MMF BISEXUAL ROMANCE: Phoenix Running Page 13

  But maybe it wasn’t necessary to tell Phoenix. Ashley had deleted the pictures, so they had nothing to worry about. A little voice warned that there could be duplicate files anywhere. The photographer had to have some. However, he had driven the point home with Tegan, and if history were any indication, she would toe the line. She always did. He was the biggest act she had ever represented. She knew what was at stake.

  Thus, Phoenix’s secret was safe. Right?

  Chapter 15

  The Children’s Tumor Foundation fundraiser was held in a local park where over three thousand people showed up to lend their support. Blue and white balloons were tied to posts throughout the four acres of green space where families of kids with neurofibromatosis mixed and mingled. Healthcare staff from the general hospital were present to pass out pamphlets and information cards to spread awareness about the disorder, but it wasn’t all business. The line-up of bands made the event a destination for people just looking to get out and hear great music, too.

  Cee-Cee blended in with the crowd as she meandered through the grounds, sampling everything that was offered. There were tents boasting face painting, craft booths, and food carts everywhere she looked. The music was loud and the atmosphere was relaxed. She grabbed a funnel of cotton candy for Baby Joe and made her way back to the picnic table her family had scored by getting there early.

  “Here you go, love bug,” she cooed. Baby Joe grabbed the cottony sweet and toyed with the fluff that stuck to his fingers rather than eating it.

  “Why’d you give him that?” Josey groaned. He was in his stroller, and she sat next to him at the picnic table. The handsome toddler wore a striped shirt and romper. Cee-Cee dug into her purse for a wet-wipe.

  “I won’t let him get his cute clothes dirty, but say, ‘Mommy, we can’t go to a festival and not eat cotton candy!’ Isn’t that right, little man?”

  “It’s getting crowded,” said her dad, Marty. He spotted a coworker from the university and waved. Winny rocked to the music next to him.

  “I like it. It’s good to be out of the house. I ran into three old clients who put in some new orders for things they need tailored. I call that success. I was looking for a ram in the bush, and there it is. When I get those orders done, I can add to my savings for that embroidery machine I want.”

  “Told you I’ll get it for you for Christmas. Thought you said you were winding down on doing so much sewing anyway, Winny.”

  “And I thought you said you don’t like me being bored while you’re at work.” She tapped the tip of his nose, and he smiled at her. Chuckling, Cee-Cee glanced away from the parental flirting.

  Josey put a hand to her forehead and scanned the crowd. “Where’s your singer? I want to see what all the fuss is about,” she whispered. Cee-Cee turned pink and shushed her.

  “He’s not my singer,” she retorted, smiling. “Ashley’s backstage getting ready. I think his manager lined up a quick interview with the local news. Before you ask, I just saw Gina pulling Phoenix off somewhere. Probably trying to get a leg up on the competition, so to speak.”

  “Humph! You should tell her you beat her to it.”

  “Oh, be quiet!” Cee-Cee said with a laugh. Thank goodness their parents weren’t paying attention to them.

  * * *

  Across the park, Gina and Phoenix were having a hushed conversation beneath a shady tree. The animated redhead drew the attention of every male eye within winking distance, but Phoenix alternately stared at the stage, waiting for Ashley to come out, and the picnic benches where Cee-Cee sat with her family. Gina noticed.

  When her effusive compliments and party girl grin didn’t bait him, she bit her smile short and cleared her throat, getting down to business. “So, as I was saying, you and I are going to be working closely on an ad campaign for local networks. Buddy Steele might be the King of Slander, but I understand you want to keep your hands clean. Rather than badmouthing your opponents, we’ll lead by example. I’ve already got a team working on a…”

  Phoenix tuned her out and kept people watching. He had covered all his bases and hobnobbed with the right elite. He had said a prayer to kick off the fundraiser event, and he had given a brief speech encouraging everyone to donate or take part in the silent auction to be held after the performances. Then, he had made a second run through the crowd and shook hands, kissed babies.

  Now he could hang back, and he definitely needed to keep a low profile because he was already feeling antsy about seeing Ashley again. What had happened on the yacht had simultaneously been the riskiest and most satisfying sexual experience of his life. Yeah, the sex was safe. They had used condoms. It was fear of word getting out about it that made it seem like a dangerous luxury he probably shouldn’t have indulged in.

  But it wasn’t something he would (or could) take back. Some interesting changes had come about as a result of them sleeping together that probably never would’ve happened if they hadn’t.

  Afterwards, Ashley had given Phoenix his personal cell number, and it had taken a few days to build up the courage to call, but he had finally done it. Now two weeks out from the passionate excursion, they talked to each other at least once a day. Same with Cee-Cee. Often they conferenced by phone or by inbox, and the conversations were friendly, nonsexual shit that couldn’t tangle him in an embarrassing situation if they were ever hacked. (Or, worse, if someone felt jilted and tried to set him up.)

  That said, keeping things chaste had an uncanny way of drawing the three of them closer. What the hell else was there to talk about besides bumping bodies and busting nuts? Plenty. Family issues, to-do lists, business ventures, what was eaten for breakfast—the mundane trappings of human life connected them. Phoenix was getting used to having them as close friends, and he wasn’t ready for Ashley to leave to finish his American tour.

  Nor was he anxious to see Cee-Cee shoot to the top with her NowIn app. Secretly he wished the three of them could halt time and keep things the way they were. They didn’t even have to sleep together again. Problem was, thinking like that made Phoenix feel like he was getting in too deep.

  Gina touched his arm and repeated herself. “I said, I think your friend is about to take the stage. I’ll let you enjoy the show and we’ll talk later.”

  Phoenix pivoted sharply and stared at the stage. “Oh, is he? Talk to you later, Gina.” He waved her off dismissively and felt a rush when the familiar first chords of his favorite song began to play. Ashley stepped from behind the black curtains with his guitar in hand and his charismatic smile in place. As he sang the first words, he caught Phoenix’s eye.

  It was like being beaten over the head by Cupid. Good god, Phoenix hoped he wasn’t in too deep.

  * * *

  Cee-Cee sat forward at the picnic table. “There he is!” She nudged Josey.

  “Ohhhhh…Yeah, now I see,” was all her sister said. Josey sat with her mouth agape, eyes wide. Ashley looked like he had stepped out of a glamorous music video. His silky brown curls fell to the left of his forehead, and his slender face was soulful. He wore a black tunic and silver jewelry, galaxy leggings and knee-high black boots. He was so together.

  Cee-Cee blushed as she thought to herself, I fucked that guy. “Wow,” she breathed.

  In the past few weeks, she had gotten to know him better. At first blush, he was a wild, fun-loving narcissist. But he was also kind and thoughtful. He might party hard but he also spoke out about current events, advocating for positive social change in a way that made other young people listen to him. The rock star drank his “arse” off, as he would say. However, he didn’t touch drugs, and as far as she could see, he didn’t fuck around.

  It was like everything she had imagined about men like him and Phoenix just wasn’t true. Take Phoenix, for example. The politician should love the spotlight, yet she had been at this event for hours and only seen him a time or two. She had gotten to know him better as well, working closely with him on social media projects.

  As an intern, h
er job was to keep his pages active, get likes, make posts, etc. In order for the content to feel authentic, she used what she was learning about his personality to draw the millennial demographic even closer to the reclusive mayor. Cee-Cee was positive that her work was going to get him reelected, even if he never used her app.

  She had gotten so caught up in the fun of having the boys around that she had slacked off on pushing NowIn to potential buyers, and that made her sad. She had already given up hope of owning her dream house. What else would be sacrificed in the heat of this unexpected attraction? This ménage a trois relationship was starting to feel romantic, and commitment sucked ass. Especially when being possessed by two devoted, delicious men was exactly what she desired.

  “What are you scowling about?” Josey asked. She bounced Baby Joe on her knee as she stared at Cee-Cee.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.” She was falling into contentment, not love, but that was bad enough. Nobody wanted to give up something that made her feel this good, and she wasn’t the exception. She was hooked.

  * * *

  With a last buzz of guitar riffs, Ashley finished the final song of the short set list and dropped the mic dramatically. It briefly whirred shrilly before the sound tech pulled the plug. Ashley grinned at the audience of young people waving CTF banners and cheering at the tops of their lungs. He had had the opportunity to meet a few of the beautiful children with NF1 who had come to the fundraiser as little spokespeople for the cause, and they had instantly won his heart. He couldn’t wait to post about it so he could funnel some money into the charity.

  In fact, he shouldn’t wait.

  He snatched up the microphone and had the tech to cue it up for him to speak to the crowd. Ashley pulled out his phone right there on stage and customized a NowIn post to target all his social networks. It was the first time he had used the app. Truth be told, he had forgotten about it in the excitement of talking to Cee-Cee and Phoenix all week, but this event was something he wanted to get out to every single one of his fans, and NowIn was perfect for that.

  He hit the red record button on his phone, turned the camera at himself and spoke into the mic to the crowd and his Internet audience alike, “This is Ashley Terrence rocking the house with this wonderful crowd out at a CTF fundraiser! Make some noise for Neurofibromatosis Awareness!”

  The audience went wild. Ashley spouted off a quick one-minute summary of what he had learned about the disease, that it affected one in every three thousand Americans and was characterized by café-au-lait birthmarks and tumor-like neurofibromas that could be painful and disfiguring. “And we need your help. We’re trying to raise ten thousand dollars today. Now, look at that big board over there.” He turned the camera phone to a large whiteboard that had been illustrated with a thermometer-like measure of how much money the fundraiser had raised so far.

  It was the middle of the event, and they were halfway to their goal amount, but Ashley knew he could get his followers to go above and beyond what the organizers of this event had anticipated. “You can donate now by going to the Children’s Tumor Foundation website. Make it happen for these beautiful faces, Ashers.” He showed the crowd again and killed the recording, knowing that he had found another cause to rally. He moved to the center of the stage and bowed to thunderous applause.

  Somewhere in the audience, Cee-Cee would get the surprise of her life when she discovered he had used her app and thousands of Asher followers had noticed and were downloading it as the event progressed.

  Ashley ducked behind the black curtain and pulled the guitar strap over his head. He was sweaty, hot and breathless. He had given his all out there, despite the fact it wasn’t a big show. But he had to get cleaned up. He wanted to talk to Cee-Cee at least; Phoenix had already warned him it was best if they weren’t seen together.

  As he rushed to his corner where a makeshift dressing room had been created of PVC pipe and curtains, he bypassed Tegan and some older guy chatting quietly away from other people. Ashley glared at her suspiciously. Ever since the situation with the pictures in her tablet, he hadn’t trusted her. He had every intention of having her replaced the minute it was feasible. Tegan stopped talking when she saw Ashley approaching them, but the man she had been talking to stepped forward.

  “Ashley Terrence? How are you? I’m Wallace Briton. I was telling your manager here what a smart move it was for my son to stick you on this gig. I’ve never seen this big a turnout for one of his events.”

  “Wallace Briton?” Ashley paused. Phoenix’s father. He had heard a lot about him, and not much of it good. This was the guy who had turned Phoenix into the distrusting, secretive man he was. Ashley shook his hand, but there was no warmth to the cool professional move. “Nice to meet you,” he lied.

  “Used to sing myself before the politicking bug bit me. It was great seeing you perform. Obvious as hell why my boy is taken with you—as a friend I mean. Heh!”

  Ashley frowned. “So you’re here with Phoenix?”

  “No, no! My daughter. Sally has NF1. Phoenix raises a lot of money for the cause to help us find a cure and learn more about the disease. He’s a doting brother. You should ask him to let you meet his little sister while you’re both here! She’d love to see him personally, but he don’t ever have much time for her.”

  “Um, I won’t bother him while he’s busy…maybe some other time. I’d love to chat longer, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. A friend is waiting for me.”

  “Ah, to be young, good-looking and forever in a hurry again. Take care, young man.”

  Ashley strolled away, deciding that Wallace Briton wasn’t a threat, although he had definitely tried to make Phoenix look bad back there, talking about him not having time for his little sister. It was hard to believe a guy like that could be father to a guy like Phoenix. As he got to know him, Ashley was discovering that the politician had a big heart and fierce nobility that Wallace Briton lacked.

  But at least Wallace wasn’t a threat. Walking up on them conspiring, Ashley had at first assumed this man might be Tegan’s photographer, but Phoenix’s father had no reason to be snooping around, spying on his son, and he wouldn’t benefit from ruining his mayoral career. He was just a gossipy old man.

  It touched Ashley that Phoenix was quietly raising money for his sister. He smiled to himself as he got ready to meet with Cee-Cee, wondering if she knew their philanthropist wasn’t just a rich man with money to blow. This was all the more reason for Ashley to tread carefully. Phoenix Briton was the kind of guy he could see himself being with for longer than a summer fling.

  And that wasn’t like Ashley. He liked to play. He enjoyed traveling. He had been gearing up for this tour for months, yet the minute he met Cee-Cee and Phoenix, he was more interested in seeing them than seeing the rest of the U.S.A. It wasn’t costing him at this point, since he could commute to his next few venues, but how long could he keep this up? Tegan was already on his back, urging him to get on the road again. She didn’t like Cee-Cee, and she clearly wasn’t too fond of Phoenix or she wouldn’t be trying to ruin his reputation.

  Ashley shook his head to clear that troubling train of thought, figuring some things were best left unpondered. There was no way to know what the future held for him and his paramours, and as for Tegan, she was on thin ice. He was ready for new management.

  Soon as he was refreshed and had changed into a clean shirt, he pulled on a hat to hide his face and took off to find Cee-Cee. When he came upon her hanging with her family, she looked surprised to see him. Ashley grabbed her hand and pulled her into a friendly hug.

  “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you!” He bussed her cheek familiarly. She smelled like candy. She always smelled sweet. He could eat her up. Damn being in public.

  Cee-Cee swatted at his chest and eased out of his embrace. “Mom, Dad, this is Ashley Terrence. He’s a friend of mine.”

  “What kind of friend?” her mother whispered to Cee-Cee. She was, smiling, scheming, and Ashley knew that
look. Mothers everywhere were matchmakers, he guessed. He shook Winny’s hand as Cee-Cee grumbled something about them being friend-friends.

  D’ah, well, a guy could dream. Maybe someday they’d be more than that. Probably not. He’d be leaving town soon. There was no point in him being as enamored with Cora-Lynn Carson and Phoenix Briton as he was, but there was no way to turn it off.

  Chapter 16

  The fundraiser was winding down and the crowd was thinning. Marty and Winny had gone home shortly after Ashley’s performance. The singer had hung around their table for a half-hour, chatting with her family, getting her mom’s hopes up. Cee-Cee couldn’t wait to tell him how popular he was. She smiled to herself, thinking about how naturally he had fit in with her relatives. Winny was ready to adopt him into the brood. Cee-Cee grabbed the baby’s diaper bag and took a last look at the remaining patrons before heading with Josey to the parking lot.

  “I got everything so we won’t have to double back. It’s getting hot. Let’s get this cranky toddler home so he can cool off and get a nap,” she said.

  Cee-Cee helped Josey load Baby Joe into the back of the car. Her sister gazed at her with an appreciative smile. “You’ve been so sweet to me lately, kind of like old times.”

  “What do you mean?” Cee-Cee snapped the car seat belt snugly and turned to her sister, smiling. Josey shrugged.

  “I don’t know how to say it. I guess for a while there you treated me like you didn’t want to be seen with me. Like being a single mom would rub off on you or something.”

  Cee-Cee felt a stab to her conscience. She emitted a sympathetic sound and pulled Josey into a hug. “Come here, you! I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way. It was rude of me, and I should’ve been more sensitive. I’ve been so busy trying to succeed.”