A red tainted Silence (22 page)

“Hold on, here’s the man,” Sam said, plunking the teddy bear -- and a stack of papers --

onto my vacated chair. I scooted back out of the way as Sam swooped down on Nicholas and gave him a hug. “Looking good, Nicholas. You’ll be back jogging in no time.” Nicholas laughed. “I hate jogging. I can’t believe you guys came all this way to see me.”

“Hey, man, you couldn’t keep us away,” Tommy said.

And then the icing on the cake -- Marisa floated in. “Guys! You made it!” Nicholas gave her a mock frown. “You knew they were coming?”

“Of course I did.”

I moved to the end of the bed, making room for Marisa as she, too, took her kisses from Nicholas. I cast my gaze down and away -- to see Mutt watching me from his chair in the corner. He gave me a sympathetic smile. “Uh, Nicholas, I’ll be back. Let you guys catch up.”

“Okay, Brandon,” Nicholas said, oblivious to my sudden misery.

I left the room, leaving Nicholas and his friends to their laughter. Mutt followed. I paused, then headed down the hallway, swinging on my crutches, knowing he would come after me. I stopped at the elevator, dropping my chin to my chest, finally letting out my breath in whoosh. “Fuck.”

“Sun’s out,” he said. “They have a nice garden. Quiet.”

“I’d like that.”

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We got onto the elevator and rode down in silence. He had that stoic-face thing going again. When the elevators opened, he exited first, then nodded to me. Coast was clear. “This way.”

He kept pace with me, making me feel rather ... small. Mutt was really quite a big guy.

Looks were cast our way as we passed by the main lobby, but they fell on him, not on me. Or so I thought.

“Brandon Ashwood?”

“Oh, my gosh, is that you?”

I paused, stifling a groan. Mutt moved between me and the two young women who had spied and, dammit, recognized me.

I pushed back that thought, took a calming breath. “It’s okay, Mutt,” I said, then smiled at the two girls. “Yeah, it’s me.”

“Oh, wow, I can’t believe it’s you.”

The two girls held sandwiches in their hands. Beautiful sandwiches. “Where did you get those?” I asked.

One of the girls, a pretty redhead, pointed to a deli counter I hadn’t noticed. “Over there.”

“I bet you’re sick of hospital food. They make great sandwiches.”

“We’ll get you one if you want.” The two girls looked at each other.

I looked up at Mutt. “Hungry?”

He frowned. I looked intently at him. He nodded. “Yes, actually.”

“Good. Mind if we join you?” I asked.

“Oh, wow,” the redhead said. “Sure. I’m Katie. This is my sister Stacy.” So I had lunch with two girls I’d never met before, and my bodyguard.

“This is heaven,” I said, biting into my sandwich. I closed my eyes, losing myself to the taste of fresh lettuce, fresh tomatoes, cold cheese, and the sweetest ham I’d ever tasted on soft, nutty rye bread.

“How long are you going to be here, um, Mr. Brandon ... I mean, Brandon,” Katie said.

“I can’t believe I said that.”

“A few more days. Why are you two here?”

“Our mom is getting chemo,” Stacy said, talking for the first time. I looked into her eyes, very pretty blue ones. Reminded me of Nick’s. “She’s sick.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She blushed. “Thanks. She likes your music. I can’t wait to tell her we had lunch with you.”

“Would she be up to a visit?”

126

Carolyn Gray

Katie shook her head. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow?”

“Done. I can bring Nicholas.”

The two girls looked at each other and grinned. “Actually, it’s you she always liked the best.”

I glanced at Mutt and sat back in my chair. “Really. Not Nicholas?”

“He’s cute, but no, she likes you. Is he going to be okay? We saw the press conference.” I felt myself blushing, but neither looked fazed. “He’ll be okay eventually. Thanks.”

“He’s lucky.”

I nodded. “Yeah, he is.” I finished all I could eat of my sandwich while the girls talked, answering different questions about life on the road until finally I pushed my plate aside.

“That was incredible. I’d better be getting back, though.” Katie nodded. “Us, too. Mom doesn’t like being alone for long.” I smiled, making both girls blush. Man, that felt good. “She’s lucky to have you guys.

Thanks for having lunch with me.”

“No problem.” They stood and we said goodbye, but not until I made them promise to come by and get me whenever their mom was up to it. “That was nice,” I said half to myself as the girls left, arm in arm.

“Kindness is the best medicine.”

I looked up at Mutt and grinned. “Yeah, I think we all benefited from that. I guess I’ll go back up.”

Mutt turned at that moment. “Actually, looks like they’ve come for you.” I looked where he was gesturing with his chin, feeling my heart seize. Nicholas was wrapped up in blankets in a wheelchair and headed directly for me, Jeff pushing. Marisa, Tommy, and Sam -- all three looking rather sheepish -- followed behind. Guilt lanced through me at Nick’s worried expression.

“Brandon, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I’m fine. Just getting a bite to eat.”

He glanced past my shoulders. “Food? Real food?”

“Brandon and I had lunch with two of his fans,” Mutt said.

“Oh?” Nicholas said, looking around. No one noticed him. I bit back a grin.

“They’re gone already. Their mom’s sick, here at the hospital. I promised to go see her later.”

“You really had lunch with fans?”

I shrugged.

“Brandon, I’m proud of you.” He turned to Tommy, who glanced at me -- but with an expression that suddenly had me wondering what had gone on after I left. “Tommy, would A Red-Tainted Silence

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you be a good friend and get me a really big turkey sandwich? With mustard and pickles and chips and a giant Coke?”

“Sure, no problem.”

“I’m starved, too,” Sam said. “Come on, Marisa, you’re hungry, too.”

“I already ate --”

But Sam had grabbed her hand, dragging her away. Mutt signaled to Jeff, and the two went over to put two tables together, leaving me and Nicholas alone but within easy reach.

I looked down at my cast.

“Brandon, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking --”

“It’s okay, Nicholas. They’re not used to having me around.”

“I shouldn’t have let them cut you out like that. It won’t happen again.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does, Brandon. You’re my partner, my lover again.” He smiled. “Well, you will be soon enough. Anyway, they’re going to accept that, or they’ll be out of our lives. Now. Sit down.”

I glanced at him, a little taken aback by the stern look in his eye, the firmness of his voice. I glanced at the others -- they were busy ordering sandwiches. With a sigh I pulled up a chair and set my crutches on the floor, clasping my hands together.

Typical defensive Ashwood pose.

“Give me your hand.”

I hesitated. He reached his hand out. I put my hand in his. The touch sent a shudder through me, and damned if tears didn’t spring into my eyes. I wiped them away. “Sorry.

Guess I’m kinda tired.”

“You have every right to be. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

He sighed, clearly not believing me. “Did you see this?” Nicholas said, handing me a paper I’d just noticed in his lap. “Read it.”

I took it, hesitant. “Dream to Reunite.” I cleared my throat. “Nicholas Kilmain, solo artist and lead singer of the wildly popular Californian pop duo Dream who, along with his bandmate and partner, Brandon Ashwood --” I looked up then, and he beamed at me. I cleared my throat again. “Um, held a press conference today at Sisters of Mercy Hospital, where they are recovering from injuries. After showing a stunned group of reporters the severe wound inflicted upon him by the man who kidnapped and held him captive for over six weeks in the La Plata mountains, Kilmain went on to announce his and Ashwood’s plans to reunite Dream.”

I read the rest of the article in silence, biting my lower lip, hard, as my gaze fell on the picture of us holding hands, looking at each other -- post-kiss, I thought.

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Carolyn Gray

“The rest of the articles are pretty much the same. No slams against us for being, um, partners in every sense of the word. Not a one.” The picture blurred. I dropped the paper in my lap and covered my face with my free hand.

Nicholas went on. “That’s why Tommy was pissed. He thought we’d planned to reunite without him. Sam told him he was nuts, but you know Tommy.” Nicholas shrugged.

I took a deep breath. “Tommy would want to? Even though I’m ... I’m ...” I couldn’t finish.

“Of course. We’re Dream. We’re Dream. And yeah, he wants to. So does Sam, and I know Lee will. He’s a given.”

I glanced over at the table where the others were having their sandwiches. Mutt and Jeff stood guard, keeping a watchful eye over me and Nicholas and the others. I clutched Nick’s hand. “What about Marisa? She can’t be too happy having me around again.” He tugged on my hand. “Brandon. You’re being a goose. They know the truth now.

They know you didn’t want to hurt me. They know you were just trying to protect me. I told them everything.”

I sucked in my breath at that. “Nicholas, you probably shouldn’t have --”

“They had to know. Otherwise, they would’ve given you hell. I couldn’t have that. Do you hear me?”

I shook my head, realizing what Nicholas had done. “Nicholas, don’t you see? You should’ve let them go on thinking -- Oh, God. Nicholas, now they’re in danger, too.”

“What do you mean?”

“We know it wasn’t Percy. We don’t know who it is. Or why they’re doing this. I wish --” I sighed. I wished he hadn’t said anything at all. “It’s too late now.” He blanched, his face paling. “Oh, damn, I didn’t think. Oh, sweet move, Nicholas,” he muttered, glancing at the others.

Tommy saw his glance. “Hey, Nicholas, your sandwich is getting soggy.” He looked at me and smiled tentatively. All I could do was nod.

Oh, Nicholas, what have you done?

“They’ll have to go with us,” I said softly. I looked at Nicholas. “Wherever we go, they’ll have to go, too. And my brother, when he and Barkley get here.”

“To Arizona?”

“Arizona! Why there?”

Nicholas grinned. “Tucson. That’s where we’re going to go. It’s hot, even though it’s winter, so you can get your tan back.”

“That’s a crazy reason to go to Tucson, Nicholas.”

“That’s where I want to go. If ...” He looked stricken. “You’ll go, too, won’t you?” A Red-Tainted Silence

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I looked at him and melted at the worry in his eyes. “Of course I will, Nicholas. I’m not leaving you.”

He closed his eyes, sucking in his breath. “Good. Good. Now, please, can we go over there and eat? I’m starving.”

“Okay,” I said, starting to rise.

“Hey.”

I stopped, startled, to find myself looking at Tommy. I hadn’t even seen him approach us.

“Tommy,” I said, nodding. Wary.

Then he did something I in no way expected. “Brandon,” he said, throwing his arms around me. I fell against him, wrapping my arms around him to keep my balance. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Dammit, why didn’t you tell someone?”

“Hey, Tommy, it’s okay,” I said, finding myself in the awkward position of trying to soothe a man I thought had pretty much hated me for the past two years. “I couldn’t.” He pulled away, wiping his eyes and laughing. Then he popped me on the shoulder.

“Nicholas explained, dammit. Fuck.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry I was such a jerk.”

“So was I, Tommy.”

“You had every right to be. Man, what hell you must’ve gone through. So, you guys are really --” He looked from me to Nicholas. “No joke?”

“No joke.”

“All that time, and I didn’t know it. I mean, Nicholas was always all over you, but he was all over everybody. But you -- How’d you hide it?” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I had to,” I said softly.

Tommy looked at me, shaking his head. “Fuck.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“I’m going to eat now,” Nicholas said. “Mind?”

“Oh, sorry,” I said, getting out of his way. Jeff came over and wheeled Nicholas to the table, where Marisa and Sam both cast looks my way before getting back to their sandwiches.

Tommy held his hand out to me. I took it, gripping it hard as he clapped me on the back. Carefully. “So, now what?” he said, letting me go.

I sighed. “Well, Nicholas shouldn’t have told you guys what was going on. It puts you in a bad position.”

His face darkened. “Let that fucker come near you guys, and I’ll kill him.” I grinned -- this was the Tommy I remembered. “That’s what Mutt and Jeff are for.

How’s Sylvie?”

He grinned. “Wonderful.”

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Carolyn Gray

“Is she back home?”

“Yeah. Fuck!” he said, slapping his head. “I forgot to tell you guys. We’re getting married!”

“You’re kidding. After all these years? It’s about time.” He shrugged, blushing. “Yeah, well ... some of us are kinda slow to admit our true feelings.”

I laughed at that. “Point taken.”

“Come on. Let’s join the others.”

At my hesitation, he put his arm around my shoulder. “Look,” he said. “I know things between you and Marisa haven’t been the hottest, but after Nicholas was through chewing me out, he chewed her out. I don’t think she’ll give you any more grief.” I felt my face heat at that. “Damn, he shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m glad he did. She needed to be told. I love the lady, but she’s too damn controlling of him. Know what he told her?”

“What?” I asked, flicking my gaze to the back of her head.

“He said, ‘Marisa, I love you, but I’m in love with Brandon. You’re not living with us when we go to Tucson. I’m a big boy now.’”

I dropped back my head and laughed at that. Heads swiveled my direction. I let Tommy propel me toward the table. He pulled a chair out next to Nicholas and gently pushed me down. Nicholas looked at me anxiously. I reached out and took his hand in mine, then brought it to my lips and kissed it.

“Geesh,” Sam muttered, but he didn’t look appalled. Maybe a little embarrassed, but there was no rancor in the look he gave me.