Page 7 of Social Sinners

Chapter Three

A month passed, and as much as I hated to admit it, Sal and Easton were right. The fucking journalists were out of control, speculating on the most ridiculous shit:How many more lies will Diamond tell?Did he ever like the females he led on, or was he using them as beards? He’ll only break Easton’s heart. Making the band break-up and it’ll be all his fault!The social media posts were equally juvenile. It seemed the fans were split damn near dead even. Some joker had an online pool goingbetting on how long Easton and I would last. Little did they know we’d just celebrated our one-year anniversary, so we’d already surpassed every one of their dumbass predictions.

Today the band was scheduled to be at the Lambert House at ten a.m. for our first music lesson. The staff said the sign-up sheets were filled within moments of the clipboards hitting the table, and there was a waiting list a mile long. We had them categorize the students into groups that fit with the roles we each played in the band. Joey would take those who were interested in singing and writing lyrics, Stoli the guitarists, Mickey the bassists, and I’d handle the percussion group. Including a couple guys they’d mentioned requiring emotional outlets that they thought might benefit from my personal story.

They’d staged their outdoor green space with a podium and folding chairs to accommodate the journalists who’d been invited to attend today’s press conference. We were tackling that beast first before meeting with the kids. Security and temporary fencing had been put in place for crowd control around the perimeter. Our limo pulled up, driving past the thousands of fans who’d already gathered as we entered the circle drive in front of the house. Many held up signs showing support while a handful bore Bible verses they’d scribbled across them. Everyone’s interpretation was just that– their own.

Easton and I were the last to emerge from the car, the fan’s screams were off the charts once we were outside the safety of the limo. Had the police not already been here I’m sure they would’ve been dispatched right then for some unknown noise ordinance being violated.

As we exited the car, I threw caution to the wind and took his hand in mine. He stared back at me questioningly.It’s now, or never,I thought as I winked at him, pulling him to me before sliding my free hand behind his neck and deeply kissed him. If I thought the crowd was loud before, that was nothing compared to the shrieks and howls that act elicited.

We were rushed inside after that as the crowd started rocking the dividers separating us from them. Seemed my little stunt sent them over the edge.

“Isgo big or go home, today’s motto?” Stoli asked me once we were safely inside.

“Have you ever known me to do things any differently?” I cocked a brow at him, daring him to say otherwise.

“Ha-ha, nope,” he grabbed my shoulder, “you wouldn’t be you if that were the case, my friend.”

“You all right, son?” I turned, surprised to find Joe standing there.

“We’re about to find out,” I replied as we hugged.

“There will always be haters. Stay true to you and what’s in your heart,” he pointed to my chest. “And know that no matter what, I’m proud of you and the man you’ve become.”

I wasn’t a crier, crying was for girls my father always told my brother Jeremiah and I. But at Joe’s words, I felt the liquid build beneath the surface, preparing to betray me. I needed a distraction to avoid that epic failure and quickly shifted my focus to the area of the building we were in. As I scanned the room, glancing at the smiling faces of the family that had accepted me for who I was, I immediately knew Easton had chosen the right place for this event, and the right way to handle it. Joe, Maggie, Mickey’s parents David and Beth, Mary and Brett, Sal, the twins, and of course, my band brothers were all in attendance. Each one was here to show their support for Easton and me as well as for the Lambert House.

Sal clapped his hands, garnering everyone’s attention. “All right boys, Diamond, Easton, are you ready?”

“About as ready as I’m gonna get,” I told him. Easton looked terrified but nodded.

“Just follow my lead,” Sal told us. “We are here for the kids first and foremost, remember that.”

The other band members walked ahead of us, but I needed to speak to Easton privately before we faced the crowd. “You okay?” I asked him. I couldn’t help feeling this was all my fault. Had I not initiated the kiss on the plane, then that jealous female wouldn’t have gotten a wild hair up her ass and snapped the pic.Fucking humans.

“I’m okay. I may or may not have taken an extra Xanax to get through today.”

“East, please tell me you didn’t?”Fuck, that is so not what we needed now.

“If I told you that I’d be lying.”

“Baby,” I whispered, kissing his forehead and leaving it at that. This was not the time or the place to have the conversation we needed to have, and he’d already swallowed the damn pills. The only way to fix it was to have his stomach pumped, and there was no time for that. We exited the building hand in hand, standing behind the rest of the group on the front porch that had been turned into a makeshift stage for today’s event. When Sal saw us, he launched into his prepared speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today to show your support for Lambert House and the wonderful strides they’ve made within our community since they first opened their doors. They have numerous programs put in place for working with at-risk youth and thanks to the donations from their supporters, they’ve been able to expand their services. We are here today to celebrate their new music program which the band members of Social Sinners have happily volunteered their time and talent to be a part of.

“Before we adjourn and the classes commence, we’d like to address a recent event that violated the privacy of two members of our family. A private, very personal picture of our drummer Diamond Taylor and his longtime boyfriend and band manager Easton Masterson went viral last month. Unfortunately, this started a media frenzy that needs to be put to rest once and for all. The question of Diamond’s sexuality has come to light, and quite honestly, it’s no one’s business but his. Neither of them has done anything wrong, they’ve violated no rules or policies that I’m aware of by falling in love.”

For the most part, everyone whistled and cheered in a show of support. Sadly, a small group off to the side were chanting loud enough to be heard over the crowd.Heathens! You’re going to hell! Faggots!The loudest voice in the group rang an unwanted bell, sending shivers coursing down my spine.Repent for your sins!My head was buzzing, and my ears were ringing as it bounced around inside my head like a pinball. As it clicked into place, my eyes locked on the offenders. Mickey, Joey, and Stoli were immediately at my side, having recognized our unwanted guest.

“No way,” Joey said.

“What’s going on?” Easton asked me.

“It’s my sperm donor…”

When my eyes met my father’s through the crowd, it took all I had not to jump the railing and beat his ass. He and his merry band of religious misfits pushed their way to the front with their beloved bibles proudly displayed in their hands.

“Son,” he began, but I cut him off.

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