“You didn’t tell him?” Ethan asked.
“I didn’t want him to worry.”
“About what?” Trey asked.
“She got another of those threatening messages. On a card in some flowers. I’ve spent the last hour finding out about any deliveries that were made tonight, but there were no flowers delivered to her dressing room, so whoever it was must have access to the backstage area.”
“Reagan, why didn’t you tell me?” Trey asked.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“That’s kind of my job, babe.”
Ethan wrapped a comforting arm around her back and Reagan squirmed away from him. He scowled. “What’s your problem?”
“There are people everywhere,” she said.
“And?”
“They know I’m with Trey, so I can’t get personal with you here.”
“Why not?”
Trey laughed unexpectedly and poked Reagan in the ribs. She gave him her frostiest look. He threw a pointed look in the direction of one of the swarms of reporters who were looking their way. “Smile and laugh,” he said under his breath. “They can smell drama from a mile away.”
Reagan laughed. “You’re so hilarious, Trey,” she said loudly. “Well, I guess I should call it a night. I’m dead on my feet and I think I’ve had a little too much to drink.” Exactly half of a rum and coke.
“I’ll help you find your way,” Trey said. “Follow us,” he whispered to Ethan. “Like her bodyguard would.”
Dare, Steve, and Logan looked entirely perplexed as Trey wrapped an arm around Reagan’s back and helped her find the exit. A seething Ethan followed two paces behind—looking every inch the tough bodyguard. Once they were safely on the elevator, they dropped their facades.
“So now I can’t touch you in public?” Ethan shouted at Reagan.
Reagan winced at his tone. “No, Ethan. You can’t. They know I’m dating Trey and they wouldn’t understand this relationship. I’m not sure if I understand it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the message, Reagan?” Trey said. “If this guy—”
“Or girl,” Ethan interrupted.
“If this person is running around loose backstage, we need to have everyone we trust keep a look out for him.” He glanced at Ethan. “Or her,” he quickly amended.
“Whoever it is has to be associated with Sinners,” Ethan said.
Trey’s eyebrows drew together in an angry scowl. “Why do you say that? My crew wouldn’t threaten her.”
“Because it happened on both tours and the only commonality between the two is your band and your crew,” Ethan said.
The elevator door opened and the three of them fell into an uneasy silence as they passed the eighth floor security guards on their way to their room. As soon as they were safely inside, Ethan wrapped his arms around Reagan and yanked her against his body. “Is it okay if I touch you now? When it serves your purpose?”
Trey grabbed his arm. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
He shouldn’t talk to her harshly, but she understood why he was behaving this way. He was covering up his hurt. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Ethan,” Reagan said. “Yes, in private we can be open about our relationship, but Trey and I are in the public eye and we can’t—”
“So because Trey is famous, he’s the one you’re willing to claim in public?” Ethan said.
“She didn’t say that,” Trey said.
“They saw me with him first, Ethan. That’s the only reason.”
Ethan shook his head in disbelief. Reagan touched the center of his chest and found his heart was thudding hard and fast. She wrapped both arms around him and held him until he relaxed and lifted his arms to hold her back. “I just couldn’t handle the added stress of the press finding out about the three of us, Ethan. I’m so sorry I’m not stronger for you. They’d ruin us all if they knew.”
“I understand,” he said. “This is enough.”
But it wasn’t and Reagan knew that. “I should have been more discrete with Trey too. If I can’t be open about both of you, I shouldn’t be open about either of you.”
“We can publicly pretend to break up, if you want,” Trey said.
“Don’t be stupid,” Ethan said. “It’s fine. I said I understand. I just hope we’re alone as often as possible.”
“We’re alone right now,” Reagan said. She looked up at Ethan and he cupped her face in both hands before kissing her. Trey moved up against her back and wrapped them both in his arms. Ethan released her lips so he could kiss Trey. Pressed between her two loves, she didn’t care if the rest of the world disappeared forever. She had everything she could ever want or need right here.
Chapter 32
They’d arrived in San Francisco earlier that morning for the second show of the new tour. While Reagan worked through a full dress rehearsal with Exodus End, Trey sat on the edge of his bunk and watched Brian sleep. Reagan was right. He needed to talk to him about his feelings. Trey would never get over him until he knew exactly how Brian felt about him. Somewhere inside, Trey already knew, but he had to hear it from the man himself. Brian’s eyes blinked open and he drew a deep breath through his nose before smiling drowsily.
“You’re watching me sleep?” he murmured, his voice groggy. He’d gotten in late after skipping the after-party to be with his family and then driving up the coast with Sed and Jessica to meet the tour buses this afternoon. Trey doubted that he’d even slept the night before.
“I need to talk to you about something,” Trey said. His heart thudded faster and faster as he tried to think of the best way to broach this subject. How many times had he tried to spill his guts to Brian in the past? A hundred times? A thousand?
“Yes, I’ll be your best man.” Brian’s self-indulgent grin made Trey’s heart flutter. Maybe if Brian wasn’t so attractive or so lovable or so perfect…
“This isn’t about that.”
“Need advice about Reagan?”
Trey shook his head.
“Something about the band? Your brother?”
“No, this about you.”
Brian scowled. “Did the guys put you up this? Are they going to bust my balls over my family again? I’m here, aren’t I?”
“No, it’s not the guys. I need to tell you something.”
“So tell me.”
Trey stared at him for a long moment. “I love you,” he said breathlessly before he chickened out.
The tension drained from Brian’s face and he grinned. “I love you too, man.”
“Not I love you, man. I love you. Period.”
Brian gnawed on his lower lip and avoided his gaze.
“I thought you should know how I feel,” Trey said quietly, his heart twisting unpleasantly within his chest.
“Why?”
Trey wasn’t sure what he’d expected Brian to say, but that wasn’t it. “Why do I love you?”
“No, why are you telling me this? Especially now. What do you expect me to do about it?”
“Nothing. I just thought…”
“That’s your problem, Trey. You don’t think. You just do what you want based on what feels good or what’s convenient for you. Did you ever think maybe I don’t want to know how you feel? Or that I don’t care how you feel?”
“Brian…”
Brian climbed out of his bunk, grabbed Trey by both arms, and hauled him to his feet.
“Why couldn’t you just keep it to yourself? This changes everything, Trey.”
“Why?” Trey asked. “I’ve felt this way since…” He lowered his eyes. Now he just felt stupid. For Trey, the world had revolved around his feelings for Brian and now he realized they meant nothing. They’d never meant anything. Not to the person who mattered.