Chapter 2

Jed has seen various levels of nerves over the past few days. Donnie doesn’t look like the most nervous person to audition, but he’s not the most confident either.

“Donnie Small?” Jamie asks.

“Yeah, that’s me. Hi.” Donnie waves a little hesitantly, his smile shy and frankly adorable. Jed scolds himself. Donnie isn’t a puppy. He’s a grown man, and Jed isn’t about to make a decision about his band using his dick, not again.

“So how did you hear about Black Lace?” Jed fires off the first set question.

“The band or the audition? Because I’m pretty sure everyone’s heard about the band,” Donnie says calmly.

“The audition,” Brenton says a little firmly. Jed looks at Brenton, their six-foot-five, shaved-head drummer with steel grey eyes. He’s thirty-three, with a tattoo of a purple orchid on his neck. So far, he’s intimidated quite a few of the people auditioning.

Donnie doesn’t look intimidated.

“I’ve been working as a session musician in a studio. They heard about the auditions and told me. I thought it was worth a shot, seeing as you only needed guitar and not vocals, since you have those covered.” Donnie adjusts the guitar strap on his shoulder.

“And you thought you’d fit in with the gayest rock band to ever play?” Penny asks. She’s actually the only other gay member of the band, other than Jed, but the band are all accepting, more than Jed had ever imagined they’d be.

“You can’t ask someone’s sexuality in an interview,” Jamie reminds them, rubbing her temples.

“I don’t mind. I actually work for a LGBT charity for homeless teenagers,” Donnie says

“What made you want to do that?” Penny asks.

“I owed them. I want to be a musician full time, and they’re all encouraging me to do more. I’ve been in bands my whole life, but I think you can find time for charity work because it’s a more flexible job. And I figure if I make more money, I can do more to help people,” Donnie says, looking nervous now.

“You owe them?” Drew raises an eyebrow. He’s not as intimidating as Brenton, but he’s pretty big: six foot tall, with spiky brown hair, but warm brown eyes. He and Brenton are both kind men, though, no matter what they look like.

“They helped me when I was a teenager.”

“You’re gay then?” Jamie asks, with a critical look on her face.

“What happened to not asking?” Jed asks.

She just shrugs.

“Like I said, I don’t mind. I’m open about my sexuality. I’m bisexual, but I don’t think it’s important. I don’t think a person’s sexuality is the most interesting thing about them.” Donnie bites his lip, but Jed can tell he means every word.

“I like him. I agree. Everyone makes a huge deal about the two of us being gay, speculation if the other members are really straight. It’s tiresome,” Penny says.

“So he’s not an asshole, great,” Brent says. “Let’s hear you play, kid.”

“Whenever you’re ready,” Jed adds a little more gently.

“I was going to play something I wrote. Is that okay?” Donnie asks.

“You write music?” Penny asks, and Donnie nods, looking a little shy.

“Hearing something new will be cool. We’ve heard the same songs over and over,” Drew groans.

Donnie starts playing after a few moments, looking nervous at first, but his hands are steady on the strings of his guitar. He plays well, almost simple at first, but the piece becomes more complicated, a real rock and roll piece of music, a true guitar solo.

Jed is impressed. Donnie has true skill, and the longer he plays, the more he seems to get lost in the music, his head bobbing along slightly, his bright red hair swaying. It’s beautiful hair. Jed wonders if it’s soft, the way it looks, or brittle and dry, like some dyed hair gets. Jed shakes his head, because what does that even matter? It’s not like he’s ever going to touch Donnie’s hair.

It’s not the first time he’s run across a pretty boy, and it won’t be the last, so there’s no reason to be acting like a fool over it. Jed is here to find someone who can play and fits with the band.

Donnie’s song comes to an end, and he stands there waiting.

“That was good. How long have you been playing?” Brenton asks.

“Since I was eleven, so fifteen years,” Donnie answers.

“And how long have you been writing music?” Drew asks.

“Five years.” Donnie unplugs his guitar from the amp.

“If you’ll go back to the waiting room, we’ll get back to you,” Penny says with a smile. They haven’t asked everyone to wait, but Jed thinks it’s a good idea.