* * *
Brandt had finally convinced the diva to sleep in her little portable cot and managed a shower for himself when a soft knock on the hotel room door sounded.
“You made it,” he whispered as he let Shane into the room. Shane wore his weariness like an extra layer of clothing, tired eyes, slumped shoulders, and slack mouth, but he managed a small smile for Brandt.
“Yeah. Sorry it took so long.” Shane set a backpack down before leaning against the door. Like Brandt, he kept his voice down. Brandt had set up the baby stuff in the far corner of the room, away from this entry foyer. “I had to wait through the rest of the show, and then there were a number of hoops to jump through for everyone advancing. I had to shoot some promo footage with the judges too. Graham doesn’t like me. I bet I don’t last long in LA.”
“Hey now.” Giving into the urge to touch him, Brandt clasped his shoulders. “That’s no way to talk. You just had a big win.”
“I know. I’m trying to not get my hopes up. That’s all.” Shane shrugged but didn’t move out of Brandt’s grip. His tone was almost morose, not nearly as hyped as Brandt had been expecting.
“Well, cut it out. You sound way too down for a guy who earned those cheers and that spot fair and square.”
“Yeah. I get that. It’s more...” Shaking his head, he dropped his gaze to his boots and Brandt’s bare feet. “I’m going to miss you and Jewel when I go. I really am.”
“I know.” Brandt pulled him closer so that their foreheads touched. Shane being so worried about leaving them made Brandt want to hold him that much tighter. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves quite yet, though. No one’s going anywhere tonight. You’re exhausted and probably starving.”
“They fed us. But I’d kill for a shower.” Keeping their heads together, Shane rubbed his cheek against Brandt’s.
“Let’s keep you from doing damage then.” Brandt steered him toward the nearby bathroom. “You go shower. I saved you one of the towels. I’ll be here.”
He meant far more than simply being okay with waiting. He was here. Here now and here for the future too, and he was still working out how best to express that to Shane. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he could explain it to himself. He’d never had anyone he wanted like this. He’d taken more risks than any one human probably should, but he’d never taken one like the one he was contemplating here.
By the time Shane emerged from the shower, Brandt was still thinking, but he’d moved to one of the two beds, sitting up against the headboard. He’d never bothered finding a shirt after his own shower, leaving him in a pair of shorts as he lounged on top of the covers. Towel around his neck, Shane made a pair of boxer briefs look damn erotic, all his lean muscles and pale skin on display.
Brandt took a long moment to admire the view. “Better?”
“Yeah. You were right. I do feel more human.” Shane glanced over at the other bed like he was trying to decide where to sit, like he belonged anywhere other than right next to Brandt.
“Don’t even think about it.” He patted the bed next to him. “Come here.”
Shane nodded in the direction of the little cot in the far corner. Brandt had shielded it from the low bedside light with a chair, and so far, Jewel was snoozing away even with their low talking. “Not sure how I feel about fooling around with her—”
“I’m not talking about sex. Want to hold you.” Brandt scooted over so Shane could stretch out, then spooned up behind him. “See? Isn’t this better too?”
“Yeah.” Tipping his head back, Shane relaxed against Brandt, pulling Brandt’s arms tighter around him and dropping a kiss against his bare shoulder. “Being here with you, it’s easy to pretend everything is going to work out.”
“It is.” I hope. Brandt had his own doubts, but even as new as this territory was, he’d also overcome far worse odds. Like he’d told Shane back home, he was betting on them. All in. And he wasn’t going to let negative thinking ruin them before they even truly started.
“Hope so.” Shane took a deep breath, like he was trying to inhale some of Brandt’s confidence. Brandt squeezed him closer and kissed his ear as they lay quietly for several moments before Shane asked, “Did it work out with Shelby?”
Brandt groaned. Nothing like a hit of reality to crack their happy little bubble. “Not exactly. I couldn’t get her to go with me to the lawyer. She... I might have told her about us.”
“Wow.” Shane whistled. “I’m betting she wasn’t happy. You didn’t have to do that.”