Page 34 of Something Unprofessional

Ev huffed a strained laugh. “I might have to kill Remy.”

Gabe squeezed his knee. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m allowed to let you do that.”

“Even if he really deserves it? He promised he just wanted to hear Kels sing. No one was around when we started.”

Gabe chuckled. “Well, there’s your first mistake, thinking anyone in this town is capable of minding their own business.”

“What was the second?” Ev asked.

“Thinking you could be exceptional without anyone noticing.”

Ev’s laugh choked off, and he pressed his palms hard against his eye sockets. “Shit,” he said, voice cracking. “What the hell was I thinking?” The knee Gabe wasn’t holding started bouncing this time, and Ev’s breathing turned choppy.

“Hey,” Gabe said, concern swelling. “Talk to me, boy. Is it what Nathan said?” Gabe was sure losing the realitycompetition was a difficult memory. Dammit. Gabe should have cut Nathan off sooner.

Ev shook his head. “No. Yes. Not how you think.”

Well, that was less than informative. Gabe caught Ev’s wrists and drew his arms away from his face. Ev gave him an annoyed look but didn’t fight. Gabe met his eyes and waited.

After a few seconds, Ev sighed. “I hate feeling like a fucking party trick,” he began, voice rough.

Gabe stayed quiet, his thumbs rubbing circles on the insides of Ev’s wrists.

“You know I went onOprahwhen I was four?” he burst out suddenly. “This cute little kid with red hair and freckles who couldn’t tie his shoes yet but could play Rachmaninoff and Chopin like a pro.” Ev rolled onto his side and curled toward Gabe but didn’t try to free himself. “I didn’t play sports because I couldn’t risk hurting my hands. Video games were a waste of time that could be spent practicing. And friends?” Ev scoffed. “Piano doesn’t exactly win any cool points when you’re an awkward, gay, thirteen-year-old who can’t go to your crush’s party because you’re playing Carnegie Hall that weekend.”

Poor kid. The hurt was still strong in his voice after all these years. Gabe had worked with his share of child stars, and Ev’s story wasn’t unusual. It was a tough business, and there was a reason so many left it before adulthood. “That kind of thing can be very isolating. Especially when you start so young.”

Ev gave a nod, then a shrug, tracing the shapes on the bedspread with one graceful finger. “When I lost the competition,I thought I was done. I could finally do thingsIwanted to do. Whatever that meant. I didn’t care, as long as I didn’t have to be my parents’ perfect little prodigy anymore. ‘Smile for the cameras, Everett,’” he parroted, saccharine sweet. “‘Say something clever to the interviewer, Everett. Don’t be so loud. Don’t be so dramatic. Don’t be likethat. You’re going to alienate your audience, Everett.’”

Gabe frowned at the hard edge that crept into Ev’s voice. No wonder he had objected to being called by his full name. What a huge amount of pressure to put on a kid. “What happened?”

Ev rasped a laugh that sounded painful. “They wouldn’t let me quit. Said I owed it to them to go on the contestants’ tour, even though I was nearly eighteen and I’d legally be an adult. At the first stop, I cut my hair and pierced my lip. Then as soon as I could, I got a tattoo and an inappropriate boyfriend.”

Gabe smiled at that. His little rebel. “How did that go over?”

Ev sniffled, then flashed a grin that quickly died. “About as well as you’d expect. They threatened to cut me off, so I cut them off first. Then I found out my ‘boyfriend’ was actually a married father of three.” Ev laughed, the sound harsh. “I clearly make fantastic decisions when it comes to Daddies.”

Gabe tried to breathe through his building anger. “I’m assuming this man was also your boss?”

Ev shrugged. “Might as well have been. He was a producer on the tour.” He looked up at Gabe, the corner of his mouth pulled up in the shadow of a grin. “Don’t worry, I was just eighteen and perfectly legal. ’Course, his wife didn’t care about thatpart when she heard. And the ‘Daddy’ thing played really poorly in court.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m never getting married, by the way.”

Shit. Well, all of that explained a few things. “I’m guessing performing brings all of it to the surface?” Gabe asked. “The pressure, the expectations…the hurt.”

Ev’s lower lip wobbled, and he tried to pull his hands back from where Gabe was still holding his wrists. “I feel like I’m gonna vibrate out of my skin,” he admitted. “I hate feeling like this.”

Gabe squeezed his wrists a little more firmly. “How can I help?”

Ev’s eyes slid shut, and when he opened them again, they were glassy and pleading. “I just—I need a break. I need to turn it all off.”

Gabe wasn’t sure which of them was more surprised when he leaned down and pressed a kiss to Ev’s forehead. “Can you do something for me?”

Ev blinked at him. “Um. Yes?”

“Let me help you unwind. Just for tonight.”

Gabe watched carefully as Ev thought it over, eyes skeptical.

“You can say no.”

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