Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
What’s the point of any of this?
“Holy shit.” I felt my chest rise and fall with excitement. “We’re starting a record label, aren’t we?”
“The attorneys are just waiting for you to choose a name before submitting the paperwork. I found a director-level executive I like for this, but I put together a short list of other options in case you don’t like him. You’ll like him, though. He’s gay. I think it’s important since you’re going to focus on LGBTQ talent, but if you disagree, I’ll allow it.”
The edge of his lip quirked up as I shoved him. “I hate it when you know what we’re all going to do before we do it. It’s unnatural.”
Kenji met my eyes. I could see he was as excited as I was. “You’re going to be amazing at this, Zane. The brotherhood will be proud of you… and your Bear will, too.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. After all these years of making money, making decisions, making moves in my multiple endeavors, this was the first time I felt the soul-deep certainty that I was on the right path. “Thank you for your support, Kenji. I don’t know what any of us would do without you.”
“I should have invested in a waterproof interior for this plane since it’s seen so many tears,” he muttered, patiently allowing me to kiss him on the cheek in thanks.
“I can’t wait to tell everyone. Who all will be there when we arrive?”
He went back to tapping the tablet, probably initiating some of the business tasks that had been waiting for my approval. “Everyone. You’re the last one in except for Landry, and god only knows when the prima donna will arrive. It’s not like he keeps me informed of his movements.”
I wanted to ask him why he was so bitter about Landry, but I honestly already knew.
Landry was everything Kenji hated. He was paid for being beautiful instead of smart and diligent. He didn’t take things seriously. He got into trouble often—everything from missed flights to misdemeanors—and every time, he’d call Kenji to help sort him out. While Kenji was officially the personal assistant to all of us in the brotherhood—and ran a small army of under-assistants and various vendors to help, too—dealing with Landry alone could easily have taken all Kenji’s attention if he let it.
I didn’t think this was a coincidence. Landry was a brilliant strategist, and I was pretty sure he wanted as much of Kenji’s time and focus as he could get… even if he had to get in trouble to do it. But for all that Kenji was insightful (and practically psychic) when it came to figuring out what the rest of the brotherhood needed and wanted, he seemed absolutely clueless when it came to Landry.
Or maybe when it came to himself.
My phone buzzed with a text from Bear.
Bear
About to go wheels up. Heading to Mount Rushmore for the night, then on to Majestic. T-minus 24 hours until I see your beautiful face.
I saw an ad on Instagram for a pop-up contraption soccer moms use to help their kids change clothes at practice when there’s not a restroom nearby. It’s like a tube-shaped tent. I keep fantasizing about whipping one of those things out when I see you and hopping into it so you and I can greet each other properly without anyone seeing us.
Bear
… that’s not what I fantasize you whipping out, Z.
I grinned at my phone like a fool.
Will you be able to take a break and come to Dev and Tully’s house?
Bear
Working on it. I’ll see you at the Bells event, and then once I help get the family settled back at the lodge, I plan to come see you for a few hours. We need to talk about the future, and I need to feel your skin under my hands.
I shivered.
Perfect. I vote twenty minutes talking, all the rest, hand-ing.
Bear
You think twenty minutes is enough to sort our whole future, huh?
Honestly? I think twenty is excessive, but I want to be considerate of your needs.
Bear
Zane…
Nope. I know what I want, Bear. I know who I can’t live without. And as some people have reminded me recently, it’s okay for me to sometimes ENJOY the benefits of being a billionaire rock star, so that’s what I’d like to do. But what you want matters more to me than anything. I know you love your job. So, we’ll talk.
Bear
Yeah. We’ll talk. But Z? There is nothing in this world I love more than you. So fuck the job. Fuck anything that keeps us apart. I know who I can’t live without, too.
I sniffled a little, my need for him making my chest ache.
You’re not allowed to say nice things when you’re so far away. Disallowed.
Bear
I’ll keep that in mind. No more being far away.