Conquest (26 page)
Evan held him tighter. He squeezed his eyes shut, his voice came soft. “I thought you would be.”
“When are you going to start?”
“Probably after my birthday. That should give Greg time to contact the people who played with me in the past to see if they want to suffer through another album with me. I think I’ll call JJ myself, though, and see what he’s up to.” Evan relaxed his embrace. “But, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to steal your thunder. I’m already planning on releasing my album a couple months after yours so yours won’t get overshadowed.”
Jesse arched one slender eyebrow. “Really. That’s so considerate of you.”
Evan caught Jesse sarcastic tone. “I didn’t mean that as an insult. It’s just the reality of how things will be when I release new material.”
“Uh huh. Well, I want you to know I’ll do everything I can to help you make a successful comeback. I’ll even talk to Greg about having you be my opening act.”
“Opening act!”
“Yeah. I’m a very generous guy,” Jesse chuckled.
The door to the Phoenix Records studios hadn’t closed behind Brandon when he heard a female voice call his name. He looked toward the blonde receptionist sitting behind her large desk and the security guard leaning against it. “That’s me.”
The receptionist gave him a welcoming smile. “I thought so. Jesse told me to expect his older brother about this time and you two look a little alike. If I could ask you to show me an ID to confirm it, then you can go in.”
Brandon dug in his front pocket and pulled out his money clip where he kept his credit cards and driver’s license. He handed her the license.
She looked at it and handed it back while pointing to the hall. “Jesse will either be in the first studio on your right past the vocal booth, or further down the hall in the chill-out room on your left. The pizza they ordered just arrived, so my guess would be the latter.”
The last time he saw Jesse had been two weeks ago when he first met Evan. They hadn’t gone so long without seeing each other since the period when Jesse still lived with their parents and he had already been kicked out. He didn’t like it. Even though they talked on the phone every day, between Jesse being busy the week before with his new band members, and his being wrapped up with his latest audition, they couldn’t fit a visit in. But that wasn’t the way things should be. They were brothers, not someone to be squeezed in between obligations. And he almost forgot the other reason they hadn’t hung out, Evan.
Brandon gritted his teeth. He wondered if Evan was there. If he was, he wouldn’t let him slip by like the last time. He had thought a lot about their encounter, and the more he did, the more Evan’s snide comments and air of superiority pissed him off. The only thing that confused him was how quickly Evan shifted from aggressive to congenial when Jesse walked up at Uno’s. He couldn’t figure out if Evan tried to hide how he actually was from Jesse, or if he covered the tension between them to not distress Jesse. He wanted to believe it was the latter. He hoped with all his heart it was for Jesse’s sake.
He heard Jesse’s voice coming from an open door on the left side of the hall, and chuckled to himself. Jesse babbled about how his birthday was October 7
th
and Kenny’s August 12
th
, then questioned others on their birthdays. A male voice answered he would turn twenty-five in November, a female replied she had turned twenty-two that past January. Jesse called her an “old lady,” and the next thing Brandon heard was Jesse yelling “Ow!” He stepped in the doorway and saw Jesse sitting on a couch rubbing his arm, and an attractive redheaded woman, who could only be Trish from Jesse’s description of her, smirking at him. His eyes fell on the marvelously hot blond guy whose demeanor spoke of sophistication and knew he must be Julian.
“Damn girl, you punch like a guy,” Jesse said.
“And don’t you forget it,” Trish retorted.
“So this is the busy life of a rock star,” Brandon said.
“Brandon!” Jesse leaped up and dashed toward him. He threw his arms around him in a crushing hug. “You’re late, asshole!”
“It feels like it’s been forever! I was talking to Ev this morning about how it sucks that we haven’t gotten to see each other and he said we should set aside a specific night every week for us to have dinner so we’ll always see each other. I think that’s an awesome idea, don’t you? I know Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are out because you always have shows those days. But hell, sometimes you’re performing or rehearsing six days in a week, so I’m not sure what night would be best. What do you think?”
Brandon chuckled. “I think it’s a great idea, and we can always get together before I have to be at the theatre on performance nights. Tuesdays are usually quiet. How about then?”
“That works out perfect because we actually have something really big to celebrate.” Brandon grabbed Jesse by his upper arms. “Guess who’s going to be playing the Phantom in the new production of
The Phantom of the Opera
? That’s right! Only the greatest stage actor to ever hit Chicago! Playing the Emcee in
Cabaret
was one thing, but this is the freakin’ Phantom! It’s gonna be a huge production! And it’s set to run for a whole year!”
Jesse wrapped Brandon in another embrace. “That’s incredible! I didn’t even know you were going for that role. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“All that time you spent helping me with my voice when I was going for
Cabaret
really meant a lot. I never would have gotten the part if it wasn’t for you, which means I never would have been given the chance to audition for
Phantom
. The director of
Phantom
was only seeing the big boys for the role, but he had seen me in
Cabaret
and called me to come in.”
“Well, I’m glad you think I helped so much, but you need to give yourself some props, too. If you didn’t have the skills, all the coaching in the world couldn’t have gotten you where you are. I can’t wait to tell Ev. He’s going to be so happy for you.”
Brandon nodded, but looked doubtful at Jesse’s words. He caught Jesse’s wrist and pulled him out in the hall away from listening ears. “So how are things going with you guys? Is he treating you good?”
Jesse smiled and leaned one shoulder against the wall. “He treats me like a prince.”
Brandon looked him up and down. “Well, you look good. You look like you’ve put on a little weight, actually.”
Jesse sucked in a horrified gasp. “I have
not
put on weight! If I’ve put on anything it’s muscle, because I’m working out a lot since he’s got an entire gym in the house.”
Brandon let out a sarcastic snort. “Yeah, that must be it. And settle down. I didn’t mean you look fat. I just meant you look healthy, like you’re eating better.”
Brandon rolled his eyes. “Cute. I’m kind of surprised you haven’t gotten bored with him yet.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you had any idea of what he’s like.”
“Well how am I supposed to know when your stingy ass hasn’t given me hardly any details?”
Jesse squinted at him in an accusing glare. “Do you think I don’t remember all the things you used to say that you’d like to do to him during your fanboy days? You’re hard enough for him without me feeding it.”
Jesse looked past Brandon and saw Evan walking toward them. He moved to greet him, but Brandon pushed him on the arm and stopped him.
“You’re not getting out of it this time,” Brandon said. “I’ve always shared all the details of my sexcapades with you. Be fair.”
Evan stopped behind Brandon and cocked his head, smirking as he listened to him continue.
“He’s got those slender hips that are built for sex and an ass so perfect it had to have been chiseled by a god. I bet he takes it as good as he gives it, doesn’t he?”
“Actually,” Evan said, “I’m a lot like a snake. I can do it for twenty-four hours straight and I swallow everything whole. Does that help?”
Brandon jumped and spun around.
Evan took Brandon’s hand and laid his other over top of it. “Don’t be. I’m flattered.”
Brandon stared at him, shocked by the warmth in Evan’s voice.
“We’ve got plans tonight. We’re going to take Brandon out to celebrate. He’s just landed the role of his life playing the Phantom in a new production of
The Phantom of the Opera
.”
Evan put one arm over Jesse’s shoulders, the other around Brandon’s. “You pick the place, Brandon. Anywhere you want to go and don’t even think about prices, because it’s all on me tonight.”
Brandon suffered another moment of total shock. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to and I’m going to whether you like it or not. Then afterward, you can come over to our place, and we’ll express our deepest congrats and happiness all through the night in the comfort of our king-sized bed.”
Jesse exhaled an exasperated sigh. “You really need to let that demented little fantasy go. It’s never going to happen. He’s my brother.”
Brandon patted Evan on the back. “Sorry, Evan, but he’s right. However, if you’d be cool with having him stand aside and just be the cameraman, I could probably handle that.”
Jesse shook Evan’s arm off his shoulders and jabbed him on the chest with his index finger. “What makes you think I’d ever share you with anyone? And you,” he whirled toward Brandon and shoved the same finger under his nose, “don’t encourage his twisted sense of humor! Now c’mon! I’ve gotta introduce you to Jules and Trish.”
He snatched them both by their wrists and dragged them into the chill-out room. He listened to them snickering behind him, then stopped by the couches to introduce Brandon.
“I know. I heard you moved up to this side of town. I’m looking at a couple places on North Dearborn, so we’ll almost be neighbors again.”
Trish rose to greet Brandon, offering her hand and a flirtatious smile. “Jesse’s talked so much about you. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
Jesse caught her attempts to entice his brother. “Forget it, Trish. After years of self-deprivation, he finally decided to let himself be fully queer.”
“Damn it!” Trish dropped down on the couch. “Is that all there is in this town?”
Jesse grinned at her. “All the best ones are.”
She scowled up at him. “Obviously.”
Brandon gently took Julian’s hand and presented him with his most charming smile. “Mine as well. Jess told me you attended Julliard and that you’ve played with orchestras all across the country. I can’t believe someone with so much talent would want to go slumming with him.”
Julian ignored Jesse. “Well, I am a man who enjoys diversity. You’ll have to forgive me for eavesdropping, but I could have sworn I overheard you saying that you were going to be playing the Phantom. Am I correct?”
“Then my sincerest congratulations to you. That’s always been one of my favorite plays. I actually dated an actor once who was a stand-in to Raoul in a small production of it. He was dreadful on stage, but excellent in bed.”
Jesse stepped in between them. “This whole thing is creepin’ me out.” He faced Brandon. “Jules has way too much class for you and we both know you only date losers.” He turned to Julian. “And you said that you go for the tall, rugged, athletic type, and he’s a theatre freak. There’s nothing rugged about him.”
“Well, I did practice karate for ten years when I was younger, and I’ve had seven years of ballet, not to mention, tap, swing—”
Brandon threw a grin at Jesse, sat beside Julian, and immediately took over the conversation with talk of theatre and the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycle he was picking up that afternoon.
Evan handed Jesse a plate with two slices of all meat pizza when he sat down beside him. “You should’ve let them continue,” he whispered. “It was fun watching them.”
“You’re such a voyeur. That’s all I’d need is Brandon to sleep with him, then pull one of his I’m-just-not-looking-for-a commitment acts and get Julian so upset that he leaves the band. Brandon doesn’t have the best track record with relationships, and he really does always fall for losers. You know, for as much as he always took care of and protected me, he’s the one who gets taken advantage of a lot. He tends to be a little on the gullible side when it comes to the guys he’s dating.”
