Page 14 of Two For the Show
“I’m sorry,” I tell him emphatically. “I’m sorry that I tried to hide this from you. I hate having to ask more of you. It always feels like I need more and more and more.”
“Your illness is not your fault, and you can’t keep beating yourself up over it.”
“But you didn’t sign up for this!” I nearly shout. “I wasn’t like this when we met.”
“I signed up for you, Quinton!” he responds, grabbing me by the face. “I didn’t sign up for a perfect version of you. A you that is flawless. I signed up foryou. Every self-destructive habit, every ache and pain, every wrinkle that you gain, and eventually, how your balls are going to sag into the fucking toilet. I signed up for forever.” He presses a searing kiss to my lips, and when he pulls away, we’re both panting. “Now, let’s play our parts and get our girl back.”
Chapter 6
I bounceinto the light booth, Edmund on my heels.
“Hey guys!” I say to Travis and Chet, who are hunched over the sound and light boards as Rex does his weird ass routine. It’s spooky that a body can move that way. “Edmund is going to take over for you for a moment. Our esteemed showrunner has requested your presence.”
Travis snorts. “Edmund can’t handle doing both, especially not for your act. Aren’t you up soon?”
I run my fingers through my hair. “Yeah, but this is what Jude asked for. He said you’re needed more down there. Who am I to tell the boss no?” I pat the young Beta on the back between the shoulder blades. “But I have faith in Edmund! You can do it, right, bud?”
Edmund nods rapidly. “Absolutely. I won’t let you down.”
I beam at him, tapping the end of his nose like he’s a small child. “I know you won’t! Come on, boys!”
Reluctantly, with much complaining, Travis and Chet heave themselves out of their chairs and trail after me to the dress tent. Jude is leaning down, whispering to Matteo.
I always forget how giant the Maori showrunner is. He towers over the Beta, his chin-length wavy hair a curtain over his face that I want to run my fingers through and grip tightly.
Fuck, I can’t think about that while wearing these tiny fucking shorts. They would show the truth that I’m not sure Jude is ready to address.
I’m into him. Like, really into him. He’s cozy and comfortable with his big belly and massive hands. He’s got this quiet kind of power to him that I’m so attracted to, sometimes it’s hard to see straight.
When we first hooked up, I was shocked. I could count the number of times Jude had taken someone to his trailer in all the time I knew him on one hand. It never seemed like he was into people sexually. Still, I must’ve been wrong, because after a few days in close proximity to one another, we fell into bed together, and holy fuck, it was like fireworks exploding.
If fireworks caused insane orgasms. That would be really annoying on New Year’s Eve if that were the case.
He looks up at me through squinted eyes, like he knows I’m remembering how small I felt beneath him. I bow exaggeratedly, holding my arm out as I gesture to the two Alphas who are trailing after me.
“Travis and Chet, my good sir!” I croon. “As requested.”
Jude grunts and looks the two up and down. “Good, thanks, Dario. Dexter should be back with Elvis soon.”
Travis stiffens almost imperceptibly. “What’s Elvis got to do with whatever this is?”
“Oh, we’re developing a new act!” I say, bouncing on the balls of my feet, feigning lightheartedness. “And we thought you three could help us.”
“How are we supposed to do that? We’re not performers,” Chet says cautiously.
Matteo crosses his arms and smiles, but it’s not his normal, bright one. It’s sinister and typically reserved for his Maestro persona. “Oh, you don’t need to be performers. We thought this was a good way to change your status in the show.”
“Yeah, it was Jude’s idea. We’re just the executors.” I swear Jude is trying to flay me alive with his mind for my word choice, but I don’t regret it.
Neither of them is smart enough to catch the wordplay.
My brother enters the tent with a confused Elvis trailing after him. As soon as the timid Alpha spots Chet and Travis, his face drains of all color.
“Oh good, the gang’s all here!” I grab my brother’s hand and pull him to my side. He’s wearing matching shorts, but instead of gold, they’re silver, and his hair has grown out a bit in the months since Alex has been gone.
I think it suits him, and selfishly, I like that we look even more different than we did before.
“Alright, let’s get going,” Jude huffs, holding open the tent. “Everyone in the ring.”
