“Shit, okay, let me bring you to your table and get you some drinks, then I need to go and check on everything.” I push my arm through hers and let her lead us into the building.
“Anything I can do to help?” I ask automatically.
“No, but thank you.” She grins at me. “I’ve missed you so much, it’s been a crazy few months…but I’m loving it, Gabs. Thanks to you, I found my dream job.”
“I’m so proud of you, and him of course.” We share a knowing look as we wander through the maze of corridors. Her mind is flying a mile a minute, no doubt loading with everything she needs to check for opening night and before the curtains rise, so I don’t talk too much. I know that stress myself, and she’s right. This is her journey, not mine, and she needs to find her own way, but I settle a little as I look into her eyes, knowing she’s okay.
Better than okay, she’s thriving. I just hope Emmett is as well.
We are guided down a side corridor which then breaks out into the theatre. It’s more of a club mix, but it has an amazing vibe to it. It has throwback R&B songs on, a bar to the left with men in moustaches, waistcoats, and no shirts serving big, fancy drinks. There are no rows, but there are tables spread across the raised floor, and the stage is circular, placed in the middle of the room with lights shining up around it. There are gold chandeliers hanging down with dim lights in them. It reminds me of an old speakeasy we went to once, homey and very cute. Liam instantly starts to dance as we wind through the occupied tables to two that have been pushed together next to the stage with ‘reserved’ signs.
“Here you go, guys. I’ll send some drinks over, show starts in five.” She looks at me and smiles. “Stay until after the show? Please? He’ll want to see you, I know it.”
I nod, and her headset around her neck crackles, so she sends me an apologetic look. “Go, he needs you.” I hand over a flower, a rose Leo got for me. “Give him this for me?”
She smiles and nods, taking the flower and rushing off as I strip off my jacket and sit. The guys sit around me, almost shimmying in their seats. Dancers can never not react to music, after all. Not a moment later, two trays full of fruity cocktails are dropped at our table, and we sip them happily as we wait, chatting even as nerves fill us all. What if Kathy is wrong? What if he doesn’t want to see us?
About ten minutes later, the lights fade to black, and the nervous energy of the crowd filters through with some giggles and screams. “Welcome, one and all. Tonight is about desire. Your innermost secrets. Here, there are no rules. We don’t use gimmicks, we don’t play games. Here, we are all about pleasure…” The lights illuminate the stage, and people scream as we spot five men. They stand with their heads tilted down so we can’t see their faces, wearing joggers and tank tops. Some skin shows, but not much. “Talent.” One by one, each man does a little dance, all very impressive. “And fun!” The lights come on, and their heads snap up as they grin and begin to move around the stage, encouraging the audience. “Welcome to Sin City!” Fake money explodes from cannons and flutters down the stage and surrounding area, making me laugh as the music kicks on and they start to dance.
They throw themselves across the stage using various styles—hip-hop, R&B, and one even does ballet—until the music starts to slow down and they each fall to the floor as the spotlights hit the back of the stage. “And now to meet our god, our creator…the master of sin himself—Adonis!”
Emmett steps on stage, and I swallow my pain at seeing him again, hurt tinged with happiness as he grins at the cheering crowd. His blond hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a tank top and joggers as he slides across the end of the stage and rips his shirt off. Smirking, he runs his hand down his tan chest to his crotch and grabs it before wagging his finger and flipping, shaking his ass before he gets to his feet.
The others stand and slowly start to join in as “WAP” comes on and they grind and dance, stripping slowly. I down some of my drink and cheer them on, deciding to go all in. There is no rivalry here. The world is big enough for both of us, and I’m just happy he’s doing well. This place is packed, and I know it’s going to be a hit.
When the routine ends, each individual dancer gets a song, introducing them to us with sin names such as Envy, Lust, Jealousy, and so on. It’s a good gimmick, and the crowd eats it up. The dancers are incredible, each more elaborate than the last, until they all come on stage and dance together again. Only this time, they go out into the crowd, grinding and dancing with the audience, getting them to their feet. They even let them put the fake money in their G-strings. It’s a lot of fun, and the two hours pass in a blur, as do the cocktails that turn up at our table.
The show’s big finale is Emmett and a female dancer doing a number together before the other dancers join in, and when it’s over, everyone is on their feet, clapping.
The lights have just started to come up a bit when they take their bows. Emmett’s face is happy, but there’s sadness in his eyes as he looks through the crowd, until they land on us. We are standing, clapping, and cheering the loudest, always his biggest supporters. He actually stumbles, and his mouth drops open as Liam hoots and I scream louder. Did Kathy not tell him we were here? From the shock in his gaze, I would say no.
I watch as tears fill his eyes, and I blow him a kiss. The other dancers get his attention, and he looks away for a moment, speaking to them before meeting my gaze as they start to file off. “Backstage,” he mouths almost desperately, and I nod. With one more shocked and intensely happy look, he leaves with them and the lights come on. Music pounds as people continue to dance and drink.
Not a moment later, a server appears at our table. “Come with me,” he offers. I down the rest of my drink, follow him to the curtain at the side of the bar, and pass through into the backstage area.
Emmett is there, waiting with a towel around his neck. He stares at us, unsure, and the guys stare back. No one speaks. The other dancers watch us curiously as Kathy comes over. Fuck it. I cover the distance in a blink and wrap my arms around him, ignoring the sweat. He freezes, hesitant, before he softens and hugs me back. He holds me tightly as he buries his face in my shoulder, and before I know it, the guys have joined us in a group hug.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he whispers into my skin. “I had to leave, I had to. Please forgive me, I never meant to hurt you,” he cries.
Pulling back with tears in my eyes, I wipe his away and cup his cheeks. “I know.” And I do. I was hurt when he first left, but seeing him up on that stage…the rightness in his expression, I realised why he left—to find his place. “I’m so proud of you,” I whisper. “So fucking proud, and no matter what, we’re family, okay?”
He nods, a smile curling his lips, even as he cries, and the guys clap him on the back. “Family,” Blake agrees, and he and Emmett share a look—one that conveys a million emotions without speaking.
“We missed you, brother,” Kingston adds.
“Yeah, we did, but that was hot as fuck up there,” Liam remarks.
“So good. You’ve done an amazing job,” Leo comments.
Damon grins at him too. “Always knew you were the best of us.”