Kathy: Hey! How are the auditions going? I miss you. xoxo
Her text makes my heart pang. This was something else that had changed in the last six months.
Gabby: Hey! I miss you too, all the guys do. Auditions are going really well, thanks. xx
I press send and bite my lip, wondering if I should ask what I really want to know. My bruised pride and aching heart are holding me back. Fuck it, life is too short, this year has taught me that. Blowing out a pent-up breath, I quickly type out another text.
Gabby: How’s Emmett?
After we left the board and established our own show, Kathy came with us. In fact, she was with us for several months. Once things were fully up and running, however, she left, telling us she could see that we had everything covered and she was needed elsewhere. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised she would go on to work for Emmett. They had grown pretty close during the last few months of the show, and they continued to be in contact after he left.
I don’t hear back from her for a while, and we’re just welcoming the next batch of auditionees when I receive a reply, my phone vibrating in my pocket. I ignore it until everyone has been introduced and the candidates are up on stage, then I take a seat in the stalls and pull out my phone.
Kathy: That’s actually why I’m getting in touch. Emmett’s solo show opens tonight, and I know it would mean a lot to him if you were there.
I reread the message several times, my mind a mess of different emotions, but ultimately, I know we have to go. He was hurting, and he pulled away from us. He might not have been there in my time of need, but I will be there for him tonight, that’s what family does. Even though I’m still hurt over how he left us, I know now that he had to go, that he had to spread his wings. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I smile shakily and pass Damon my phone.
Grabbing it, he reads the message, and his eyes widen, a small line creasing his brow before he passes the phone to Liam. I can’t view the others’ reactions, it’s too dark for me to see that far down the row of seats and the music is too loud to hear them. Damon turns to look at me, passing me my phone.
“We’re going?” he questions with a quirk of his lips, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. They’re just as angry about how Emmett abandoned us, if not more so, than me. After all, he might have been my best friend, but before that, he was their brother, their family, for so many years, and he walked away from them.
Wincing, I reach out and place a hand on his knee. I hadn’t thought about how awkward or painful it might be for them to go and watch someone they thought of as a brother perform in his own show. It would probably feel like a huge betrayal. “You don’t have to come with me if it’s too—”
Cutting me off, Liam leans over Damon and kisses my cheek. “We’re coming,” he announces simply. Grinning, I shake my head as I watch him try to quietly climb back over Damon to his seat.
Scowling, Damon shoves the younger stripper off him, but I can see he’s trying to hide his grin, his eyes glittering with amusement. He turns his attention to me, brushes his hands through his black hair, and leans back in his seat. “Will we get back from the viewing with enough time?”
Excitement flips in my stomach at the mention of the viewing, and I look at my watch, working out the timeline. “We may have to go straight to the theatre, but we should be fine.”
After auditions today, my five strippers and I are going to view a house to buy. We’ve seen it online, and it looks perfect—it’s close to the theatre, and we can afford it. If all goes well, it could be ours. A true home. Bought with our own money. A place that we can be whatever and whoever we want in. No hiding our relationship.
Our safe space.
My eyes must have glazed over again like they have every time I think of our potential home, because Damon chuckles and leans forward, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Okay. Whatever you say, boss,” he whispers in my ear with a slight chuckle as he pulls away and returns his attention to the dancers on stage.
I feel bad for not giving the candidates my full attention, but that’s what the other guys are here for. I send Kathy a quick reply, telling her to put aside six tickets and asking her to send me the details.
Smiling, I place my phone in my lap, my heart full of happiness, excited for what’s to come of my life with my strippers.
I hope after tonight, our family will be whole again.
The house viewing went well, and we already called to put an offer in. All we can do now is wait and see. We also hired three of the dancers from earlier and have more auditions tomorrow, but tonight…tonight, we’re going to see Emmett.
I was right, we have to go straight from the viewing, so I’m still in my work wear—a silk shirt, pencil skirt, and blazer. I slip free of the blazer, and Damon offers me his leather jacket. I roll and tuck the skirt up until it’s above my knees, and I don’t look as fancy. We’re split between two cars, with me in the passenger seat while Blake drives, and as we get closer and closer, nerves fill me. Kathy texted me back to tell me tickets would be waiting, and she even gave us a parking pass to the back of the theatre, which we accepted. After we pull through the gates, I turn to Blake, and we share a hesitant smile.
I can’t wait to see him. I want to be here to support him. No matter what happened, I still love him, and I know the guys miss him like crazy, but all of them are too proud to reach out first, and I’m betting Emmett doesn’t know how to either. But tonight, we are here for him to show him we’re always family, no matter the distance or the path we’re taking in life.
Reaching over, I grab Blake’s hand and squeeze it. He grins wider, his lip piercing winking. His neck tattoos look darker in his low V-neck as he leans down and kisses along my knuckles. “It’s going to be amazing,” I say, as a flush covers my cheeks and my pussy awakens from his touch. I look in the back and meet Kingston’s and Liam’s eyes. “It will. Remember you still love him. No matter what happened, tonight, he needs your support.”
“What if he doesn’t want us here?” Kingston queries sadly, his big brown eyes locked on me.
I turn and meet his gaze with a confident smile. “Of course he does, he’s your brother. Just because he needed to find his own way doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you or want you here. I’m betting it will mean a lot to him.”
He nods as Liam sighs and cracks a grin. “Well, it will be nice not to be the one taking my pants off for once.”
I snort and wink at him. “Yeah, well I know you too well, keep them on, there is no audience participation.”
He laughs as I turn and open my door, slipping out and tugging my jacket closer as the others pull up next to us. After giving them a smile, I grab Damon’s hand and twine my fingers through his, tugging him after me so they can’t backtrack. We head to the side door as instructed, and I rap my knuckles there and wait. I start to fidget before it’s yanked open, and a flustered but happy looking Kathy peeks her head out. When she sees me, she squeals and rushes out, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“Thank God you’re here, he’s so nervous!” She pulls back as I smile at her. She seems different, brighter…more carefree. It seems she has found her place as well—by his side. “Thank you for coming, seriously. He kept trying to reach out to you guys, but he got scared. It will mean the world to him that you’re here.” She turns her attention to the guys behind me. “Seriously, it will, and hi!” They all hug her, greeting her like old friends. My guys got on with her really well after we dealt with our issues. She pulls back with a smile, but then she looks at her watch.