Page 5 of The Only Thing That's Real

Freckles scattered over her straight nose and pink cheeks. Check.

Curves in all the right places complemented by an ample ass I’d give my left nut to get my hands on. Check.

Real breasts that look like they’re a perfect handful. Check.

That sexy as hell rasp to her voice. Check.

A personality that says I don’t care who the fuck you think you are. I’m Ryan Staley and you don’t scare me one bit. Fucking check.

She’s everything and too much all at once. A complicationI can’t afford and don’t deserve. Besides, a woman like that can’t possibly be single.

I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a cheater.

She has to go.

Knox

You’re the most powerful man in the music industry. Don’t tell me you can’t fix this.

Trevor

We all agreed. We vetted her. You read her work. She was your number one pick.

Knox

That was when I thought she was a man

Trevor

When did you become a sexist prick?

Knox

Fuck u

Trevor

Wait. You want to get in her pants, don’t you?

Of course I do, but it’s more than that. It’s not some love at first sight bullshit. It’s something I can’t name. All I know for certain is I cannot be alone with her. I think this but would never confessit to him.

Trevor

You telling me your self-control is that piss-poor?

Knox

whatever

Knox

just keep her away from me

When the elevator doors open, the entire Messing clan is inside. Sean, our drummer, his wife Marie, and their three perfect kids. Each of my bandmates married the loves of their lives. Sean and Matt have three kids each, and Jay has one. As much as I love them, it’s hard to be around them sometimes. They’re a constant reminder of what I don’t have in my life.

For the past few years, all I’ve wanted was someone I could call my best friend and my lover. To have a family. Stability. This is one of many things I keep to myself, never letting on to anyone close to me know that I want anything other than the life I live. Especially, when that life doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me.

“Hey, Uncle Knox, whatcha doin’?” Nick asks with his hands in his pockets being the casually cool twelve-year-old that he is.

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