“Hmm, probably.” Jet releases me.
As we enter, all sounds stop.
Literally.
Either I’ve gone deaf or some phenomenon is happening where the world has turned mute.
Then I get over my ego and realize the silence isn’t for me.
“What’s the verdict?” Matt asks Jet.
“I’m going back on tour.”
There’s a round of apologies and “that sucks,” and then Jet looks at me.
I nod.
“There’s something else,” Jet says, his eyes still locked on mine. “Soren’s coming with me.”
More silence.
Talon, as if sensing the tension, goes for the joke. “What, like, as a backup singer?”
“No, dancer,” Miller says. “Duh.”
“No …” Jet waves me closer and puts his arm around my waist. Mine goes over his shoulders. “As my boyfriend.”
Mouths drop open.
My stomach does a flip at the boyfriend label.
Matt, Noah, and Damon all try to glare me to death.
Matt and Noah would be thinking about Jet’s well-being. Damon would be wondering what this will do to my public image.
“Twenty bucks on Matt kicking Soren’s ass,” Maddox says. When the glares are then sent his way, he cocks his head. “Daddy’s ass? If Jet has to call Soren that, does that mean we do too?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I grumble.
Jet laughs.
Luce steps in. “The best way to keep Jet’s ex off his case and the label off his back is by throwing his new boyfriend in everyone’s faces.”
“Oh, so it’s fake,” Matt says.
Jet and I look at each other. I want him to be the one to tell them no—that this is real. That’s what I was offering last night when I suggested this. Not a beard or distraction for his label.
“We kinda, sorta, might’ve, maybe hooked up three years ago and never told you guys,” Jet says. “And now we have this second chance, so we’re taking it.”
A relieved whoosh leaves me. For a second there, I thought he was going to tell them that it will be just for show.
“Three years …” Matt says. “Three years and neither of you thought to say anything? Didn’t think to say anything the other morning when I went to you and said, hey, Jet has a thing for you?”
Jet glares at his brother. “Oh, thanks for that by the way. There’s nothing like big bro telling someone you’re sleeping with that you’ve got a ‘crush.’”
“You told him?” Matt booms at me.
“I was there,” Jet yells back.
“Awkward,” Maddox sings.
I wave my hands in front of me. “Okay, this is getting out of hand. Truth is, the night you guys came to my Stanley Cup final, I didn’t know who Jet was outside of his band. I didn’t know he was your kid brother, and stuff happened.”
Jet’s hand tightens around me. “Then I went on tour, and we haven’t really seen each other since until this trip.”
“And now you’re together?” Noah asks.
“Well, no, but we’re … dating?” Jet says and looks up at me.
It’s not how I’d describe it, but it’s not like serious boyfriend fits either. “I guess that’s the closest description.”
“They’re so fucking,” Maddox says.
Damon puts a hand across his boyfriend’s mouth. Thank God. “Stop trying to get the man killed.”
“Killed?” Matt leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his wide chest. “Not gonna kill anyone.” His voice is high-pitched and kind of scary. “Why would I need to kill anyone for keeping a secret for three fucking years?”
“That’s why you’re mad?” Ollie asks. “I thought it’d be that Soren’s sticking it to your little brother.”
I lean into Jet. “When do we leave for the tour? In the next six seconds might be a good idea.”
“It’s not like we’ve been dating for three years,” Jet says. “I didn’t realize I needed to inform you of all my hookups. Want me to write a list? According to the tabloids, I might need a whole legal pad.”
“When do you leave?” Matt says, still edgy but now trying to cover it better.
“I’ll handle it,” Luce says. “Most likely, we’ll be out of here this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the latest.”
We can’t leave right this minute?
Chapter Eighteen
JET
“He’s too old for you,” Matt says while I pack my bags.
“Say it louder. I don’t think he can hear you a hundred feet away.”
“He’s older than me.”
“This may come as a shock to you, big brother, but I’m an adult.” I gasp. “Fucking surprise! I grew up. And, as a side note? He’s only ten years older than me. I’ve been with guys ten years older than him.”
Matt puts his hands over his ears. “La-la-la-la-la.”
“Age doesn’t mean anything. Especially when you’re as immature as Soren. Or you, it seems.”
My brother looks confused. “He’s immature?”
“Oh, like you wouldn’t believe. He totally did a ‘that’s what he said’ joke the other day. I was so proud.”
“Stop talking about me. My ears are burning.” Soren appears on the steps leading to my hut. “And I’m not usually immature. Jet brings it out in me.”