Page 31 of The Prodigal Son

So what if he is? It’s not like I could ever be in a committed relationship with a man. Not for a multitude of reasons.

Our lips are nearly touching when someone bangs loudly on the door. Theo and I pull apart quickly. He clears his throat as he answers the knock.

“What?” There’s frustration in his voice.

“Fifteen-minute warning,” the person calls.

“Shit,” he mutters to himself. “That hour went by too fast.”

“I should let you get out there,” I stammer. “And I’ll go to my seat.”

He picks up his brown, weathered cowboy hat from the back of a chair. “You could always watch from the wings,” he says. “See it from a different point of view.”

“Really? I wouldn’t be in the way?” I ask.

“Fuck no.”

As he heads toward the door, I grab his arm to stop him. As he looks into my eyes, waiting to hear what I have to say, I briefly consider asking him what the hell we’re doing.

“Have a good show,” I say instead.

He smirks, looking so fucking cute it nearly takes my breath away. “I will.”

Then he rushes out the door. I follow behind him as he meets up with his band and crew. Sticking to the wall and out of the way, I watch as he gives them all a pep talk before the show. It’sinspiring and I find myself attracted to how talented of a speaker he is.

“I’ll tell you guys the same thing I tell you every night. We’re here for the music.”

They cheer.

“We’re here for the fans.”

They cheer again.

“And we’re here to have a good fucking time!”

His band starts howling and clapping as he builds the energy among them. Finally, he puts his hand in the middle, and they all follow suit.

“I love you guys,” he calls before they echo his words back to him. I can’t help but grin as I watch. After splitting away from the band, he finds me again, winking across the dark space. Then he takes his place behind the back of the stage, where I know it will eventually split, and he will enter when the music crescendos.

I find a place in the wings where there aren’t people moving and working. Crossing my arms over my chest, I watch the band take their places. The crowd starts to cheer at the sight of them. The music blares through the speakers, and I watch in amazement as he eventually enters.

He commands the crowd as he plays his guitar, and the crowd is so loud it’s deafening. I can’t help but think about the fact that he’s obviously hiding this major secret from them. Is it something he’s proud of or ashamed of? Will he ever truly come out, or is he content with telling no one about his sexuality? Not that he owes it to anyone.

Does it fucking matter? Anyone could see just how happy he is.

More than once during his show, he takes a peek at me, and our eyes meet.

Suddenly, it’s like the ride I’ve been on this whole time has just picked up speed. I’m still not in the pilot’s seat and I have no control. At some point, this thing is going to crash. But until then, I’m going to enjoy the ride.

Nine

Isaac

The show had a different energy tonight. Suddenly, it felt like I wasn’t performing for twenty thousand people. I was performing for only one.

And the main event wasn’t even the show. It’s what could happen after.

I run off the stage with the band after the encore, and Jensen is there waiting. I feel disgusting, covered in sweat, and my fingers ache from playing so hard, but I don’t care. When he wraps his arms around me for an enthusiastic hug, I fall right into them. We’re both too thrilled and hyped up from the show to care.

---