Onstage, AJ Mobley is smart, clever, and commands attention. Offstage, he's shy and lost to everything but his music. The reason for the difference? Tyrone Dahl. For the past two years, AJ and Tyrone have been the star attraction at the Reno bar, Heat Wave. Their dueling pianos act is fast and funny, but their camaraderie isn't just under the spotlight. They're best friends away from the show, too. An opportunity to take their act to Las Vegas seems like the perfect next step in their careers. There's only one problem -- AJ's been in love with Tyrone almost from the moment they met. He's hidden it well; after all, Tyrone might be bisexual, but he's also never lacked for company. AJ would rather be his friend than another notch on his bedpost. But Vegas beckons. And Tyrone wants to take the leap. The last thing AJ can ever do is deny his best friend ...

Interlude

It was going to be fine. They’d done this a hundred, no, a thousand times. They’d rehearsed ad infinitum for the past four days. There was no reason to be nervous, just because the pianos were a little more grandiose than he was used to, the restaurant was packed, and he could hear slot machines dinging in the background outside.


He glanced at the empty piano opposite him. They could do this. Together.


A few patrons looked in his direction when he started to play Sinatra’s version of “Embraceable You.” It was slow and predictable, and almost immediately they turned back to their dinners. Ignore the man at the piano. He must just be the warm-up for the real show. After all, the shows are bigger here in Vegas.


Chapter 20