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“Bobby, I swear to god—“
“Lex, when have I ever made us late to anything?”
“Literally this morning!”
“You can’t be late for breakfast when you’re just picking up bagels—“
“You can when it’s on the itinerary! And we’re behind the itinerary!”
“They were good bagels though,” Luke chimes in from the back seat.
Reggie turns from where his face is pressed against the window. “Uh, guys?” he says nervously. “I think we passed the exit.”
Bobby swears and veers the van into a sharp U-turn. The car behind them slams on their horn.
Alex stares at the side of Bobby’s head with a smug smirk. Bobby doesn’t even have to glance at him before he growls, “Not a fucking word.”
Alex just shrugs, the smirk not leaving his face.
“Fine,” Bobby huffs. “You were right.”
“I’m sorry, come again?”
“You were right!” Bobby says as he slams into a parking spot. “Motherfucker,” he mutters under his breath.
“You love me,” Alex grins. He leans in for a kiss, but Bobby shoves him away.
“Can’t remember why right now,” Bobby grumbles. He unbuckles his seatbelt and gets out of the van, leaving Alex pouting behind him.
Luckily, Reggie swoops in to take Alex’s proffered lips in his own kiss.
“Thanks, Reg,” Alex beams. “Ready, Lu?”
Luke, who’s been staring at the building in front of them and bouncing in his seat, snaps his attention to Alex.
“So ready,” he grins. He scoots forward and smacks a kiss on both Alex and Reggie’s cheeks before getting out of the car and wrapping his arms around Bobby.
Today, Sunset Curve has their first ever cover interview. And it’s with Rolling Stone.
Usually, Alex isn’t the biggest fan of interviews. It’s stressful knowing every word you say could be broadcast to millions of people, and it always falls on him to keep his boyfriends under control and on topic. Plus, they’ve had way too many close calls with Luke or Reggie almost blurting out their relationship.
But this is Rolling Stone. Even Alex has to admit it’s a huge freaking deal.
His usual nerves are still there, but it’s far outweighed by excitement as they take the elevator up to the studio where they’ll be doing their interview.
Alex steps out first, and then promptly freezes as he catches sight of their interviewer. Bobby crashes into him, and Luke and Reggie follow like dominoes.
“What happened?” Reggie asks.
“Holy shit,” Alex whispers.
“Is that the interviewer?” Bobby whispers back.
Luke pokes his head around Bobby to follow their gaze, and his eyes widen.
“Guys,” he says, “that’s the hottest person I’ve ever seen.”
Alex should maybe take offense to Luke finding someone hotter than his three very attractive boyfriends, but it’s not like he’s wrong. The man in front of them looks like a god, all perfect cheekbones and golden tan skin and long flowing hair.
“We need to cancel,” Alex says. “I can’t do this.”
Bobby nods. “We should put in our rider that interviewers can’t be hot.”
Behind them, Reggie whimpers in agreement.
Luke grabs Bobby’s shoulders and tugs him back. “Maybe if we just… slowly back away…”
Too late. The hot interviewer looks up from his clipboard a fixes them all with a blinding smile that leaves them all paralyzed.
“Hey guys!” he chirps as he crosses over to them. “I’m Willie.”
He offers a hand to Alex since he’s in front. Alex just stares at it until Bobby digs an elbow into his ribs.
“Um, Alex,” he stutters out, heart hammering as he shakes Willie’s hand. His skin is so soft.
“I’m Bobby.”
“Luke.”
“Luke.”
They all turn to gape at Reggie, who takes a moment to register his mistake and snap out of his dreamy daze.
“I mean Reggie!” he yelps, face turning the reddest Alex has ever seen it. “My name’s Reggie. Hi.”
Willie giggles, and holy shit, Alex might pass out on the spot.
“It’s awesome to meet you guys,” Willie says. “I’m a huge fan.”
“Really?” Luke asks. He pushes to the front of the group, always eager to soak up musical praise.
“Yeah, man,” Willie says. “I saw you guys perform at Eats n Beats in ‘93 and since then I’ve been obsessed.”
Luke is vibrating so hard he could power a small generator. “Really?” he asks again. “You’ve been listening that long?”
“Sunset Curve’s number one fan,” Willie says with a little wink.
Reggie grabs Bobby’s arm to stabilize himself.
“You guys ready to get started?” Willie asks.
“Get started…?” Alex echoes.
Willie raises a bemused eyebrow. “On the interview?”
“Oh!” Alex says. “Yeah. Right. The interview. Yes.”
Willie giggles again, which makes Alex’s stupidity so worth it. He leads the four of them over to four chairs he has set up in front of his own, with a small camcorder next to it.
“Is this a video interview?” Reggie asks.
“Nah,” Willie says. “It just helps my memory to have a visual. Is that okay?”
“Totally,” Reggie answers for all of them. “We’ll make sure to give you our good sides.”
“I doubt you have a bad side,” Willie says with another wink.
Alex glances at Bobby to make sure he heard that right. From the way Bobby is gripping his chair so hard his knuckles turn white, he did.
“So,” Willie says. “Let’s talk about your new album. I really loved it, by the way.”
Luke preens, and Willie turns his attention to him.
“A lot of people have noted that there are a lot more love songs on this album than on your previous records,” Willie says. “Is there someone special you had in mind while writing them?”
Luke glances between his boys, always a little put out that he can’t admit the love songs are for each other. They’re not the type to tease their fans with some made up romance, though, so Luke answers honestly.
“With all due respect,” he says, “we’d like to keep our personal lives personal.”
“No worries,” Willie says easily. “I totally get that. My boss just wouldn’t stop bugging me until I agreed to ask that.”
He rolls his eyes, like they’re all in on some inside joke together, and Alex finds that he wouldn’t mind having more inside jokes with Willie.
“Now we get to do the fun questions,” Willie says. “Where do you guys see yourselves in ten years?”
“In a helicopter,” Bobby smirks, which immediately triggers loud teasing from all three of his boyfriends. Reggie’s firmly in team helicopter; Luke and Alex are not.
Willie laughs. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s without a doubt the most fun Alex has ever had at an interview. Talking to Willie is easy, like they’ve known him their whole lives. He’s understanding when they don’t want to answer personal questions, he knows when to tease and when to pull back, and he’s patient when Luke gets so excited he starts stuttering over his answers.
The hour flies by, and before Alex knows it, Willie is thanking them for speaking with him.
“No problem, man,” Luke beams. “You’re an awesome interviewer.”
Willie gives a bashful chuckle. “Thanks. I was just trying to do my favorite band justice.”
“You definitely did,” Reggie assures him, and the others nod in agreement.
“Yeah, definitely our favorite reporter,” Alex says.
“Really?” Willie asks.
Bobby nods emphatically. “Yeah, man. Alex smiled through the whole thing, and he hates interviews.”
Alex shrugs, cheeks heating up. “You made it fun.”
Willie studies him for a moment, chewing his lip, then steps up to Alex.
“I have to let the photographer take over soon,” Willie says slowly, “but, um…” He takes a business card from his pocket and gives it to Alex, letting his hand linger. “This is my number, if you ever want another interview. Or, you know. You just want to hang out.”
He glances at the other three, then winks and Alex and pulls away, exiting the studio. Alex stares after him, jaw hanging open. The others sidle up behind Alex, staring at the business card in his hand.
“Oh. My. God,” Bobby whispers.
“Dude!” Luke yelps, shaking Alex’s shoulders. “He’s totally into you!”
Alex laughs awkwardly, handing the card to Reggie so he can look it over. “I mean— maybe?”
“You have to call him,” Luke says.
“What?” Alex hisses. He looks to Reggie and Bobby, neither of whom seem to have an issue with their boyfriend calling another man. “I have you guys! I don’t want to date anyone you’re not dating.”
“Exactly,” Luke says. “You woo him, then tell him we’re a package deal, and then boom! We all have a new boyfriend.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Alex asks. “He’s a reporter for the biggest music magazine there is! He’s the last person we should be telling that!”
“Bro, you’re overthinking this,” Luke says.
“Do not call me bro right now,” Alex snaps, pitch bordering on hysterical. That makes this feel more like his high school buddies encouraging him to go after a cute guy and less what it actually is—his boyfriends of ten years begging him to entrap a Rolling Stone reporter into their relationship.
“Reg, what do you think?” Bobby asks.
Reggie looks up from where he was smiling dazedly at the card. “I think we should go for it.”
“Not you too,” Alex groans. “What happened to me being your favorite? Why can’t you be on my side right now?”
“Pretty boy override,” Reggie shrugs. “Besides, Willie seems nice! I don’t think he’d tell anyone about us.”
“You also didn’t think you could get electrocuted by fixing your amp in the rain,” Alex points out.
Reggie waves him away. “Irrelevant.”
“Lexi, listen,” Bobby sighs. “If you’re really, truly uncomfortable with this, that’s okay. Obviously we’re not going to bring anyone into this relationship without all of us being one hundred percent on board. But you haven’t given us a hard no, even though you know you’re allowed to, so let me ask you this. If Willie wasn’t a reporter, would you be open to bringing him in?”
“I—“ Alex cuts himself off with a sigh. “Yes.”
“So do you think it’s maybe your anxiety getting in the way of what you really want?”
“Maybe?”
“Just take a bit to think about it, okay babe?” Bobby says. “It’s up to you.”
Alex kind of wants to kiss Bobby for being so patient with him, but the photographer chooses that moment to walk in so Alex settles for squeezing his arm instead. Bobby gives him an understanding smile and Alex tries to put everything else out of his mind as they go into the photoshoot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Luke, Bobby, and Reggie are cuddling on the couch when Alex steps into the living room and declares, “Okay.”
Reggie’s head pops up from Luke’s lap, nearly smashing into Bobby’s nose. “Okay what?”
Alex takes a deep breath. “I want to call Willie.”
His boys are at his side in an instant.
“Are you sure?” Luke asks, studying Alex with those big hopeful eyes. “Like, really really sure?”
“Yeah, Luke,” Alex says. “I’m sure.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” Reggie takes the phone off the wall and shoves it into Alex’s hands. “Call him already!”
Alex takes the business card out of his pocket and dials the number. His boys crowd around him so they can listen, holding their breath as the dial tone rings.
“Willie Williamson, how can I help you?”
A laugh escapes Alex before he can think about it. “Your name is Willie Williamson?”
Bobby smacks his chest, but Willie chuckles.
“It is indeed!” he chirps. “Do I get the pleasure of knowing who’s making fun of my name on this fine evening?”
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” Alex groans. “It’s, um, it’s Alex. From Sunset Curve?”
“Alex, hi!” Willie says. “I was hoping you’d call.”
Reggie shakes Alex’s arm excitedly.
“You were?” Alex asks.
“Yeah!” Willie says. “In fact, I’m so pleased about it I’ll even forgive you for laughing at my name.”
“Oh,” Alex says with a little awkward laugh. “That’s, um. Generous.”
Willie hums in agreement. “So what’s up?”
Alex glances at his boyfriends, who give him encouraging nods. “I was actually wondering if… if you wanted to go on a date?”
“I’d love to!”
Luke lets out a victory whoop, and Alex slaps a hand over his mouth. Willie chuckles on the other side of the line.
“Tell Luke I say hi.”
Alex freezes, his heart starting to pound. “How did you know that was Luke?”
“Sunset Curve’s number one fan, remember?” Willie says. “I know the difference between your voices.” He pauses, then adds, “Can I ask something? Is this date with just you?”
Alex exchanges wary glances with his boys. “Were you expecting… more?”
“Well, um, funny story.” Alex hears fabric rustle as Willie shifts and lets out a little laugh. “I, uh, sort of forgot my camcorder was on after our interview..”
All of the blood drains from Alex’s face. “So you heard…?”
“Yeah,,” Willie admits bashfully. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise! I already deleted the footage. But yeah, I heard all of it.”
Alex takes a deep breath and looks to Bobby for help. He puts a reassuring hand on Alex’s shoulder and squeezes.
“So…” Alex says, “So, is that, uh— are we something you’d be… interested in?”
“Yes,” Willie says immediately. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”
Reggie starts jumping up and down, Luke pumps his fists in the air, and Bobby lets out a relieved laugh.
“They’re all listening, aren’t they?” Willie asks. Alex can hear the smirk in his voice.
“Yeah,” he laughs. “Yeah they are.”
“Hi Willie!” Reggie crows into the phone.
“Hi Reggie,” Willie giggles.
“Willie,” Bobby says, leaving over Alex’s shoulder to get closer to the phone. “Does tomorrow work for you? I can get us a reservation at Eats n Beats.”
“That sounds amazing,” Willie says. “Does 5 work?.”
“I’ll set it up,” Bobby says. “We’re really excited.”
“Me too,” Willie says. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, then?”
“Yeah,” Alex grins. “Tomorrow at 5.”
“Bye, Willie!” Luke calls.
“Bye,” Willie laughs.
Alex hangs up the phone and drops it back into its cradle. “Oh my god,” he breathes.
“We did it!” Luke cheers.
He scoops Alex up into a hug, and Bobby and Reggie quickly join in.
“You guys owe me big time,” Alex laughs as Luke and Reggie pepper his face with kisses. “I just got us a date with the hottest man on earth.”
“I love you so much,” Bobby says, pulling him in for a kiss. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”
Luke and Reggie nod in agreement.
“The best,” Reggie says, giving Alex a quick peck on the lips.
“We’re gonna have a new boyfriend,” Luke grins. His eyes light up with an idea. “I’m gonna write him a song!”
Under any other circumstances, Alex would make fun of Luke for that being his first instinct, but right now, when he’s so overwhelmed with love for his boyfriends and excitement for this new relationship with Willie…
“Wait up,” Alex calls. “I’ll help.”