Fair in Love

Chapter 1-2

“I had two kids by that time, and there would have been more if Janie hadn’t been taken. Look, Travis, I want you to be happy. Just don’t put your career in jeopardy.”

“I didn’t think I was doing anything of the kind, and I don’t see that it’s anybody’s business what I do.” Travis was beginning to raise his voice, and Robbie lifted his hands, gesturing Travis to calm down.

They were staring at each other in silence when one of the theater security guards knocked, telling them that the driver was waiting at the back door with the car running. Travis and Robbie stood, and the guard let them out the stage door, locking it behind them.

“Come on, Travis. Let’s go home. We won’t talk about this anymore,” Robbie said, and Travis agreed. The only sound in the car on the drive home was the radio. Travis stared out the window at the passing scenery, but he could tell his brother’s eyes were on him, searching whenever the driver stopped at a red light. Travis was happy when the headlights of the limousine lit up the gate at the base of the drive leading to his house. Travis held out his electronic key, and the gate swung open. The driver passed through and up to the house.

Travis opened the door and prepared to get out before the driver could get there.

“See you tomorrow, Trav, and don’t forget. After tomorrow night’s concert, there’s a backstage meet and greet benefit for cancer,” Robbie reminded him from the backseat.

Travis closed the door and, from the front step, watched the car drive back down the drive. The gate swung shut behind them. Travis stood in front of the door, alternately looking at the heavy double oak doors and his navy blue pickup truck. Performing always gave him an adrenaline rush that sitting alone in his big house wouldn’t cure, so he put his guitar inside, locked the door, and headed to his truck.

* * * *

Geoff and Lu stood in the entrance to the Starbucks on Beverly and Robertson, surveying the crowded tables. Some guys turned to look at Geoff as he entered, smiled tentatively, and turned back to their friends and coffee.

“My God, it’s the usual suspects in here tonight, as always. Don’t you people have lives?” Lu said as she sailed to a table by the window and grabbed it from a gym bunny and his two buff, good-looking friends. Geoff hung his leather jacket on the back of the chair and sat. Lu remained standing, purse in hand.

“I’m taking care of the birthday boy, so what would you like?”

“Thanks, sweetie. A tall mocha with skim milk and no whip…”

She nodded and went to order. Geoff watched with amusement at her obvious impatience at standing in line. The door opened, and his attention was drawn to a man who entered and looked around for a place to sit. He was about six feet tall, dressed in a denim jacket trimmed in brown leather that fit his broad shoulders well. He was wearing dark sunglasses, and his curly black hair poked out underneath a worn baseball cap. Geoff noted the stranger had a scruffy chin. There were a dozen other guys in the shop fitting the same description, but there was something about this man that made Geoff notice him in particular—maybe the way he entered and looked around, he pulled the baseball cap lower over his face, unsure if he should come in further.

At that moment Lu brought a tray with two cups and a bag of cookies, which she set out for Geoff.

“Help yourself,” Lu invited, but Geoff was searching the crowd for the stranger, and he turned around when Lu nudged him.

“Thanks, Lu,” he said as he picked up his mocha.

“Who were you looking for, sweetie?”

“Was it that obvious?” Geoff asked, slightly embarrassed, but when he scanned the café again, he didn’t see the stranger. He smiled at Lu. “Nobody really. I thought I saw somebody, but I was mistaken.”

She shrugged and let the matter drop.

At that moment, Geoff felt someone come up behind him and say in a Southern drawl, “Sorry, but y’all mind if I sit here with ya? It sure is crowded tonight.”

Geoff glanced over his shoulder and almost dropped his cup. He barely recognized his voice as he responded, “Please, sit down…”

He ignored the look on Lu’s face at the intrusion, and then her cell phone rang from the depths of her handbag. She dug through her bag, pulled it out, and answered before the last ring. She talked to the caller for a few seconds and then said to Geoff, “It’s my broker in New York calling about some investments I left him a message about earlier this morning.” She excused herself, and Geoff saw her walking back and forth outside on the sidewalk.

Geoff focused on his drink, then lifted his head and noticed the stranger smiling at him over his cup. He suddenly felt warm and couldn’t decide whether it was the drink, the crowded café, or the late summer night causing it. He looked at the stranger, who was eating half of a large cookie, and he felt the man’s eyes on him from behind the dark glasses.

The stranger finally said, “Y’all having a nice night?”

“I’m trying. I was out with my friend, Lu, at Revolver, and we stopped for a coffee before going our separate ways.” Curious, Geoff ventured, “Why the dark glasses? Are you somebody famous?”

“Nah, I’m just a guitarist in a band. You like music?”

“Sure, anything except the new country music.” Geoff thought he saw the stranger frown.

“What’s wrong with today’s country music?”

“Well, for instance, take the McAllan Brothers Band. It’s just a grown-up boy band with cowboy hats.”

The stranger’s jaw clenched and then relaxed. “Have you ever listened to their music? It comes from the depths of the heart.”

“I’ve heard a few of their songs.”

“Maybe you haven’t heard the right songs,” the stranger interrupted, and Geoff noticed he was glancing every few seconds out the window at a man standing on the curb near Lu with a camera around his neck, looking right and left down the street. He quickly looked away and, smiling, turned back to Geoff.

“I wonder what he wants?” Geoff said, meaning the guy outside.

“A lost tourist looking for the movie-star hangouts maybe,” the stranger said, breaking off a piece of the cookie to put in his mouth. There was an awkward silence between them, Geoff not knowing what to say next, when Lu suddenly burst through the door and returned to the table.

“Well, you two, I hope you exchanged names and numbers while I was gone.” Lu sounded hopeful.

“No, ma’am. I was just keeping your friend company ‘til you got back,” the stranger said as he slid his chair back.

“I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I really have to get going.” The stranger shook Geoff’s hand, nodded toward Lu, and at the same time gathered his empty cup and paper bag.

“Nice meeting y’all,” he said and went out. He turned back briefly to wave at Geoff and then walked off.

Geoff watched him leave, noticing the guy with the camera they had seen earlier was trying to keep pace with him. The stranger disappeared around a corner and was gone. Lu and Geoff resumed their conversation, but Geoff regretted not getting the man’s name before he left so abruptly.

* * * *

Travis turned up the drive leading to his house, checking the rearview mirror to make sure the gate was closing behind him. He pulled up just short of the garage, put on the brakes, then shut off the truck. He sat for a few moments, staring at the light over the garage door. He dreaded going into that big empty house and sleeping alone.

I should have asked that guy for his name, but he was there with that lady, so maybe he’s not gay. I still should have asked his name.

After entering the house and closing the door, Travis picked up his guitar case and his cell phone from the bench next to it. There was a text message from Marc, the band’s manager, reminding him about the interview with Good Day LA. Then there was an appearance scheduled at a mall, rehearsal, and the concert, followed by the charity benefit. Marc had even managed to throw in a half hour with the personal trainer so he could keep in shape. Travis sighed, walked to his bedroom, and changed out of his clothes into a pair of boxers and a T-shirt. He opened the door to the balcony and sat down, his bare feet on the rail as he looked out across the lawn, swimming pool, and over the wall to the brightly lit grid of Los Angeles. Normally he would have brought out his guitar and played for a while before going to bed, but there was another message on his phone, this one from Don.

“I see you’re not home when you should be home writing songs and resting instead of gallivanting. Remember our conversation. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Click. Travis sat back in his chair, running his hands through his curly hair.

Don isn’t going to give up until he sees me walking down the aisle, but what would he say if he knew my true feelings? Travis couldn’t look down at the swimming pool without thinking about the day he had invited the band’s drummer over to the house. Keith was a tall dark-haired, muscular, tanned guy of about twenty. They’d splashed around in the pool for most of the morning. Finally Keith had stood on the edge of the pool, thrown off his trunks, and dove in, surfacing next to Travis. They treaded water; looking into each other’s eyes, until Keith boldly asked him in a voice barely above a whisper, “Want to?”

Travis told him yes, and they went upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Keith didn’t think what happened between them was anything special, just harmless fun between two dudes with no romantic entanglements, at least on his part. Travis, however, never having experienced such happiness, pressed him for commitment. Two days later, Don pulled up in front of the house to inform him Keith had quit and was asking for one hundred thousand dollars, or he would disclose Travis McAllan’s secret lifestyle, and that wouldn’t be very good publicity.

Travis had quietly paid the money and used his influence to get Keith an even better gig with another country group. Looking back on it, sitting on his balcony and looking down at the very same swimming pool, Travis gave thanks that Keith had left quietly and Don hadn’t hounded him about this “secret.” He looked from the rippling water of the pool to the endless lights of LA beyond the wall. He let his mind wander to the young man with the sandy blond hair, green eyes, and beautiful smile. Travis smiled, but then he quickly frowned.

I’ll never see him again, so what am I getting all worked up about?

* * * *

Geoff was drifting off to sleep when he heard the familiar sound of keys turning in a lock. The door opened and closed, and he heard footsteps in the hall coming toward the bedroom. Geoff spoke up, sensing Doug was hesitant about making any movement in their room.

“Hey, Doug, how was the concert tonight?”

“It was great. We really enjoyed it, but it would have been better if you’d come with me. I hope I didn’t wake you up.”

“I wasn’t asleep.” Geoff sat up, turning on the light. Doug stood at the foot of the bed, removing his jacket and the new McAllan Brothers Band T-shirt he had bought at the concert. He threw them on a chair and undid the buttons on his jeans. He smiled at Geoff, who watched him. Geoff grinned back, looking into Doug’s gray eyes and at the USMC tattoo on his muscular bicep. Doug laid out his jeans and went into the bathroom.

Geoff had turned out the light and was lying on his side when Doug returned ten minutes later. Doug climbed in next to him, and Geoff tried not to flinch when Doug stroked his arm. He wanted to pull away, but he didn’t and gave little resistance when Doug leaned over him and kissed him on the forehead. He felt Doug’s breath on his neck, as if he were waiting for something, and then after a minute or two, Doug sighed and turned over.

“Goodnight,” Doug said gruffly.

“Night, Doug.”