Page 115 of Counterpoint
They broke apart and stumbled into the other car. There were mirrored panels in the elevator, and Adrian saw his wild reflection. Hair destroyed and moisture dripping from his hairline. His shirt was wrinkled to hell and drenched in sweat, and his tie askew. Lips red and plump from kissing. “Well, I’m a mess.”
Dominic hit the button for the floor that housed the studio they’d been renting. “You’re gorgeous. Stunning. I can’t believe you came here for me.”
“Should have come sooner. That Monday, I should have been here.”
Dominic leaned back against the back of the car. “Maybe. I don’t know. I was so out of it, then. To be honest, I’m still kinda terrified. But I can’t change any of it...and the fans don’t seem to mind. And it’s not nearly as horrible as all the nightmares I’ve had about it.” He took another breath. “I fucking walked out there as me, and saved you.”
Adrian loosened his tie. “Yeah, you did.”
“I was watching the feed Ray had up while we were talking and you just—you looked crushed in that crowd. Like you were gonna break open right there and then. And I realized how fucking unfair I’ve been to you.”
That—Adrian hadn’t expected those words. “You haven’t been unfair to me.”
Dominic straightened as the car came to a halt. “I have. I totally have.”
But the door swung open and before them, in the hall, were the three other members of Twisted Wishes. And they were clapping, the fucking bastards.
“Well,” Ray drawled before throwing an arm around Dominic, “for someone who hates the spotlight, that was probably your most amazing performance.”
“Fuck you, Ray,” Dominic said. “Wasn’t a show.”
Ray kissed him on the side of the head. “I know.” He let Dominic go.
Mish handed Adrian a bottle of water. “You look about ready to pass out.”
“That’s because I am.” He cracked open the bottle and drank half of it.
“The studio’s cooler.” Zavier gestured to the door. “And more private.”
“Except for the techs,” Dominic said.
Ray waved a hand. “Sent them home. No way we’re recording anything else today. And Marcella’s already called. She’s on her way.”
Because of Adrian. What he’d done. “Sorry about the sudden PR nightmare.”
Zavier laughed. “Not a nightmare at all.” His hand fell onto Adrian’s shoulder, and slowed his entrance into the studio until they were the only ones in the hall. His eyes were bright. “What you did was astounding.”
“What I did was nearly have a nervous breakdown and pass out on a sidewalk.”
“You saved Dom.”
“He saved me.”
“Yes.” Zavier grinned. “Exactly.” He clapped Adrian on the back and pushed him into the studio.
He didn’t understand these people—not entirely. But they felt like family.
And when he stepped into the studio and saw Dominic smiling and laughing, looking like that heady combination of Domino and Dominic, and their eyes caught—Adrian knew he was home.
* * *
Dom handed bottles of water to Adrian to pass to the others as they all sat around the studio and waited while the furor of Adrian’s well-broadcast declaration of love and Dom’s “daring” rescue made the rounds on the internet. Marcella’s cell phone rang off the hook for requests for interviews. She’d headed out into the hall to field the calls. After all, they would have to address what had happened.
At one point, Adrian got a text and scrunched his face in disgust at the screen of his cell phone.
Dom winced. “People bothering you?”
“No. It’s Jackson. Said he was escorted out of the office after he quit. Fucking awful way to treat him.” He looked up. “And apparently, I have a meeting with the boss tomorrow at 8:30 AM.”
