by Terry Towers
“My mouth’s watering already. I can smell the bacon.”
Bacon was a known favorite for Zack; he’d devour an entire pound on his own if allowed to. “Like a damned bloodhound.”
Chuckling, Zack reached the archway leading to the kitchen and stopped just inside the room. “Hey baby, miss me?” He spread his hands out as Violet turned and grinned.
“You’re here!” Smiling, she raced across the room and into his arms.
I’m not sure who started what, but what started off as an exuberant hug turned into something much more intimate as Zack hooked her chin and his lips came crashing down onto hers. The kiss wasn’t in the least bit chaste; instead it was intense and demanding. It was the kiss of a couple of lovers who had missed each other deeply.
Considering the fact that Violet and I had just professed our love for each other the previous day, I should have been jealous. It should have taken all my strength to keep from tearing them apart as their tongues danced.
But it didn’t…
If anything, seeing them together was turning me on and was reminding me of the night at the spa where we’d double-teamed her, bringing out the wild woman in her that I’m sure she didn’t even know existed. My dick jerked beneath my jeans. This was an unexpected feeling. Yes, I’d shared her before, but things had changed. The one thing that hadn’t changed was that these were the two people in the world I loved more than anyone. We were a team. Did life and relationships have to be restricted to only two people? I didn’t know.
When they tore themselves apart, they were both breathing heavily and Violet’s face was flushed. Violet looked at me and there was a flash of guilt in her expression. My heart went out to her; she was in a very awkward position. I knew she cared for Zack, maybe she was even in love with him. This wouldn’t be easy for any of us.
“If you could set the table for us boys I can begin to plate everything up.” Violet turned from us and began to deal with frying pans. “Hopefully, you two will like it.”
“Well love it hon,” I said, giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek as I went about doing as instructed.
~*~ TT ~*~
Zack
Something wasn’t right, I could just feel it. There was a tension between the three of us that hadn’t been there before. They were keeping something from me. Despite how good breakfast had been, I was too preoccupied in trying to figure out what was different to really enjoy the food.
Once the dishes were washed and put away, I couldn’t handle the weirdness between the three of us any longer. I had never been one to beat around the bush, not when I was a kid, and certainly not now, in the presence of the two people I considered my family. Narrowing my eyes at them, I asked, “Okay, what’s going on you two?”
Dylan and Violet exchanged a look. I’d noticed them exchange that exact look a couple of times throughout breakfast. There was certainly something going on.
“It’s a beautiful day, let’s go out to the pool area and relax so we can talk,” Dylan suggested.
It was as though they were working as one unit; while Dylan put an arm over my shoulder leading me toward the back doors, Violet grabbed a bottle of wine and three glasses. Boy, this ought to be good if there were getting out the wine directly after breakfast.
There was a set of white wicker patio furniture sitting out by the pool, which is where we sat down, across from each other at the glass table. Violet joined us with the wine, opening the bottle and pouring us a glass each before sitting between the two of us.
I didn’t touch the wine; I had more important matters to attend to. “Okay, so what’s going on? I can tell you two have something to say. If you’re just going to tell me you two have been fucking while I was away, that’s fine. None of us are exclusive, I’m not going to be upset over that, after the night at the resort I figured we’d left it on a decent, open note.”
The two of them shared another look.
Dylan was the one to speak. “There’s no way to say this other than just come out with it. I’m taking a break from the band.”
I felt as if I’d been slapped. “Is this some sort of joke?” It had to be a joke. We were in this together until we couldn’t play anymore; that was the plan. If it was a joke it sure as hell wasn’t a funny one.
“No, it’s not.”
Violet placed her hand on mine, but I barely noticed the touch, my eyes and attention were focused on Dylan—my brother—my best friend. “We’ve got a new album planned out. I’ve already got a couple songs written.”
“You still have Salvatore, Flinn, and Ethan. Flinn has a great voice, he can easily take over for me. He’s basically an extra guitarist anyhow, it’ll be a simple transition. And let’s be honest, you are the main front man.”
“Fuck that!” There was an array of emotions coursing through me; betrayal, shock, hurt.
Dylan frowned. “Please don’t be like this. You know Flinn can do the job.”
“It’s not a matter of whether or not he can do it. It’s a matter that this band started with us, the two of us. We are the band.”
“And now, you’re the band. And it’s not like I’ll be gone forever. I’m not saying that. Perhaps for the next album or two I would like to focus on other things. I’d like to get a feel for life outside of all the craziness of recording and touring. We’ve been doing this a very long time, brother.”
“Exactly. We’ve been together for twenty years—from the very beginning. I can’t believe you’d just bail ship when we’re on top of the world.”
“Zack. Please.”
I looked from Dylan to Violet. “What are your thoughts on this foolish idea? Did you at least try to talk some sense into him?”
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Angered that she couldn’t so much as get a word out, I focused back onto Dylan. “If you won’t listen to me then what about her? Did she at least try to talk you out of it?”
“This isn’t anyone else’s decision but mine, Zack. Wouldn’t you like to get a taste of normalcy for a changeI know you like the party lifestyle, but you must be getting sick of it, at least a little bit.”
“Of course I do! But this is our dream.” Didn’t he remember what it was like to be living in shitholes, wondering if you’d have enough money to eat that day? Didn’t he remember how hungry we’d been for success?
“And we’ve achieved it.”
“And then what happens if the band can’t do it without you? It could be the death of Hypnotic.”
“It won’t be. Zack, I’m tired. I just need this break.”
“You can take a break when the band is dead.” I shook my head. This was pure bullshit and I was done with it. Snatching my hand out of Violet’s grip I grabbed the glass of wine, drank it down then placed the glass back on the table. “I’m going to go settle into a bedroom. I’m done with this.”
Chapter 19
Violet
Dylan stood to go after Zack, but I stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder and pushing him back down into the chair as I stood. “I think it would be better if I went after him and tried to get him to talk.”
“I’m his best friend.”
“Yes, but I’m the most objective of the two of us. I think he’d be more receptive to me trying to talk to him.” Dylan looked uncertain, taking a swig of his wine. “Please. Trust me on this one.”
“I don’t know…”
Giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, I leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek. “I do know. I’m good at dealing with people. It’s part of my job. If I can’t get through to him then you can have a shot. Let me try first.”
He didn’t look convinced, but begrudgingly agreed.
“Good.” Turning, I rushed into the house and as I reached the staircase, I could see Zack was already at the top.
“Zack!” I was sure he’d heard me, there was a brief hesitation in his step, but he continued on, turning right and down the hallway and disappearing without actually
acknowledging me.
Dammit.
Hustling up the stairs, I turned right, knowing he had to be in one of the rooms. It wasn’t until I reached the last room of the hallway that I found him with the door open unloading his clothing into the closet and dresser.
I took a moment to watch him, before speaking. “If you were trying to hide from me, you didn’t do a very good job of it.”
“I wasn’t trying to hide. I know how persistent you can be.”
“Fair enough.”
“Though it doesn’t mean I have to make it easy on you though.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No. I guess not. Can I come in and talk?”
“Suit yourself.” His tone was indifferent, perhaps even a little hostile, but that was fine. We’d had some pretty harsh fights in the past so this was nothing. Besides, it wasn’t me that he was angry with.
Walking into the room, I went to the bed and sat down beside his open suitcase. I watched him for a moment until he had the suitcase unloaded.
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at me. “You said you wanted to talk. Let’s talk. What do you want?”
“What Dylan said to you out there was hard for him. It wasn’t a decision he took lightly.”
“You don’t understand what we’ve been through together.”
“Then explain it to me.”
His expression softened. “Okay.” Sitting down next to me, he shifted so he could face me. “We’ve been doing this since we were teenagers. Music was the only thing we had, except for each other. We swore to each other we’d rise to fame together and leave the business together. But he’s breaking that promise.”
“It’s not as simple as that.”
“I can’t see how it’s difficult. We’ve been best friends, brothers. We’re all we’ve ever had and now he wants to leave it all. He’s giving up on us.” He motioned between the two of us. “Both of us.”
That last part hit me hard and I cringed.
~*~ TT ~*~
Zack
If I wasn’t mistaken, I was sure I’d seen her grimace when I said he was leaving the both of us. My eyes narrowed at her. I was starting to get a feeling that there was more than met the eye about this situation.
She reached out and placed a hand on my thigh. “Dylan has been a wreck trying to find a way to tell you without upsetting you.”
“Then he didn’t do a good enough job then, did he?” I growled.
“No perhaps not. But be honest with me; haven’t there been times when you thought about just dropping off the face of the earth for a while and living a normal life?”
“The problem is that we’ll never be normal people, never again. All us taking a break is going to do is kill the high we’re on right now. But we’re always going to have to deal with the craziness.”
“Maybe you’re right. But everyone needs a break now and again. He’s drained, Zack.”
I covered her hand with mine.
“Sometimes you have to let people go on their own path, even if it’s just for a little while…” she continued.
I gave her an odd look. Were we still talking about Dylan, or were we taking about her as well? I’d been gone for a week. Maybe things had progressed between the two of them and I was being left at the wayside, both professionally and personally.
“He may not be gone forever. He just needs to take a break for the time being, that’s all.”
“What about you?”
“What do you mean, what about me?” Her face flushed and I could tell right away she wasn’t telling me the whole story.
“What aren’t you telling me, Violet?”
“I….” She averted her gaze confirming me suspicions.
“Has something happened between you and Dylan since I’ve been gone? I thought we were…” I didn’t know how to word what I was trying to say. Honestly, it was because I wasn’t sure what we’d been before I’d left. I loved her, even if I had never told her outright.
Her brow creased and her green eyes took on a look of confusion. “Were what?”
I groaned out loud running my hands through my hair in frustration before lacing my fingers behind my neck. I couldn’t lose her too. I couldn’t lose them both. One was hard enough.
Like a Band-Aid, right off, I coached myself. It would be less painful for both of us that way.
“Violet, you know I’m in love with you.”
Her mouth dropped open as she stared at me.
That really wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for, especially since this was the first woman I’d professed my love to since I was a teenager. I never allowed myself to fall in love, but here it was, I was laying it on the table, and she was simple staring at me with a blank expression on her face. It seriously couldn’t have been that big a surprise, could it?
Giving her head a shake, she asked, “Why haven’t you told me before now?”
Now it was my turn to be at a loss for words. “Things seemed to be going good for the three of us. I just never thought it was necessary.”
“Not necessary? Why wouldn’t it be necessary?”
It was time for me to flip the table on her. “You’ve never told me.”
I could have been off-base, but I didn’t think I was. I could see it in the way that she looked at me, she cared for me just as much as I cared for her.
“I—”
Capturing her chin in my hand, I stared deep into those memorizing green eyes of hers and took a gamble. “Can you look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me, Violet?”
She closed her eyes and when she opened then I could see the love that she’d been trying so desperately to hide. “Yes. Yes, of course I love you.”
I was about to lean forward and kiss her when she placed her hand out and pressed her palm against my chest, holding me back. Tears began to well up in her eyes, causing concern to radiate though me. “But I’m in love with Dylan as well. In an ideal world I could have you both and we could all live happily ever after.”
So many questions raced through my mind, as Violet and I stared deep into each other’s eyes that I didn’t know where to start. Dylan and I had shared sex toys in the past. And by toys, I mean girls. But we’d never been in love with them at the same time. I didn’t know for sure if Dylan was in love with her or not, but I suspected he was.
“We can make it work.” Dylan’s voice broke the trance we’d been in and both of us turned our heads to see him standing in the doorway.
“How?” The anger I was feeling at Dylan for taking a break from the band was pushed to the back of my mind as I looked at the man whom I considered my brother. “How can we make this work? We’ve never been in love with the same woman before.”
On a certain level it all made perfect sense. The three of us had become very close, very quickly. We got along amazingly well. We’d become family. We only had each other and the bond that had formed between us was strong.
“Why not take some time off as well, Zack?” Dylan entered the room and sat down on a chair next to the bed. “Dude, we’ve been doing this a long time and we need a break. All of us do.”
“I don’t know.” Taking a break from the showbusiness life had never even entered my mind before. I loved what we did. But on the other hand, I’d never been in a relationship like this before. Could Dylan be onto something? Could taking it slow after the last leg of the tour be the way to go? Maybe take a year or two off?
“We need to focus on family. We’re not twenty anymore.” Dylan added.
“And what happens when we go back to recording and we’re obsolete? What then?”
Dylan leaned back in the chair and shrugged. “Everyone in the band has more money than we know what to do with. I know at least the two of us have put away a shit-ton of money. I’ve observed the other three of us and no one seems to be overspending to the point where us taking a couple-year break would make a difference. When and if we come back, if it happens that we don’t hit number one with each sin
gle then to hell with it. It doesn’t matter. It was about the music, not number-one hits when we first started, it can be that way again.”
I looked from Violet, to Dylan and then back again. Maybe along the way we had gotten wrapped up in having number-one hits and awards and accolades. Maybe it was time for us to move forward in our personal lives. Many groups have disappeared from the limelight, just to come back with a vengeance with all-new authentic music, music that came from their roots. Music written because of the love of music, not to cater to mass consumption.
“All right,” I said slowly. “Okay. Let’s do this.” The words coming from my mouth felt freeing, because I knew I meant it.
Dylan and Violet smiled.
Clearing his throat, Dylan brought my attention back to him. “I thought that perhaps we could live here. The three of us. I don’t know exactly how this will all work, but I feel like we can figure it out along the way.”
Share Violet…. If it was any other man suggesting such a thing I’d have been filled with rage, but this wasn’t just anyone, this was Dylan. This was my brother and we both loved her. To make her choose would only tear us all apart. She had a big heart and there was enough love within her for both of us.
Giving Violet a cocky smile, I asked the most important question of all. “Do you think you can handle us both?”
A smile slowly crept onto her lips. “I can certainly try, Mr. Wyatt.”
Chapter 20
One month later
Violet
“We want to thank you all for your support. We love you all.” Zack said into the microphone, on stage in front of the fans of their very last stop on the tour in Boston. Dylan and the rest of the band were lined up at the front of the stage, waving and taking a bow.
Cheers and stomping erupted from the sold-out crowd, so loud and violent that it shook the stands of the coliseum. It was insane. I’d never seen anything like it. From the wings of the stage, I could see tears in the eyes of all the men up there. Hell, even I was tearing up and I’d been with them less than four months.