A Christmas Song (4 page)

The elevator door opened and she stepped out.

Bernard followed. “What?”

“Nothing, never mind. We better shower, change, and get down to the dining room.”

“I don’t think I can walk and I might not be able to sit comfortably for a while.”

His pain brought a smile to her face. “Fake it.” She headed for her suite.

“That’s easy for you to say.” He waved goodbye to her and waddled to his suite.

The tears appeared the moment she was safely in her suite. All the old feelings she had for Trent came barreling back. How was she going to make it through the holiday knowing he’d be leaving again?

Chapter Two

Trent paced the floor of his suite upset at himself for what just occurred between him and Denise. Imagine a rubber breaking? How juvenile. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t rush things and just let nature take its course. But when he saw her fall from the ladder, adrenalin kicked in and all he could think about was catching her before she hit the floor. Once she landed safely in his arms, all he could think about was keeping her there. All the old feelings he’d had for her came rushing back the moment he got one look into those big brown eyes. Sure, she didn’t look the same. Her body had blossomed and she had aged seven years, but all good changes. He hadn’t exactly returned the same either. He’d grown taller and filled out. He wondered if she liked his new look. He tossed his long light brown hair back. Was it too much for her? Women seemed to dig his bad boy biker look.

He picked up his dirty clothes and headed toward the bathroom for a quick shower. He freshened up his beard and mustache and then changed into a clean pair of jeans and a pullover shirt. He only had a few minutes to get down to the first dining room. He planned to sit next to Denise and beat out Dante who for some reason had taken a sudden interest in his ex-girlfriend. He didn’t mind a little competition, but not from a man he considered a brother. Trent slapped on some aftershave lotion, ran a brush through his hair, and then left the suite.

He met M. J. in the hallway on the way to the elevator. He’d changed clothes too and wore a guilty smile on his face. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” M. J. said. “You look flushed.”

“So do you. You didn’t happen to….?”

“Yes. I got tempted. How about you?”

Trent groaned and nodded. Neither of them had any self-control.

“It’s like being home again.” M. J. pushed the button for the elevator. They’d lived at the hotel for a short time once they left the orphanage. Bernard’s family had taken them in and he and the band helped out around the hotel and entertained the guests. They stepped inside the elevator once the doors opened. “Denise looks great.”

Trent nodded. “Yeah, Bernard too. I loved what he’s done with this place and his hair.”

M. J. chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re not gay.”

“Even if I was he only has eyes for you.”

“He’s very submissive.”

Trent smirked. M. J. was being kind.

The elevator door opened on the lobby floor and they stepped out. Security guards ran past them and headed out the front door. Trent peeped around the corner. “Shit, man, there’s loads of people out there.”

“Fans?”

Trent nodded. “How did they find out?”

“No telling. Let’s just ignore them and let the security do their jobs.”

He and M. J. hurried down the hall toward the dining room. They entered the door.

The place was warmly decorated in a Christmas theme. Evidence of remodeling was all over the hotel. This room too. The walls were painted an antique white and there were signs of new tables and chairs. All the tables were decorated with red and green tablecloths, candles, and dishes. Bernard waved them over. Trent and M. J. nodded at guests who spoke to them as they walked. Denise was at the table too. She’d changed her clothes and her hair had been styled and hung down her back. Bernard had also changed his clothes and now wore a light colored suit that hugged his slender body like a glove. Trent bet M. J. appreciated the little extra effort Bernard went through to make himself look gorgeous.

Vince and Dante arrived a few minutes later. Trent had taken a seat to the left of Denise and Dante planted his butt in a seat on her right. M. J. sat next to Bernard and Vince sat to M. J.’s right.

Soothing Christmas music filtered out the speakers. The waiters entered with trays of food. His plate arrived marked,
no salt
. He smiled. Bernard and Denise remembered. Trent lifted the silver cover, revealing baked fish, potatoes, string beans, and a wheat bun. He looked around at the other plates. They had the same, but probably seasoned. He had to watch everything he ate, so he couldn’t grab a burger or fried chicken at a fast food restaurant. The band normally traveled with their chef, and hotels were only too willing to let Paul prepare their meals.

After dinner, Three-Ringed Circus joined Bernard and Denise in one of the offices to discuss the upcoming benefit.

“There are two other bands scheduled to play,” Denise said as she walked around the room.

Trent followed her every move, wondering if she regretted sleeping with him earlier and wondering if the ruptured rubber would make them parents. He didn’t have a problem with it since he still loved Denise and thought she’d make a wonderful mother. She’d looked after him and M. J., making sure he stayed away from salt and M. J. ate his vegetables. She had been right there with them when they decided to form a band, helping out with publicity, marketing, and snacks. He actually thought she’d accept his proposal back then. It took him a little while to understand why she turned him down. It wasn’t because she didn’t love him. It was because she loved him enough to step back and let him become a superstar. He didn’t actually think he could have made it to the top if he had to worry about her too. Now his life was more stable and he could offer her a home, even if she wanted to stay in San Diego. He didn’t have a problem moving back home. He would move to the ends of the earth just as long as he could be with her.

“We’re putting Three-Ringed Circus on last as an added surprised,” Denise said.

“Sounds good to me,” M. J. said. “It would mean no stress for us, and we could leave the audience wanting more.”

“Great,” Denise said. “We have a large empty room ready for you guys to rehearse in.”

Dante raised his hand to get her attention. “Will there be dancing?”

She nodded. “Yes, we’re going to rock the benefit.”

“Then can you save a dance for me?”

Denise blushed. “Yes, I’ll pencil you onto my dance card.”

Trent glared over into Dante’s direction. He didn’t know what Dante was up to, but his friend didn’t stand a chance with Denise now that he’d slept with her.

The meeting went on for another hour or so and then it disbanded.

Dante had followed Denise out of the meeting room, while he stayed behind to talk with Bernard about the rehearsal room. He didn’t think Denise was foolish enough to fall for any of Dante’s sweet talk.

“Come on. I’ll show you guys where you can set up your instruments,” Bernard told them.

“What about Dante?” Vince asked.

“We’ll get him after we see the room. He has to help unload the instruments,” M. J. said as he followed behind Bernard like a lovesick puppy.

Bernard took them to a large room at the back of the hotel that used to be one of the dining rooms. “We removed all the tables and chairs and put them in storage so you guys can have room to move around.”

“Thanks,” M. J. said. He moved a strand of long brown hair behind his ear. “This is going to be perfect.”

Bernard looked at him shyly. “If there’s anything else you need, please don’t be afraid to ask.”

“What’s your suite number? In case I need something.”

“One zero zero two,” Bernard said, looking all kinds of pleased. “See you later.”

M. J. kept watching as Bernard walked away.

Trent slapped M. J. on the back of the neck to get his attention. “Cut it out. We need to rehearse.”

Vince walked past them. “I’ll go find Dante.”

“You do that,” Trent said. “Find Denise and you’ll find him.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about him,” M. J. said. “What’s up with him hitting on your girl?”

Trent shrugged. “Maybe he’s impressed by her new body.”

“Maybe. And it’s not like he isn’t already in a relationship. Annette would kill him for cheating on her.”

Annette was a stewardess from Los Angeles, where most of the band lived when they weren’t on the road.

Trent agreed with him. “Maybe he should have invited her to come with us. Clarice too.”

Clarice was Vince’s girlfriend. She was an aerobics instructor.

“I might bring up the subject to Dante before you strangle him.”

Trent ran his fingers through his hair. “Am I that obvious?”

M. J. nodded. “Do you think you can get Denise to change her mind and marry you? I know you’ve wanted this for a long time.”

Trent shrugged. “That’s all I want for Christmas. But Denise and I might be getting a present in the fall, too.”

M. J. looked at him oddly. “What do you mean?”

“The condom broke.”

M. J. grimaced. “No?”

Trent nodded. “And she’s not on the pill.” He sighed. “Maybe it’s fate.”

“It sounds like you got a little over-anxious in the bedroom. But I think the two of you will make great parents.” He paused. “Why isn’t she on the pill?”

“I don’t think she’s been having sex with anyone. Man, she was so tight. Do you suppose she hasn’t been dating?”

“I hope she hasn’t been for your sake. That would mean she still loves you.”

“You think so?”

M. J. nodded.

“So what’s going on with you and Bernard?”

M. J. shrugged. “I took one look at him and just went gaga. I wondered if he’s still interested in me.”

Trent chuckled. “Did you not see the blush when we arrived? I don’t think he would have slept with you if he wasn’t interested.”

“Yeah. He told me he just got out of a relationship. I hope he didn’t just sleep with me on the rebound. I’m tired of getting used.”

“I think he’s still in love with you. I wouldn’t sleep with anyone I didn’t love.”

M. J. smiled.

“It’s obvious he still wants you. He knew you were gay even before you did. I think you should go for it. At least you know he loves you for you and not for fame or money.”

“True.”

Vince entered the room followed by Dante.

Dante sidled up to them. “Did you know that Denise is still volunteering at the orphanage at least two evenings a week?”

“No, I didn’t know that,” Trent said as they headed out the back door to the truck to unload their equipment.

§ § §

“So, what’s he like?” Keisha asked Denise as they checked in some late evening arrivals.

“Who?”

Keisha pushed her. “Trent.”

“He’s over the top and yummy.”

“See, I knew you still cared for him.”

“I’ve never stopped caring for him. But he has a different life now and so do I. It’s nice to see him, but once the benefit ends I don’t expect to see him again for a long time.”

“What if he asks you to marry him again before he leaves?”

Her friend was a true romantic. “What if he already has a girlfriend?” The thought had crossed her mind after she walked back to her room to shower. He hadn’t mentioned anyone and she hadn’t asked. They were too busy getting naked to care.

“Honey, you know he loves you.”