A Kind of Truth (23 page)

And in the middle of all this, I’d finally been given my first real opportunity to make my dream a reality. Nothing was certain, but if timing was everything, I had to wonder what this all meant for Spiral’s future… and mine.

WHEN WILL
agreed to play with us for the summer, I was over the moon. Sure, it was temporary, but it was a great solution to a few problems. One of which was to get Isaac, our new guitarist, up to speed before we went into Suite Dog’s recording studios in the fall. Isaac was a thin, good-looking, African American man in his late twenties with high cheekbones and vaguely feminine features. He was the perfect substitute for Will from a style perspective. He was nowhere near as talented, but he was good. Certainly better than Terry had been and better natured. He had a sharp sense of humor and was quick with a joke. If he could learn our songs and perform them well, he might just be the perfect replacement after Will started grad school in August.

A few weeks after we’d signed the contract, it was apparent to the entire band that we’d officially entered a new phase. We spent long hours practicing and more time than I cared to talking about promotion. Our contact at Suite Dog Records was a savvy visionary. I’d liked Ed Espinosa right away. He was a thirtysomething Puerto Rican New Yorker with a thick Bronx accent and a penchant for wearing fedoras with designer jeans and artsy T-shirts with wacky script or borderline offensive verbiage on them. And he loved Spiral. He was a great advocate with a nimble mind for business. He seemed to know his stuff. PR was a big deal, and he assured us we were in great hands with Leah. Ed hired her on the spot. He assured us her style would work well with a fledgling band.

Leah’s job initially was to create a slow-burning buzz before our first track was released commercially. She seemed to be as well connected as she claimed. There was more traffic on our website than ever. Whatever she was doing was working. Leah was very professional in her new capacity, particularly around Ed. But when it was just the band, she vacillated from cool and laid-back to downright brazen. Tim and Cory would exchange amused looks while I tried to fend her off without alienating her and at the same time somehow not piss Will off.

He never said a word, but I noticed him watching her red fingernails rake over my forearm as she went on about a funny tweet she posted about the band. Flirting was harmless as long as everyone knew the score. But everyone was a little confused. Including me. I was stuck in a weird triangle I could have easily defused if I had the okay to reveal who Will was to me. I didn’t. So for now, I was quiet. And it was starting to eat at me.

MY MIND
was all over the place as I pushed open the door of the bagel shop and headed west on
Fourth. Thoughts of Leah’s latest idea to do an intimate interview with only me warred with the instrumentation I had in my head for a new song. I had a feeling “intimate” meant her and me, and fuck I didn’t want to have
that
conversation, the one I thought we’d had at the restaurant. I’d never had to tell a girl to back off because I was with a guy.

I was going to have to do or say something soon. It was driving me crazy. I quickened my pace just as someone yelled my name. I turned, but when I didn’t see anyone I recognized, I moved on.

“Rand!”

I stopped again and immediately wished I hadn’t.

“Terry. How’s it going?” I gave him a brief once-over and uncharitably thought he looked like hell. His shaggy brown hair and beard were long and unruly, giving him an air of someone who’d crossed the line from hip and edgy to borderline sane.

“All right. I got my job back at Starbucks, so it’s cool. Not as cool as a record contract but hey.” He barked a short laugh and shrugged convulsively in a way that made me think he was unhinged.

“Right. Well, good luck. See ya.” I turned away and started up the street only to be stopped again by his hand on my arm. I shook him off with a scowl. “What do you want, Terry?”

“I want my fair share. That’s what I want.”

I narrowed my eyes and made sure to skewer him with every last ounce of contempt I had.

“You got your fair share. And then you passed out. It’s over, Terry. Your affiliation with Spiral officially ended at the bar that night.”

“Oh yeah, the night your boy took over for me. I was starting to think you were a goddamn fag, but then I heard you’re with my girl now. Jesus. You’ve got no fuckin’ class, O’Malley.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Stay away from Leah. She’s mine.”

I should have rolled my eyes and walked away, but I felt like setting the little fucker straight.

“I’m
not
with her, but that shouldn’t matter to you. According to her, you’re done. She’s not your business, just like Spiral is no longer your business. Good luck, man.”

When I took a step back, he grabbed my elbow.

“She’s not the kind of chick who’s gonna want a guy who’s into dick too. Neither are your so-called fans. Most people think your kind is disgusting. Trust me. You don’t want them to know, do you?”

I stared at him until he flinched and looked away. I took perverse satisfaction in knowing I made the little shit nervous.

“Are you threatening me?” I held up a hand when he sputtered like a fish out of water. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’re exposed. You’re a mediocre, lazy piece of shit. I’ve got no time for you.”

“You owe me—”

I stepped into his space, so close I could smell his fear. The urge to wring his neck was strong, but he wasn’t worth the hassle of dealing with the police. My tone was low and menacing.

“I owe you nothing. Not a fucking thing. You mess with me, you’ll regret it.”

I shoved him away and turned up the street. It took everything I had not to go back and knock him to his knees. I dialed Ed’s number and left a quick message. For once I was grateful to pass the bullshit on to someone else so I could concentrate on what mattered.

I ARRANGED
to meet Will later that day after he cleaned his things from the classroom he’d used to tutor. The area around NYU seemed a little quieter now that school was out. It was late May, so there were plenty of tourists, but then, they were all over the city at this time of year. I checked the time and glanced toward the heavy glass doors of the Performing Arts Center just as Will emerged carrying a guitar case. I greeted him with a smile and then immediately stuck my hand out to hail a cab. He gave me a curious look but didn’t say a word. Taxis were reserved for odd hours or special occasions. It was a shared joke that I traveled primarily by foot or subway. And until the first big checks came in, I’d assured him that was how it would stay. I gave the driver a Tribeca address and sat back.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

I glanced out the window while Will pretended to watch the snippet from
The Today Show
on the Prius’s tiny television screen mounted in the backseat. The ride was relatively short. I paid the fare, then led the way into the modern luxury condo. Will followed me with a funny expression that made it very clear he wondered what the hell I was up to. I greeted the doorman, who smiled warmly and handed me a card key and an envelope.

“Karen left instructions. She said you’d be by about now. Take your time. She’ll be here as soon as she makes it through midtown traffic.”

“Thanks, Keith.” I picked up the guitar case with my free hand and moved toward the elevator.

The building was brand-new and ultra-hip. The elevator barely made a sound as it jetted from the lobby to the fifteenth floor. I kept my gaze forward, grateful Will had yet to ask any questions, such as “what the fuck?” I stopped in front of 1505 and slid the card key in the lock before opening the door with a flourish.

Will stepped into the large, airy, unfurnished condominium and looked around. The two-bedroom flat boasted state-of-the-art amenities ranging from high ceilings to top-of-the-line appliances, pale wide-planked wood flooring, and upscale finishings. He walked toward the bank of windows and peeked out at the impressive view of the Hudson River and the Jersey skyline.

“It’s nice, huh?” I set his guitar case down and went to stand by his side.

“Very nice. Why are we here?”

I took a deep breath and moved toward the black granite island separating the kitchen from the great room. “I’m going to lease this place. I mean, I’m considering it. What do you think?”

“Can you really afford this?”

“Yeah. I can. I’m only signing a short-term lease in case things don’t go well during phase one, but I’ve been hoarding money like a miser for years to fund Spiral, and now that the contract has finally come in, I can relax a little.”

“How short is your short-term lease?”

“Through August. If we tank, I can move back into a shared hovel on the Lower East Side. Or maybe move to Queens. So… what do you think?”

“Hmm. It’s beautiful.”

“Well, happy graduation, then. We move in on the
First.”

It would be hard to say which one of us was more surprised. I couldn’t believe I’d said that out loud. But since I had, I decided to own it. I gave him an overly bright smile that clearly said the ball was in his court.

“I knew you were up to something. What are you talking about?” He adjusted his glasses and moved to lean his hip against the island so we stood a couple feet apart.

“I’m talking about living in style for a couple months. What do ya say?”

“I say you’re crazy. Living together isn’t keeping us on the DL.”

“We’ll say we’re roommates,” I suggested with a shrug.

“Roommates.”

Will turned toward the window so I couldn’t see his face, but something told me I was hitting the wrong note. I tried again.

“Logistically it’s a great idea. This place is close to Suite Dog Studios, as in it’s walkable. No taxis or subway necessary. Plus, it’s really fucking nice. A swanky, convenient address…
and
there’s a king-sized bed. Not a futon.”

“Rand… think about it. It’s a PR disaster.”

“No, it’s genius. We aren’t under surveillance. No one will care if we’re roommates.”

“Leah will.”

I stopped in my tracks. This was the first time he’d brought her name up in this context. It wasn’t so much her name as it was his tone.

“Maybe, but she’ll think we’re sleeping in separate beds.”

“She’ll be relieved to know,” he said sarcastically.

I stepped in front of him and cradled his chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Hey. You know I’m not interested in Leah. I’m—”

“Why not?”

“Huh?”

“She makes it pretty clear she’s interested in you.” He bit his bottom lip and looked away. “Whatever. I’m sorry I said anything.”

“Do you trust me?”

Our gazes locked for a long moment before he nodded. “Yes.”

“Good. I’m with you. I’ve never been in a monogamous… arrangement, but I want to try it. With you. This is only about us. Not the band. Not Leah.”

Will stared at me intently as though he wasn’t sure he heard me correctly. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah.” I backed him against the island and held his face before kissing his mouth softly. “Come on, let me show you where your toothbrush goes, roomie.”

“I’m not moving in with you.”

“You know I’m gonna talk you into it,” I said, tickling his sides.

Will’s bubbly laughter echoed in the empty space. It turned into a groan when I slid my hand over his crotch and palmed his cock through his jeans. I expected him to push me away, but he wound his arms around my neck instead and sealed his mouth over mine. I moaned into the kiss, licking his lips as his fingers combed through my hair. And then my cell rang. Loudly. I rested my forehead against his for a moment until he kissed my mouth and stepped aside for me to answer it.

“Hi, Karen. Yeah. I’m here now. That’s all right. Yeah—I’ll see you soon. Thanks.”

I put my phone away and slid my hand in Will’s. “Come this way. We’ve got fifteen minutes and I need your help.”

He let out a half laugh as I led him down the short hallway toward the master suite. “I’m still not moving in with you. What do you need my help with?”

“I have to buy stuff. That king-sized bed I was talking about and linens and… oh shit, I’ll need towels too. Check this out.”

The bathroom was gorgeous. A rough-hewn light-colored stone lined the mirror wall, giving way to a slick pane of glass separating the large walk-in shower. The fixtures, tile, and lighting were simple, modern, and tasteful. And after sharing a 1960s bathroom half this size with two buddies, it was downright luxurious.

“Wow. This is really nice.” Will’s eyes widened appreciatively.

“This is where your toothbrush goes. And there’s plenty of room for makeup and stuff in here—” I said, pointing at the drawer space in the cabinetry between the sleek dual sinks.

He smiled as he caught my gaze in the long, rectangular mirror. I folded my arms around his chest, then slipped my fingers under his T-shirt to tweak his nipples. He let his head fall back on my shoulder, exposing his neck. I nibbled his throat as I moved my right hand south to unbuckle his belt and unzip his jeans.

“But we better test things out first.”

He craned his neck and gave me a reproving look. His hands moving over mine were a good indication he didn’t mind, though. “Rand, it’s not your place yet. We can’t—”

“We have to. If the sex is no good in this room, we’ll have to try another. Don’t say no, baby. We have twelve minutes.” I freed myself from the confines of my jeans and lowered his to expose his beautiful ass. I set my palm over his mouth. “Lick it.”

He obeyed, then leaned forward with one hand on the marble countertop and one on his dick. My mouth went dry. I couldn’t believe he was giving in this easily. This was the guy who rarely consented to holding hands in public. The fact he was wantonly arching his back and presenting his ass like a fucking gift was a crazy turn-on. I reached around and wrapped my fingers around his shaft. He was already hard and leaking precum. He looked at me in the mirror’s reflection and bit his bottom lip.