Blue-Eyed Soul (22 page)

Oh, boy.
There was the sound of running little feet and next thing Remey knew, Willow skidded to a halt in the doorway. Silence reigned for a second before she slapped her hands on her hips and looked back at Aleks. "Daddy, jeesh! Is Remey. I thought was Santa!"

Remey snorted when, half a second later, she seemed to forget to be disappointed and darted into the kitchen, chattering to him, wondering when he'd come and trying to convince him he wanted chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

Aleks met Remey's eyes as he followed Willow into the kitchen. "I guess she doesn't mind, huh? Hey, Willow, be nice, and ask Remey what he wants for breakfast. Don't try to force flipjacks on him."

Remey laughed, setting down his coffee and reaching to haul Willow up into his lap, where she perched and gave him a beaming smile. It was Aleks's smile miniaturized, bright enough to light up her face, and Remey smiled at the rush of love washing through him. He adored her nearly as much as he did Aleks. "I think chocolate chip pancakes sound like a brilliant idea,
bebette.
"

Aleks sighed and shook his head, taking a sip of his coffee and reaching up into a cabinet to take down a box of pancake mix. "You'll be on such sugar highs, both of you," Aleks muttered.

Remey laughed and took another sip of his own coffee, sliding off the stool and setting Willow on it instead.

"What else are snowy mornings for?" Remey told Aleks, slipping an arm around his waist and squeezing, testing to see if Willow would react. She didn't seem to notice, too busy being excited she was getting her breakfast of choice. "Let me cook. It's the least I can do after last night."

Aleks laughed and handed the box to Remey. "Happily. But it was no problem. You couldn't have driven home in this."

Willow's head popped up and her eyes widened. "Remey, did you and Daddy have a sleepover?"

Remey opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again, not sure what to say. He shot a helpless glance at Aleks. He wasn't sure it was a question he ought to be answering, even if he could.

Aleks played it very cool, though, and leaned against the counter, nodding at Willow. "We did. It was super snowy, and you were sound asleep, so I couldn't drive Remey home last night. So I asked him to stay." He hesitated, then tilted his head. "I might ask him to stay some other times when it isn't snowy, too, because I like him. Would you mind if Remey spends the night sometimes?"

Willow shrugged. "Oh, 'kay. Remey, you can borrows my Dora sleepin' bag if you want."

Remey laughed. "Thank you,
bebette.
That's very sweet."

Remey let out a breath of relief as Willow went about chattering as if no big, momentous decision had been made. But one had been. And when Aleks glanced over at Remey, he could see Aleks knew it, too. Aleks was inviting him in, for more than only one snowy night.

Best morning ever, hands down.

Remey glanced up from his guitar at the sound of Aleks's footsteps on the stairs, smiling as he set it aside. "Is she down?"

Aleks nodded, taking the guitar from Remey's hands and putting it in the case. He dropped onto the couch and pulled Remey up close to his side. "Finally. She's so excited about tonight, it took me a while to sell her on the idea of a nap. Sorry you had to entertain yourself."

Remey shrugged, sliding a hand over Aleks's chest through his shirt. "It's okay. I'm pretty good at it. But now I can entertain you instead," he murmured, shifting on the couch and tipping his face up to Aleks's, their lips meeting in a warm kiss. Aleks's hands came up, cupping his cheeks, and Remey sighed into the kiss. Aleks loved the way he did that--melted into the kiss, melted into Aleks. It was beautiful.

When the kiss broke, Aleks grinned. "I feel like I'm playing hooky."

Remey laughed. "It does kinda feel like that, huh? Willow's asleep and you're not at work, and we don't have anywhere to be for a couple of hours..."

"I bet you never played hooky, did you? Good boy Remey Dufresne, you must've gone to every class, did every assignment and never had to steal your report card out of the mailbox to try and change the letter grades on it before your parents saw it." Aleks grinned and kissed along Remey's jaw.

Remey hummed under his breath, smiling as he tipped his head back to allow better access. "How did you know? I was a completely boring nerd... I admit it."

"Mmm, and look at you now, Mr. Dufresne." Aleks tugged him closer, one hand shifting under him to squeeze his ass. "Making out when you should be practicing; necking with me instead of letting me get ready to head down to the festival to make sure the rest of it isn't falling to pieces without me."

Remey laughed breathlessly. "I'm sure they can survive a couple more hours without you. I, however, can't. I'll die if you don't kiss me again."

Aleks slid his mouth up along Remey's neck to his lips, nuzzling. "Well, can't have you dying," he whispered before he took Remey's mouth in a deep kiss. A few seconds into it, the ass he gripped began to vibrate and pipe out a tinny version of Katy Perry's "Firework." He groaned, pulling back slightly. "Does whoever's calling you know you are on the verge of death and they're interrupting the one thing able to save you--my kisses?"

Remey groaned, too, pushing up on one hand and reaching into his pocket to pull his phone out, giving Aleks a heated look. "It's Alli; that's her ringtone. I swear, I'm going to dispatch her in two-point-five seconds."

Aleks caught a glimpse of Remey's screen, which said "The Boss Of You" was the one calling. He muffled a snicker. Alli had spunk. Ten bucks said she'd snagged Remey's phone while she'd been in town and put the title in herself.

"You have the worst timing ever, I swear." Remey laughed when he answered. "I was about to get very ravished on a couch."

A second later, the smile faded from Remey's face and he nudged Aleks's chest, sitting up. "What's wrong,
cher?
Is everything okay?"

A few seconds later, Remey dropped his head into his hand. "Shit. No, no you're right. I, ah..." Remey glanced at Aleks, and he got the distinct impression Remey was biting his tongue, refraining from saying something while Aleks listened. He couldn't help the suspicion rising up. What was going on?

"I know,
cher.
I know. Listen, I've got to go. I'll talk to you soon."

Whatever was wrong, Remey didn't want to tell him. The way Remey wouldn't look at him as he hung the phone up said everything. Aleks took a deep breath.

"What?" Some kind of scandal? An ex back in the picture? He wasn't hysterical, so Aleks was assuming no one important had died. So what was it?

Remey glanced up and bit his lip. "Please don't hate me right now, Aleks. I... I have to leave."

Aleks felt like the bottom had dropped out from under him, but he managed to just lift his brows. "Leave... Haven? You're moving back to L.A.?" His stomach pitched.

Remey shook his head adamantly, reaching out to grip Aleks's arm. "No. No, not at all. I have to leave town. Today. Right now, actually. There's been a major shakeup at my label and I have to be there. I'm so sorry, Aleksander. I truly am. If I thought it was something I could put off..."

Aleks wasn't sure he'd heard right at first. And then the dots all connected in a way he hadn't wanted them to and he deflated. "Now? Today? So you can't... So you can't do the concert."

The one they'd worked so hard on, the one which was sold out, the one which meant funds for the arts center Aleks had worked for ever since coming back to Haven. Just like that... poof, all over. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands for a second, then raking his fingers back through his hair.

"Fuck. You cannot be serious, Remey." There had to be a way to make this still happen. Surely there was a way.

Remey's tense expression said otherwise. "Aleks, I wish I wasn't, but... I have to go. I have to. My contract is being re-negotiated, along with everyone else's on my label, and I need to be there. I can't not be. If I thought I could put it off, even for a few hours... I know Alli would've done it already. She knows how important this is."

"Shit," Aleks muttered, his voice tight and his eyes fixed on the floor. "You know how important this benefit concert would be to the center, Remey. And to Willow, too. Christ, she's been talking about nothing else for days, except how Remey is going to sing her pretty songs." She wouldn't understand why Remey wasn't there.

Remey bit his lip, blue eyes full of guilt. "Aleks, I know, believe me I do, and, God, I am so sorry. If there was anything I could do... I've put everything I have into my career for the last seven years and I can't throw it away."

Aleks shook his head. "I'm not asking you to throw anything away, Remey. Certainly not your career. But there has to be a way to, I don't know... make it work."

But there was Remey's face again, looking guilty and anxious, and Aleks knew there wasn't a way to do both. So Remey had to choose. And Aleks couldn't even blame him for choosing the career. What were he and Willow and Haven when compared to a multi-million dollar recording contract?

What hurt, though, was that all this time, he'd been expecting this and it'd been Remey pushing and cajoling and guilting Aleks for assuming the worst until, damn it, he'd stopped assuming and started hoping. And this was what his hope got him. What he'd anticipated in the first place.

"Aleks, I know how important the concert is, but this is my career..." Remey's whole face was tight with concern, and Aleks let out a heavy breath.

"I know. I do. I'm not asking you not to go. You do what you have to do, Remey. But I'm doing what I have to do, too. What I should've done from the beginning."

Remey let out a choked breath, brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Aleks shook his head, trying not to show the overwhelming emotion flooding him at that moment. "I mean, I understand why this isn't even really a choice for you. I do. But while your career is your responsibility and your priority, I have my own and... they just don't mesh with yours, it seems. I thought as much, but then forgot about reality and started thinking maybe a fairy tale was possible. Which is ridiculous, I know. Believe me, I know."

He took a deep breath and met Remey's eyes. "Go to California, Remey. Sign your deals and make your money, but maybe while you're gone you ought to think about whether or not those priorities are going to change. If they even can. Because if you want to be a part of my life, of my daughter's life, then they need to. I won't let her play second fiddle to anyone's career ever again. She deserves more, no matter how much money is involved."

Remey shook his head, his voice a raw whisper. "I don't think of you as second fiddle, or her. I don't! I love Willow and, God, I love you so much it doesn't seem real sometimes. None of it changes the fact I have obligations to meet, if I want to keep doing what I love. I want you and Willow every bit as much as I want music, Aleks. I--"

"This isn't just about the concert, Remey. That's just collateral damage. The center will be fine, even if takes another three years to raise the money. But you have to look at this from my point of view. Nothing will ever be as important to me as my child. Certainly not your job. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh." He bent and snapped the locks on Remey's guitar case, then picked it up, handing it to him. "What happens next time there's an emergency in California? Or a concert you
have
to do? An appearance or something that contradicts a commitment you've made to me or to Willow? Welcome to the real world of inviting other people into your life, Remey. We don't expect to simply go along for
your
ride. That's not how it works."

For a second, neither moved, then Remey nodded and reached out to take the case from him. Aleks shoved his hands in his pockets, watching as Remey put on his coat and opened the door. Then there was a pause and their eyes met.

"Aleksander... I'm sorry. Tell... tell Wil--" Remey cut her name off, shaking his head and looking down. "Tell everyone I'm sorry."

Aleks held his breath as the door shut behind him, then let out a long, painful sigh. He looked toward the stairs and sighed again. What was he going to tell Willow?

* * * *

Remey leaned forward to rest his forehead against his arms, bent over in his seat at the conference room table. The higher-ups had gone to consult with the lawyers. Kevin his manager was with them, and Remey had sent Alli out to get them a late lunch/early dinner. He hadn't felt much like eating ever since he'd left Haven, but Alli kept forcing food on him, since it was one of the only ways he'd allow her to show sympathy. He didn't want her to try to soothe him or cheer him up or talk about how messed up the whole situation was. Remey knew it was messed up, and the only thing capable of cheering him up now was being able to go home.

Unfortunately, it looked like it wasn't going to happen for another few days. The label executives were busy with a whole bunch of people who were anxious to make sure they didn't get overlooked in the shuffle, so there were hours and hours of waiting between meetings sometimes. Sighing, he reached into the pocket of his messenger bag where it was slung over his chair and retrieved his phone as it started to ring.

With Aleks's ringtone.

Remey's heart leapt into his throat as he fumbled the phone, catching it by the edge of the case right before it slipped between his hands, answering quickly.

"Hello?" He had difficulty breathing through the wild tangle of emotions, through the hurt and the sorrow and the thin, silvery threads of hope. Aleks hadn't returned any of Remey's calls or texts. He seemed to be sticking by his idea that Remey ought to be "thinking his priorities through." Why was he calling now?

At first, he wondered if Aleks might have dialed him by mistake because there was silence, followed by a sort of scuffling sound and a few high-pitched beeps like key-presses.

"Hello? Aleks?"

"Daddy's drawin'. Hi?"

Remey's heart wrenched at the sound of Willow's voice, small and uncertain. He missed her, missed her sweet smiles and her bright, infectious giggle, missed the way she'd nestle her head against the curve of his shoulder when he picked her up.