by BLMorticia
With what Seth had said earlier, he could tell how serious his lover was. He wanted exclusivity, love with no barriers. Malakei hadn’t had that in his life, and now that he did, he’d do everything within his power to keep it.
THE DAY Seth dreaded the most had come. Despite hating monkey suits, he pulled out his Sunday best for the horrible occasion. Never in a million years had he thought he’d see the day for his best friend to pass before him. To him it was as if he was waking up to a nightmare.
About sixty people packed the small parlor for Johnno’s memorial service. Much to Seth’s dismay, Johnno’s father didn’t bother to come. However, his aunts and uncles from both sides made the trip. Flowers and pictures of Johnno adorned the front of the space, with candles on each side of the podium. Myrna didn’t want him buried, so she had him cremated instead because she couldn’t bear seeing her only child being lowered into the ground.
With so much emotion overtaking him, having his mother and Malakei close were the only things keeping him upright. During the service, he spared no tears, continually crying on Malakei’s shoulder. Myrna didn’t want it to be long. Her sister read the obituary, accompanied by an organ. A local priest said prayers, and acknowledgments were made from friends, including Morty and Gio. Seth wished he could get up the strength to talk, but he couldn’t. He’d need Malakei to go up with him, which he wouldn’t want him to do.
Despite rumblings about Malakei being in Britain, they’d stayed out of the public eye. Seth didn’t want to bring undue attention to himself or Malakei while he grieved.
After the memorial, Myrna invited everyone to her home for a meal. Malakei paid to have it catered so Myrna or Ethel wouldn’t have to worry about cooking. More people showed up, some from the pub, even mates from school who stopped by to pay their respects. Seth was grateful Johnno had so many people who cared. If only they’d shown that same kind of affection when he was alive, he might’ve still been around.
Once Seth acknowledged everyone, he loosened his tie. He couldn’t bear saying anything to another person for fear he’d lose his mind. Instead, he walked into the kitchen where his mother, Myrna, and Malakei sat at the table.
“Is everything all right, Seth?” His mom asked him.
“’M ready to get out of here.” Seth rubbed his eyes and sniffed. He ran his hand through his hair, feeling overheated. He really wanted to get drunk, but he wouldn’t out of respect for Myrna and his mother. “Kei, can we please leave?”
“Sure, if you’re ready. The crazy wig, mustache, and glasses as a disguise worked pretty well. No one recognized me.” He chuckled as did Myrna and his mom.
Seth smiled wryly. “I’m glad. It was nice of you to do that. We didn’t need people clamoring for your autograph when they should be paying their respects.”
“Yes, and I had to be here for you guys. Anyway, ladies, we’ll stop back by later.” Malakei hugged both women, then joined Seth at his side.
Seth grabbed his hand and squeezed. “We’re only going next door. I can’t be around all these people. They’re saying things and giving me nasty looks. I feel like I’m gonna snap off on the lot of ’em.” Seth cried and wiped his eyes.
Malakei plucked out his handkerchief, pulled him in close, and pressed a light kiss onto his temple. “It’s okay, hmm? Let it all out.”
“No, I can’t do that here. Gotta go home.” Seth wrangled himself away from Malakei.
“All right.”
Seth leaned into Malakei and they kissed quickly.
Wanting to get out of there, Malakei led Seth out the back door, and they sprinted to Seth’s home before anyone could see them.
“Hand me your key?” Malakei asked.
Seth handed it to him to unlock the door.
Once Malakei unlocked the door, Seth walked to the kitchen and opened the cabinet where his mother kept a couple of bottles of scotch. He hadn’t had anything other than small amounts of beer and wine over the past few weeks. He needed a lot more today.
“Are you going to be okay?”
Seth grabbed two glasses and poured. “I s’pose I will… eventually. You want one?”
“Nah. I had a beer earlier.”
Seth stopped and looked at Malakei standing by the door. “C’mon, Kei. Have one with me, please?”
“All right, but just one. For both of us.”
“I gots to get drunk tonight. If I don’t, I’ll go find that band and personally kick their asses! I never should’ve let him leave us! The bastard always had some obsessive tendencies.”
“No you won’t. None of that will help.” Malakei ambled closer to Seth until they both stood near the counter.
“It’ll make me feel a little better.” Seth handed him the drink.
“But it won’t bring him back.” Malakei twisted his lips, then put up the glass in a toast. “To Johnno?”
“To Johnno. Rest in peace, you fuckin’ bugger!” Seth tossed it down his throat and slammed the glass down, breaking it.
“Hey, hey.” Malakai put down his glass and grabbed Seth’s arms. He yanked him in. “Hey, come on, now. I’m here.”
Seth whimpered and dropped his gaze. He clenched both hands into fists. “I know, but I want my best friend back. I… I did Johnno so wrong. I did… I fucking did him wrong!”
“You didn’t, all right? We’ve told you to stop blaming yourself.”
“Whose fault is it, then, hmm? It’s mine, Kei. It’s fucking mine! If only I hadn’t pushed him away, he might be alive right now.”
“Seth, please.”
“Gods. I’m happy about us, but this—I’ll never get over it. I won’t.” Seth cried and didn’t bother wiping his tears.
Malakei moved in closer, but Seth stopped him, pressing his hands flat on his chest. “I… I just need time alone, hmm? Can you stay down here?”
“Where are you going?”
“Up to my room. Gotta let off some steam.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me there?”
“’M, sure. Just stay here. If you hear me screaming, then perhaps you should come up.” Seth stepped back, turned on his heel, and ran out of the kitchen. He darted up the stairs two by two until he got to the attic room.
Where we practiced.
Me and the band.
Johnno….
When he crossed the last stair, he removed his jacket, then tossed it aside. He rolled up his sleeves and threw his tie across the room.
Thinking about that last tense meeting with his friend, rage and guilt filled him. He remembered telling Johnno he was no good.
I sent him over the edge! I did that! “Ah fuck!” Seth kicked up his leg and punched the surrounding air. He sprinted to the dresser and pulled the drawers out, throwing them around the room. When one drawer hit the lamp, sending it crashing to the floor, Seth ran over and tossed it aside, shattering the pieces. Next he grabbed his acoustic guitar and broke it over his knee. He swung what was left of it around until it crashed into the mirror over his dresser. “Johnno! You bloody wanker! Why did you hafta go join those druggies? Why did you leave, hm?” Seth turned over the small shelving unit with compact discs and old movies. He kicked the wood until it broke. He was sure he’d destroyed some discs, but at the moment, he didn’t care.
“Seth!” Malakei called out to him, running upstairs.
Hearing Malakai gave Seth pause. He stood in the center of the mess he’d created, then fell to the floor in a heap.
“Shhh, baby. C’mon!” Malakei hugged him with strong arms, yanking him into his chest.
Seth grasped Malakei’s shoulders tight. “Oh Gods, Kei. Is he really gone?” Seth cried repeatedly.
“He is, but you have to believe he’s in a better place. You have to.”
“I fucking hope so….” Seth leaned on Malakei’s shoulder and clutched his back with shaky hands. “And I hope when I get to where he is, he’ll forgive me.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
MALAKEI HATED seeing his lover break do
wn, but he figured he needed to take out his rage in some form. After allowing Seth to have a couple more drinks, he calmed him down with hugs until he fell asleep. With the emotions he’d been carrying around the past few days, Malakei thought he’d need some more rest.
Once he lay him down, Malakei did the best he could to clean up. He stacked movies and discs in the corner, swept up the glass, and discarded the bookcase. He kept the guitar, however, because he thought Seth might’ve not wanted it thrown out.
“Malakei? Are you and Seth still here?”
Upon hearing Ethel’s voice, Malakei walked downstairs with two garbage bags in hand. “Yeah, we are. Seth is sleeping.”
“Are you cleaning his room?” she asked in confusion.
“Sort of. He had, uh… he had a meltdown. He destroyed some things, and I cleaned up what I could.”
Ethel covered her mouth. “Oh my…. Gods, Malakei, I’m so sorry.”
“No apologies needed. He’s my lover. I’ve got to take care of him. I think he needed that moment so he wouldn’t keep all that bottled up inside.”
“Did he make that big of a mess?”
“He broke his bookcase, guitar, and lamp.”
Ethel appeared horrified and shook her head. “I had no idea he took this that hard. I know he loved Johnno like a brother, but… I thought you being here would calm him down.”
“It did, to an extent, but he was talking about going after the guys in that other band. I believe he would’ve still done that if I wasn’t here with him.”
“Oh, Malakei, bless you.” Ethel hugged him and patted his back. “You’re so good for him, you know. You really are.”
Malakei smiled when she made that statement. “Thanks. I plan on being good to him for a long time afterwards if he’ll have me. Let me take these out. When I come back, we can go check on him together.”
“Do you want me to do it? What if someone sees you?”
“I’ll wear my shades, but otherwise I kind of don’t care.” Malakei set the bags down and put his Ray-Bans on. He lifted them again. “I’ll be back.” Malakei walked through the kitchen, then out the back door to the cans. He dropped them in and quickly ran back into the house.
“Okay.” He took them off. “Ready?”
Ethel smiled, and he followed Seth’s mother upstairs.
DAYS PASSED after the funeral, and things got back to normal….
As normal as it could get for Malakei.
Somehow the press got wind of him being there, and they followed him around while he shopped in an upscale clothing shop. They threw questions his way, but he turned them down for any impromptu interviews.
Seth was at the doctor getting tested, as Malakei had done the day before. He thought it best for them to go separately so no one would put two and two together. Malakei knew he wouldn’t be able to stay here without someone figuring things out for much longer, but he also didn’t want the press to hound Seth or his mother.
Knowing that they were following his every move, Malakei decided it was time to go back to his castle until he returned home. That wouldn’t be too much longer because he had a few bands lined up to work within the next couple of weeks. Also, Seth still hadn’t spoken with his mother about moving there. Malakei didn’t want to rush Seth into asking her, so he’d give him all the time he’d need to discuss the big decision.
As he left the store, a crowd of reporters followed him to his car as the valet pulled up. He turned to them and smiled. “Really, guys, you must have a bigger story than me right now.”
“Malakei, is it true your lover lives here?” one press member asked him as another took pictures.
“No.”
“Is your lover in the music business?”
He should be. Malakei thought to himself about Seth still refusing to talk about High Stakes. Eventually he’d have to convince him that High Stakes is a must.
“No,” Malakei calmly answered and got into the car. Once the valet closed the door, Malakei slowly pulled away, leaving the reporters in his rearview.
“Dial Seth.”
Malakei made a right turn and stopped at a light. The store wasn’t far from the hotel, but he didn’t want to walk for fear of being spotted. It didn’t matter now.
“Hello, baby.”
“Hey. Listen, I’m being followed big-time. I’m going to send a car to get you, then we’ll meet at the hotel, okay?”
“Sure. Whatever we need to do to ditch those press members.”
“All right. I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
“Love you too. Bye, Kei.”
“Bye.”
Malakei disconnected the call and pulled off. He made another turn until he got to the hotel. He proceeded to the underground garage where four security men waited to escort him to his suite. He parked the car and cut the engine. One of the guards opened the door.
“So much for a quiet vacation,” he said.
“Did they find you?”
“They did. So that means I need to get out of here. Can you guys stick around so I can get my boyfriend out too?”
“Of course, Mr. Oakley. Whatever you need, sir.”
Malakei smiled in thanks and followed the men through the hallways and to the employee elevator to get to his penthouse. Though he was unhappy about the press finally catching up with him, he figured it was time to leave the hotel, anyway. He missed his home away from home, and he wanted to show Seth the castle they’d stay in when they’d return to Britain.
“ALL RIGHT, Mr. Davies. You’re good, all clear.” The doctor gave him the results of his test.
Seth exhaled and smiled. “Thanks, doctor.” He stood up and shook his hand.
“You’re welcome. You and your partner should get tested every six months to be on the safe side, especially if you plan on having others.”
“No, no, there will be no others in our bed. I can assure you.” Seth winked and left.
“All right then. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.” Seth saluted him and continued out, shutting the door behind him.
Once he got to the waiting room, Seth jogged downstairs to the lobby. When he made it to the exits, there was a gentleman standing outside with a sign that read Davies.
Seth smiled and checked his phone for messages. Malakei had texted him about a well-dressed gent there to give him a ride to the hotel.
“You must be my ride,” he said walking up to him, grinning.
“I am, sir.” He opened the door for him and waved Seth inside.
Seth got in and sat, looking around at the Benz limousine that was similar to the one that picked him and the band up. He smiled in remembrance, thinking of how happy they had been to go to New York.
So much had changed since that day three months ago. Seth’s dreams had transformed along with them, but he looked forward to the new doors opening for him.
As the car moved, Seth peered out the window at the town he’d grown up in. The diverse amounts of people, the shops, and the pubs. He would miss Birmingham, but staying here without Malakei wasn’t an option. He’d make regular visits once he got his new career started.
Whatever that new career is.
Songwriter.
Producer.
Live guitarist.
Singer for High Stakes!
Seth shook his head and plugged his ears with the buds. He turned on his phone to listen to tunes. Although he still wanted to be the singer, he couldn’t think about that now.
Within about fifteen minutes, the limo arrived at the hotel. Seth jumped out and noticed a large crowd of cameras and reporters standing by the front doors on the opposite side. Ignoring them, he kept walking, and a security guard ambled up to him.
“Mr. Davies, Mr. Oakley has asked that you wait here with me. He’s packing all your things. You’re traveling in the limo.”
“Oh, like a decoy? That’s smart as shit. Who’s going to take his car?”
“He’s having it transported on a truck.”
Seth took a seat in the chair and waited. In a way, he loved all of this action, but he realized it was a pain he and Malakei would have to deal with every time they went out in public.
Seth leaned back and turned his music on to relax. Before he could get comfortable, he noticed three other guards walk up with whom he assumed was Malakei behind them.
“Sir, after you,” the guard told him.
Seth got up and walked back out the doors. He jogged down the stairs and got in.
Malakei followed him, and once they loaded the limo with their luggage, the driver pulled off.
“Wow, that was cool as fuck!” Seth looked out the tinted back window and yanked his plugs out of his ears.
Malakei sighed in relief, removing his wig, baseball cap, and glasses. “Yeah. Kind of like secret agents.” He laughed. “So?”
“Negative.”
Malakei smiled wide. “Me too. So that means you’re gonna ravish my ass tonight?”
“Oh, fuck yes, I am.” Seth pressed a chaste kiss on his lips. “And one day before we leave here, we’re gonna do it in this limo too.”
Malakei leaned in, returning the lip-lock with a little more passion. “We’ll tell Garrison to take the day off then. Now, I bought you some things to wear.”
“Ugh, Kei.” Seth grimaced and clicked his teeth. “I don’t want you to spoil me.”
“I’m not, but you needed more clothes. They’re just jeans, some shirts. Nothing too formal. Just things to wear so we wouldn’t have to stop back at the house. I was also thinking we could bring your mom out to see the place. Then you can ask her about moving.”
“That would be awesome!” Seth beamed and hugged Malakei tight. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother about Malakei’s invitation to his castle. And after that, his news about moving to the States, meaning she wouldn’t have to work anymore. Seth would do everything he could to take care of her as he’d always set out to do.
Chapter Thirty-Four
THE TIME to ride to Malakai’s castle flew by because they shared kisses and conversation along the way. Seth couldn’t help but be excited about seeing what Malakei called Prophet’s Lair. For whatever reason, Seth thought it to be lame but appropriate.