Treble Maker

by Annabeth Albert

The realization made him a little giddy. Here he could touch Cody whenever he wanted, and few people would look twice. Unlike back home . . . and no, he was not going to think about home or his parents while spotlights swept back and forth, temporarily blinding him.

  The MC did the whole exaggerated-pause-before-each-announcement thing. Lucas’s nervousness started to override his obsessing over holding Cody’s hand. His stomach flipped around and sweat pooled in the small of his back. I want to stay. Please let us stay. No ambivalence this week—Embellish finally felt like his group, and no way did he want to end their run. Even if it meant having to deal with his parents.

  The Divas got called out first and, surprisingly, Trevor’s group got second. Another long pause, during which Lucas offered up a series of prayers and plea-bargains, and then they were safe.

  An audible whoosh sounded as the group exhaled in unison. Relief rolled through him, almost painful in its intensity, and he wasn’t sure he remembered to smile.

  As they were ushered backstage, he caught sight of the British judge, rolling his eyes at the applause for them. He flagged over a PA and looked like he was launching into a complaint, ticking fingers off. Guess the British judge wasn’t much of a fan of Embellish. That sucked, and next week would be even tougher—

  Worry about next week fled as they got absorbed into the happy mob backstage. The crowd swelled with each save, hugs and backslapping exploding all over the place. Although Ashley had wandered away, he still held Cody’s hand. It felt nice. Solid. No one was paying any attention to them—lots of squealing as other groups joined the crush of bodies and tears. Cody rubbed his thumb back and forth against Lucas’s palm, his thumbnail dragging against the creases. Heart line? Life line? Lucas could never remember which was supposed to be which, but the sensitive points Cody teased lit up, sending electric impulses up his arm.

  “So I was thinking . . .” Cody’s voice was husky from going for it on the power notes; he’d been nothing short of amazing on the final run of the song. His voice sounded similar after sex, and between the voice in his ear and the teasing fingers linked with his, Lucas started getting turned-on, leaning more into Cody. “Yeah. Exactly that. Was thinking if we hurry, we’d have time to shower before the club. Want to play—”

  “We made it! Another week!” Trevor appeared beside them, bouncing in his shiny loafers and mock prep-school blazer.

  “What is with his timing?” Cody hissed in Lucas’s ear. “Think he doesn’t want you laid. Ever.”

  “I just downloaded the new Sky Force. Wanna play after the dinner?”

  Okay. This was awkward. Any other night Lucas would have totally been down with gaming. He knew Trevor was having a rough time, and he wanted to be there for his friend—but he also really wanted to go with Cody.

  “Um. I kind of have plans.” Lucas had to plant his feet to keep from shifting.

  “Oh.” Trevor’s face sagged with disappointment, and Lucas wished he knew what words could make it better.

  “We’re going to a club—”

  “You’re welcome to come.” Cody sounded more like Trevor was welcome to screw himself. Lucas tried to catch his eyes—Cody needed to learn how to be nice to people other than Lucas. Cody was doing better these days, offering compliments to the rest of the group and agreeing to changes. But right now Lucas wanted to kick him.

  “No, thanks. I’ve uh . . . learned my lesson about places like that.” Trevor rubbed his neck. He shot Lucas a look, like Lucas should know better, too. Like he expected more of Lucas. Like Lucas should expect more of himself.

  Not knowing how to deal, Lucas stood there, silence stretching out despite the pandemonium around them. A group of girls showed off a victory dance while other people shed costume pieces—blazers and sweaters were flying like confetti.

  “I’ll see you at the room?” Impatience dripped from Cody’s voice and was reflected in his wide eyes.

  “Yeah.” Lucas nodded. His heart twisted as Cody walked away, probably thinking Lucas was going to bail on him like last week. But that wasn’t happening.

  Keep your hands off my boyfriend. That’s what Cody had said an hour ago. The words were still rushing hot fudge sweet and smooth through Lucas’s veins. Things had been weird the last two weeks—weird good, with lots of long showers and make-out sessions on Lucas’s bed, but also weird bad, with Cody getting all jumpy around other people. But Lucas liked it—the little touches in rehearsal, the sexy looks. He liked being the focus of all Cody’s charm. And he wanted to go out with his boyfriend.

  Cody wasn’t the boyfriend he’d planned on. Wasn’t the boyfriend he probably needed. And wasn’t the permanent boyfriend he’d sometimes dreamed about. His faith was changing. Shifting. Sometimes he felt overwhelmed by possibility—like he was hearing his own voice for the first time instead of just harmonizing with the crowd. And other times it scared him spitless. But mainly he simply wanted Cody—for however long he could have him.

  But he also wanted his friend to feel better, and it sucked knowing he was letting Trevor down. Trevor kept staring at him, obviously waiting for Lucas to speak, but he didn’t know what to say.

  “Might be fun. You should come.”

  “Might be dangerous.” Trevor’s sidelong look said he didn’t mean physical danger. He walked away before Lucas could search for the right words.

  Back home, Trevor was even more restricted than Lucas, taking the honor code seriously and trying to live up to ultrastrict parents who tracked him like police dogs. Maybe he needed this freedom, too. A better friend would know how to tell him that, would be able to explain to Trevor how good it felt to be himself—finally—and would figure out how to make both Cody and Trevor happy.

  A muscle twitched in Lucas’s jaw. This was the downside to all the choices swirling around him—with fewer guideposts, he had to hope he wasn’t making any wrong turns.

  Lucas came out of the shower to find Cody holding up a silver shirt. Cody had already showered since he’d beaten Lucas back to the room. He wore a white T-shirt so thin Lucas could see both nipple rings and the outline of his tattoos. He’d added thick leather bracelets and silver jeans with heavy combat boots.

  “Kept me waiting, so you have to wear this.” He tossed the shirt at Lucas. Silky with a hint of stretch, the pullover shirt looked two sizes smaller than Lucas’s usual T-shirt. It sported a V-neck and futuristic superhero logo. “Wardrobe ladies were distracted when I returned my costume. Didn’t object to me borrowing a few things. Put it on before I do your hair.”

  Lucas could tell from the set of Cody’s jaw that there was no point in arguing. He pulled on a pair of boxers before shrugging into the shirt. Felt weird not putting an undershirt on first, but the slide of the slinky material against his skin was like getting dipped in something cool after being hot and tense for hours. Kinda took away any urge to protest Cody’s bossiness.

  “Why do you get so pissy when I talk to my friends?”

  “I don’t.” Cody grabbed a bottle of hair goop on his way over to Lucas. “Don’t worry. I’m not getting vampire possessive and going all Twilight on your ass. Trevor wants in your pants, but he’s a prick about it, which means I’m not a fan.”

  “He . . . what? No way.”

  “Yes, way. Maybe not in your pants, because that would break whatever rules you guys have. He wants ‘to hold your hand . . .’” Cody sang the last bit. Lucas didn’t laugh.

  “He’s not trying to be rude to you. Or crushing on me. He’s paranoid—he’s not out to his parents, and he’s always afraid someone will report back, and then they won’t pay for his school.”

  “Yeah. Whatevers.” Cody’s tone said he didn’t believe him.

  Oh man. If Cody got this self-righteous about Trevor’s issues, what the heck would he think of Lucas’s parents? Lucas glanced at the phone he’d tossed on the bed. His folks had sent a bunch of texts in the last hour, but Lucas didn’t feel like dealing with them tonight.

  He also didn’t f
eel like dealing with predetermined judgments.

  Lucas said, “I’m not getting rid of my friends—even the conservative ones—just because we’re . . .” Cody smeared hair gel along the curls at his nape—cold!—and Lucas’s skin twitched, like he’d been zapped. “You seriously need to work on your people skills, man. You could have been way nicer.”

  “Yeah. I can try to be nicer to your friends.” Cody sighed.

  “There is no try, only do.” Lucas did a pretty good Yoda imitation. It would be a good moment to tell Cody about his parents, but then Cody winked at him, a little flirtatious look that went straight to Lucas’s groin and blocked out his common sense.

  “You know I’m all about the doing.” Cody’s voice held the promise of a dirty joke.

  Lucas glared at him, a low growl escaping even though he knew better than to let Cody push his buttons. Cody grinned at him, his fingers tangling in Lucas’s hair. His hands moved down Lucas’s neck before pinching his earlobes.

  “Hey!”

  “Relax.” Cody’s fingers flittered and fiddled with Lucas’s ears. Leaning in, he bit Lucas’s neck. “They’re magnets. You can take them off if you want later. Now pants. And I’ve got a belt for you, too.”

  “I’ve got my own belt.” Lucas pulled on the pants.

  “Yeah. Well, I’ve got a better one.” Cody cracked him lightly across the ass. He moaned and Cody laughed. “Oh, I am so exploiting that. Later, though, because we’re running late.”

  Lucas sat on the bed to get his shoes on, then stood, tugging the unfamiliar clothes. He picked up his phone, thought about responding to at least one of his mom’s texts. Nah. He’d have plenty of time to call them later. Maybe he’d find a really good reason to get them to cancel their trip.

  “Holy fuck.” Cody whistled.

  “What?” Lucas could feel his face getting hot. This was a terrible idea.

  “You look fucking hot. See?” Cody pulled him over to the full-length mirror by the closet. The room was half-lit. Without the table lamps on, the hall light cast weird shadows, making their reflections look surreal.

  Whoa. The last two weeks, he’d paraded around in enough costumes and had enough messing with his hair that he’d almost gotten used to looking different. But this? This was . . . not him.

  His chest felt cold without his usual T-shirt—he was so used to wearing an undershirt that the single layer of silky material left him exposed. Heck, you could even see the outline of his nipples. The tight fit made him look ripped, cutting into his biceps and tugging across his pecs. Tucked into his pants, it made his waist look smaller than his shoulders, and the tight pants made his legs and butt look less bulky.

  He turned his head. Little points of silver glittered on his ears. Nothing like Cody’s piercings, but they still made him look edgy. Different. Gay. Like really, unmistakably gay in the silvery shirt and tousled hair and . . .

  “Wait.” He narrowed his eyes. “Is that glitter in my hair?”

  “It’s in the hair stuff.” Cody ran his hands up and down Lucas’s arms. “Damn. You look so good, I almost don’t want to let the others see you.”

  “I’m down with that.” Lucas looked meaningfully at the bed. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be seen like this. It felt like what he’d spent years trying to avoid—being any more conspicuous than he already was. After all, he was infamous enough in Austerity as Professor Norwood’s gay kid, the awkward younger brother of the three most-likely-to-succeed Norwood siblings, and the reason his parents had risked their tenure fighting for his rights. He hadn’t needed any other reasons to stick out.

  But here in LA, wearing LA clothes and going to an LA club, the urge to test-drive a different self was both exhilarating and terrifying. He tilted his head, studying himself closer. Pretty boy twink.

  “I look like I’m an extra in a CockyBoys shoot.”

  “Oh, not an extra. You’d be a star. ‘Virgin twink ass’ always gets big money. ’Course you’d be losing your clothes in about thirty seconds.” Kissing his neck, he met Lucas’s eyes in the mirror, the look full of heat and promise.

  Now there’s a thought.... Lucas bumped back against Cody, trying to tempt him into staying. They could skip the club. Stay here and entertain themselves. Yeah. He could save braving the wilds of gay LA for another time. Coward. You can’t keep avoiding yourself. He took a deep gulp of chilly air—even though the idea of the bar intimidated him, he still wanted to try—and not just for Cody.

  “Be good.” Cody pulled away, smacking him lightly on the ass. He snatched a light brown cowboy hat off the bed. “Apparently, Western week is coming. Better get in the spirit.”

  Cody’s grin made him look like every sinful thought Lucas had ever entertained come to life. He wanted to drop to his knees right there. Let Cody keep his smirk and his hat on . . .

  “Later.” Cody laughed. Darn mind reader. “Let’s go.”

  In West Hollywood Vine Street was lit up with clubs and Saturday-night crowds. Streetlamps cast a pastel glow over the wide sidewalks. The line to get into the club stretched down the block. Around them, groups of guys horsed around, and a number of couples held hands. There were some boy-girl couples like Jeff and Raven, and more than a few couples where Lucas couldn’t tell the gender makeup. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

  “Stop looking so nervous,” Cody whispered in his ear, resting his chin on Lucas’s shoulder. “This isn’t even that wild of a place. It’s more known for the music, not the meat market.”

  It wasn’t the idea of other guys on the prowl that had Lucas’s pulse jumping in his neck. It was this—being out in public with a guy hanging on him. He’d been around other gay people before, but this was miles away from attending Iowa Pride with his dad or hanging out with his parents’ middle-aged, married same-sex friends.

  “I’m okay,” he lied. All week he’d been getting more comfortable with Cody touching him, but under the harsh streetlights, surrounded by other guys looking for a good time, Cody’s accusations came rushing back. It’s true. I do hate people knowing about the sex part.

  “Not even much of a backroom scene here. In fact—” Cody reached around, his thumbs hooking in Lucas’s belt loops. “You don’t get to come tonight. No matter how much you want to, or how much you beg. Not until we’re back at the hotel and I say so.”

  “God.” He went boneless against Cody. The answering chuckle was warm against his neck. Freeing a hand, Cody squeezed Lucas’s ass.

  Behind them, Jeff coughed loudly.

  “What?” Cody swiveled around. “You want to drink the cheap tequila, you get to put up with me groping my boyfriend.”

  Boyfriend. Lucas’s insides went all soft and warm as Cody casually tossed off the word. He leaned into Cody, soaking up all his bouncy energy and warm strength. But the butterflies returned in a rush when they reached a scary-looking bouncer with curved bone earrings and a matching claw hanging from his nose. His red Mohawk glinted in the light from the bar sign.

  “Please tell me you have ID.” The guy’s voice was rough, with a hint of Texas.

  “He’s legal, Snake,” Cody spoke up behind him.

  “Cody!” Snake reached around Lucas to slap Cody’s palm. “Long time no see, man! How’s reality TV treating you?”

  Lucas felt Cody shrug. “You know I can’t talk about that. Nondisclosure agreement and all.”

  “Sad to see you off the circuit this summer.” Snake stamped their hands without bothering to look down at Lucas’s ID. “Saw that manager of yours a couple of nights ago. Tell him to give us a ring when you’re free. Love to book you for the fall—you’ll have lots of publicity from your top-secret show, right?”

  “I’ll have him set something up.” Cody sounded smug, his hand sure and firm on Lucas’s thigh.

  “Nemo’s working bar tonight. Give him a wave. First shot’s on me.” He stamped Ashley’s, Jeff’s, and Raven’s hands.

  “Thanks, man.”

  “This one’s with you, h
uh?” Snake ran a thick finger up Lucas’s shirt, his eyes sweeping over Lucas in blatant appreciation. This was why hiding behind baggy shirts was easier. He had no idea what do with the attention other than blush and look away.

  “Hands off.” Cody knocked the finger away.

  Snake’s gaze stayed fixed on Lucas. “You feel free to find me if Cody proves too much work. I like them pretty like you.”

  The dim entryway let Lucas hide his blush but didn’t stop the girls from giggling as they went into the club.

  “Hey, think you could talk him and Nemo into letting me open for you when you play here again?” Ashley asked.

  “Sure.” Cody tugged Lucas forward into the throng of people. “Right after I get done letting him and Nemo steal Lucas for a three way.”

  “He has a boyfriend?” Lucas looked back at Snake.

  “He has a husband,” Ashley corrected. “They have an open arrangement.”

  “See,” Jeff spoke up, poking Raven. “That flies with some people.”

  Lucas tried imagining a marriage without monogamy and couldn’t. The bone-deep relief he’d felt when Cody said he wouldn’t mess around was matched only by his churning jealousy at the idea of Cody picking up someone else. Nope. No three ways for him.

  “You’ve done gigs here before?” he asked Cody.

  “Couple of times. More back when they were still paying in free drinks. It’d be nice to play here now that they’re bigger.”

  Lucas looked around. The cavernous, industrial space had giant pylons breaking up the room and a lowered pit around a stage on the far side of the room. Heavy techno music blasted from giant speakers. Even without a band, dancers packed the pit. A raised seating area looked down on the first floor up over the mock barbed-wire fencing, forming a balcony. Both levels had bars crowded with people in line for drinks. Cody played here?

  “You’re kind of a big deal, aren’t you?” Darn it. Cody’s hands on his ass had generated enough heat to destroy every filter that existed between his brain and his other body parts.