“I wish,” he mumbled and put the coat over his arm.
“It’s your turn.” I stepped back as I said that, even though my palms had itched with the need to help Brody stand and then for him to accidentally fall into my waiting arms. I’d lusted after him for so long that having him here in the flesh was like a dream.
He stood up without my help and stretched tall again, only this time it exposed skin above his waistband, showing a peek of the smoothest of bellies. He was lithe but muscled apart from that softness. His long dark bangs touching his eyebrow on one side, something that he was clearly used to as he had this habit of flicking them back with his hand. What I wouldn’t give for him to lay on the floor so I could rest my head on his stomach, and we could talk and then maybe kiss and—
“Earth to Justin, you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, it was… ”
“Shit, what did they ask you to do?” Now he was nervous and that was all my fault.
I blinked back to normal. “No, nothing, just the normal stuff. Sorry, long drive. Go. They’re waiting for you.”
He picked up a battered leather satchel then headed for the door I’d just emerged from. I bet that bag told a million stories. Maybe it was handed down from his granddad or even further back in his huge family network.
Watching his season, I’d envied Brody and his ease with life, his big family, his back story, and long memories of distant relatives. I was jealous he was in college with his boyfriend. Hell, I even melted when I saw the freaking stray cat that wound itself around his neck in the home interviews. When he’d won, his family had surrounded him with love and affection and squabbled on camera about who was the best sibling before his boyfriend had gone down on one knee and proposed. Lucky for me, in season one there were no family or partners featured in the finale because I’d look pretty sad with just some guy off the street that I would have had to pay to stand at my side.
Stop the freaking pity party—you’re rich, you have an audience, you’re set for life.
The solid front doors flew open, letting in a gust of snow and wind, and I faced the newcomers with my best smile. I recognized Ivan Sanders, winner of season five, and Kristen Maven winner of season three. They both had Instagram, and Kristen was big on Pinterest, so we reposted some of each other’s content. I’d never met them, but their social profiles were a match to mine in a lot of respects. More crossover led to more likes which led to more endorsements, and all of that can be done online, but it’s always good to put a face to a name.
“Hi! It’s Justin from season one, right?” Ivan asked loudly, and his voice was swallowed in the big space. I crossed to greet them, shaking hands with Ivan and getting a sideways bro hug from the big guy, and then a hug and a kiss on the cheek from Kristen.
“It’s so good to meet you finally,” Kristen announced, and I couldn’t help wincing.
“Sorry I couldn’t make the reunions.”
“You didn’t miss much,” she confided. “Apart from me and Ivan y’know hooking up.” I didn’t know they had, but she forged ahead. “It’s so different to the soundstage back in L.A.,” Kristen exclaimed and took Ivan’s hand and dragged him over to stand under the chandelier. “Look at that!”
I noticed they didn’t let go of each other. It was obvious they were a couple when Ivan scooped her up into a bear hug and swooped her around in a circle.
Brody came out of the room, looking a little shell-shocked. Ivan saw Brody and went over to him and hugged Brody so hard that I thought he might break him.
The shocked expression Brody walked out with soon gave way to a grin as Ivan clapped him on the back.
“Brodes!” Kristen called, and they met in the middle with big hugs and kissed each other’s cheeks. Then they went quiet and chatted in a low tone. Kristen cradled his face and their expressions abruptly got serious. I wonder what they were talking about. Was it something to do with the show? Was it a continuing conversation from a reunion? Were they close friends? She’d called him Brodes, which I’d never heard used before, so I assume they were close enough for her to give him a pet name.
If I had to give him a pet name it would be Sexy McSexy or something that I could whisper in his ear as he writhed under me in bed.
He crossed over to me as Kristen joined Ivan and they went into their briefing together, which made sense given they were clearly in a relationship.
“Were you waiting for me?” Brody asked. “I’m heading to the hotel. You want to go with?”
Had I been waiting for him? I glanced up at him and his easy smile.
“Yeah, sure.” I’d parked at the Fairmont and walked here with Erin as she rambled on about this promo or that opportunity or this threat. Apparently, Brody was designated a threat, but I’d stopped listening at that point. I’d planned to walk back, but I should have done that when he went in because I wasn’t really waiting for him as such.
Liar.
We wrapped up in our coats, and he pulled a ridiculously cute beanie down to cover his ears that had to be a gift from a niece or nephew given it was emblazoned with the message ‘I’m the best uncle’. I wanted to ask him about it. I felt like I wanted to peel back a layer from the man I knew only through a television screen, but as usual the words weren’t there for me. On social media, I would caption a shot of him with something like ‘cute beanie, way to be a sexy uncle’ but in real life that would sound nonsensical. When we headed outside, the cold wind slapped us with a promise of snow. The day was even colder than earlier, the sun weak behind gray clouds fat with snow, and we headed across the grass at a brisk pace, both of us letting out audible shivering noises to indicate just how cold it was.
“Did they make you sign a non-disclosure?” he asked as he jumped a small pile of snow. “Why would they even think we’d go out and tell anyone about who won each round? That would be spoiling it for the viewers.”
I made a non-committal hmmm noise because Erin would demand I share anything I could to get more likes. With her words in my ear, I’d balked at signing the damn form until the show’s legal team reminded me that it was their way or the highway. Apparently, they could just as easily make this a five person charity event if I wanted them to, and they didn’t hesitate to let me know.
He carried on talking. “Although, I still can’t believe they tweeted the photo of the winner of Drag Race in an advert for the finale.”
“They did? For real?” Drag Race? I loved that show, but as usual I was still catching up, and I was only on episode one of the new season. I couldn’t share my love for it. Apparently, the show wasn’t good for my profile, too in your face, too flamboyant, too everything that Erin’s team deemed awkward for my sponsors. I thought we had a lot of crossover, mostly because I loved it, and secondly, because it would be so cool to do a Drag Race inspired event on my Instagram, maybe a charity event like this?
“Yeah, spoiled it for everyone.”
“I’ve only seen the first episode.”
He side-eyed me and then made a motion to zip his lips. “Stay off Twitter, and don’t get me drunk.”
“Huh?” Seriously, what was it about Brody that had me unable to form full sentences?