. “Let’s go to the Bistro for breakfast then. Maybe take a walk. We could check out the greenmarket at Tompkins Square.”

  “Ooh, that’s a good idea. Should we see if Jordan wants to come?”

  “Jordan probably already left to go work on that bike project. You can ask Dani though.”

  “I’ll see if she’s up. If she binged Drag Wars, she may still be sleeping.” Simon leaned over, pressing a brief kiss to his lips. He gave him a little smirk. “I needed one more of those. I don’t expect any in the future.” He rolled away from Tyler, looking around for his clothes. “I’ll run downstairs for a shower and get dressed. Pick me up in twenty minutes?”

  Tyler nodded in agreement. He watched Simon pull on the jeans he’d worn the night before. He shoved his boxers into his back pocket. His t-shirt got tossed over his shoulder.