Chapter 15
Jett
“Bowling? Really?” Shayla gives me a skeptical look. “And in the morning?”
I give her a light smack on the ass. “It’s my day off. And Dylan’s. Time for some fun.”
“Like your jobs aren’t fun enough already? Besides, it’s just so nice out. How about something outside, like a walk?”
“Nobody walks in L.A. And we can go outside later. It’s not like we’ll spend the whole day here.”
“Yeah, right.”
Shayla knows me well enough not to believe that. She’s right. I could bowl all day, and I have. There’s just something about it that’s relaxing, in a way that nothing else is.
I’m not telling her what the rest of the day’s going to be about. That’s a surprise.
“Don’t tell me you’re into this too?” Shayla appeals to Dylan.
“Oh, yeah.” He’s almost as happy as it as I am.
“Sorry, Shayla. You’re outnumbered. Don’t worry, it’ll be fun.”
The lanes are nearly empty this time of day, so we won’t be bothered. If anyone figures out who I am, they’ll probably just think I look like that guitarist from that band they know a couple songs from. Not actually me.
Dylan’s good. He and I are pretty evenly matched and we get right into competing with each other. Shayla lasts for a few frames before she wants out.
Everything’s resetting between games when she comes over and sits on my lap, stealing one of my fries. “Do you mind if I sit this one out?”
“Do you want to go already?” Dylan sounds disappointed. He and I are tied, and we have to break it.
“No. I don’t mind hanging out while you guys play.” She pats her bag. “I’ve got something to read, so I’m all good. Go on and play another round.”
“Game. You’re sure?”
She digs around and pulls out her tablet. “Very. I haven’t had a chance to read lately.”
Dylan and I almost tie again, but at the last minute he gets an extra point. One single point. I can’t believe it.
“Looks like you’ve met your match, Jett.” Shayla gives me a consolation hug. “Time to retire.”
“Never. We’ll have a rematch tomorrow.”
“You could do it now,” Shayla says. “I don’t mind.”
I shake my head. “We’ve got other places to be.”
Dylan glances at the time. “Right. We do. Didn’t realize how late it’s getting.”
“Time for what?” Shayla stows her book back into her bag. “What’s next on the agenda?”
“You’ll see.” Dylan and I planned something that only Shayla could love. But if she can put up with bowling for me, I can put up with doing something for her. I want to make every minute of our time together count before she has to leave. “Let’s go.”
Traffic’s not bad, and we make good time. When we get out of the car, Shayla’s already surprised. “Where are we? Is this an actual park?”
“It sure is.”
“I didn’t think they had those in L.A.”
Dylan slides his arm around her. “Me neither.”
“Well, they do. And you’re going to like this one.” I’ve been here before. It’s been awhile, but every time we played here and I wanted to get away for a bit, I’d come by. The first time I did, all I could think about was how at home Shayla would be in a place like this. Pretty much every time since then, too.
She loves flowers and being outdoors. Plenty of all of that here. I’m more of a hang out in a smoky bar and watch the band kind of guy. But from time to time, I think I get what Shayla sees in nature.
I herd them over to the entrance. “It’s so beautiful.” She keeps stopping to look around, but there’s somewhere we need to be.
“Come on.” I plant a kiss on her sexy bare neck. “There’ll be lots of time to check it out. But right now, there’s something you need to see.”
Dylan and I each take her by the hand. He’s never been here before either, so I’m the one leading us down one of the small paths that looks like it doesn’t actually go anywhere.
It doesn’t take long before we’re in the right place.
“Welcome.” The man in the catering outfit steps back from the table. It’s even more impressive than I thought it would be when I booked this setup.
A round table with a white table cloth shifting in the light breeze is sitting in the centre of the clearing. It’s a great spot, completely surrounded by tall trees and thick bushes to give it privacy.
Everything’s ready to go. The table’s set, filled with china and polished silverware, along with a bottle of the best champagne they have to offer. In the centre is a vase of dahlias. Shayla’s favorite flowers.
“What is this?” She spins around to face me. “Is this…for us?”
“I thought you might like to have a picnic. Since it’s such a nice day and all.”
Shayla flashes a radiant smile. “This is a lot more than just a picnic. I’ve been to weddings that didn’t have this nice of a setup. You did all this?”
“Dylan came up with the idea. I ordered it. The staff here set it up.”
“Wow. You guys. It’s amazing. It’s almost too nice, really. Something like this should be for a really special occasion.”
“It’s not too nice. Nothing’s too nice for you.” Dylan pulls out a chair for Shayla. “And this is an occasion.”
She slips onto her chair carefully. “What kind? It’s not any of our birthdays.”
“A couple things.” Dylan opens the champagne. “For one thing, Tailspin’s latest record hit the charts.”
“Yeah, we’re in the Top 100 for the first time ever. Thanks to this tour, and the best sound tech in the business.”
“Oh, Jett. That’s amazing.” Shayla reaches over to give me a hug.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. But that’s not the only big deal.” I take a breath. “This is for you. And us. All three of us. Being together. This is the best thing that could have happened. More than the tour, the festival, and the charts. And it’s something to celebrate.”
“Jett, I didn’t think you’d ever do anything like this. It’s just so wonderful. I would’ve never expected something this beautiful.”
“I’m full of surprises.” I lift my glass. “To us. And our future together.”
Normally I don’t go for the sweet stuff, but this champagne is pretty nice. Just as I’ve polished off the glass, a couple of caterers arrive at the table. They’re wheeling over a cart covered with food for our picnic.
“You guys are the best. I still can’t believe you went to all this trouble.” Shayla’s eyes are shining. I want to make sure she’s this happy all the time. Dylan’s right there with me. “I don’t deserve this.”
“Sure you do.” Dylan sets his glass on the table to give Shayla’s hand a squeeze. “If nothing else, you’re on vacation.”
“This is like no vacation I’ve had in my life. Touring around to stadiums with Tailspin. This…” She gestures around at the flower gardens sprawling all around us, a sea of green marked with bright blasts of color. “Not to mention the morning bowling.”
“It’s the life. Gotta enjoy it while we’ve got it.”
Shayla’s practically glowing. “Quite a life you’ve got going on, Jett.”
“This is only the beginning. For all of us. Oh, and there’s one other thing I want to tell you. I think it’s time to let everyone know we’re together.”
That’s the one thing I hadn’t told either one of them yet. That I want to be open about us.
Dylan’s eyes widen. “You sure you’re up for that? There’s no going back once it’s out there, you know.”
“Couldn’t be more sure of anything.”
He’s relieved. I didn’t really get just how much being open means to him. Now, it’s gonna be all good for all of us.
We start to eat, and I couldn’t be happier. Being out here with my girlfriend and my boyfriend is the best feeling in the world. And making both of them happy too, in any way I can.
Life is good.
Back at the hotel, we head up to my room. We’re walking down the hall when one of the doors opens as we walk by it. Startled, I find myself face to face with Zac.
“Hey, man.”
His eyes roam from me to Shayla to Dylan. “You got a sec?”
“Yeah, I guess.” I hand my room key over to Dylan. “See you guys in a minute.”
I go with Zac into his room. He lets the door fall closed behind us, then leans against it.
“What’s up, Zac?” I’m impatient to join Dylan and Shayla.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you.” Peeling himself off the door, Zac goes to the fridge and grabs a beer. “You want one?”
“Not now. What are you talking about?” I haven’t told him or anyone else about me and Shayla and Dylan yet. But he’s a sharp guy.
He tilts his head towards the door. “You and Shayla. Officially back together?”
“Yeah.”
“Good for you. What’s going on with Dylan?”
I straighten up. I guess if I’m going to be open about us now, I might as well start with the least judgemental guy I know. “We’re involved too. Dylan and I. And Shayla. All three of us. We’re all together.”
His expression doesn’t even change. “Uh huh.”
It’s pretty much how I expected Zac to react. “That all? You want details?”
He makes a face. “Of course not. No way. I don’t care who you’re fucking. But I do care about the band’s rep. And the fact that we’re going to be playing Sound Off soon enough. What’re you gonna do about that?”
“What do you mean? What’s there to do?”
Zac takes a long drink of his beer. “I mean, Ian and his band are going to be there. He’s pretty outspoken about hating gays. You and Dylan, he’ll have a field day over that. Trash you and Tailspin. You ready for that? Because I don’t want anything to go wrong down there. The tour’s going too well to let anything fuck it up now.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know they were gonna be at Sound Off. What are they, a late addition?”
“Guess so.”
“Still. What would he care?”
Zac gives me a look like I’m clueless. “If you don’t know, you need to look him up. See what he’s done to other people and bands he decides he doesn’t like.”
“Okay, I will.”
“I mean it, Jett. He plays dirty.”
I don’t really know what Zac’s talking about. I’ll check it out later. Right now, I’ve got two people I need to be with.
“I’ll do it. I gotta go now.”
Zac shoots me a look. “This is important, Jett.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.” He’s downing the rest of his beer as I leave. He’s more serious than I’ve ever seen him. I meant what I said. If he’s this bothered about it, it must be important.
I’ll get to it later. Right now, I’ve got to get to bed.