I planned to remain in that position for the rest of the day, so of course sod’s law made my phone ring just as I’d gotten comfy.
“Hey, Ivan,” I answered groggily after seeing his name flash up on the screen. The slight movement it took to reach out to the table next to me to grab it made me want to spew my guts into next week.
“You sound like shit.” He spoke at normal volume yet every word felt like a bomb detonating in my ear.
“I feel it. What’s up?”
“Stewart’s in town next week and…”
I cut him off with a groan. I knew exactly what was coming and I didn’t particularly want to hear it. Ivan had been trying to pair me with Stewart for the last three months and each and every time I’d refused.
The way it worked with Ivan, was that he chose the pairings – just like every other studio. Where Back Door Studios may have differed to many others however, was that his boys had the opportunity to say no, and we could also request our own pairings too. He didn’t always make it happen, but the moral of the story is we got to have our say. Like I’ve said before, we were a family. Equals. He treated every one of us fairly and never as if we were disposable. I knew from experience that was a rarity in this game, which is why I’d never considered working for anyone else.
“He’s a fucking arsehole.”
“I know you don’t get along, kid, but the fans are going crazy for a scene with you two. Could bring in a lot of attention.”
“I’m sorry, Ivan, I just-”
“Ryder, I need to step things up around here. The only way I can do that is to give people what they want.”
“What do you mean, you need to?”
Ivan sighed down the line, sending waves of nerves tingling down my spine. He was usually so cock sure of everything. He was focused, confident, happy even when there was no need to be. He was our rock, the guy we all looked up to… a father figure to many of us. So to hear his voice crack, to hear the apprehension forcing his breath to falter – it worried me. And I didn’t ‘do’ worry. “What’s going on, Ivan?”
“You know I’m not gonna force you to do anything, kid,” he said, ignoring my question completely. “Just let me know if you change your mind.”
“Wait,” I called before he had the chance to hang up. “I’ll think about it. Maybe pop round to your place tonight with my decision.”
“Our door’s always open to you, you know that.”
By ‘our’ he meant he and his partner of twenty years - Eli.
“I’ll catch you later,” I said, noticing the door to Mason’s room starting to open. “I gotta go.”
“Take care, kid.” That was always Ivan’s closing line, and also like always, it made me smile.
“You’re awake?” I said to Mason, sitting upright on the couch after tossing my phone back onto the table. “I was starting to think you’d been hauled away by a herd of ants.”
“Why ants?”
“Why not ants?”
“Well it’s a colony.”
“What is?”
“A group of ants. It’s a colony not a herd.”
“Well excuse me Professor George. I must’ve missed that class.” A small smile tugged at Mason’s lips but not enough to reach his eyes. “Right, down to business,” I said, forcing a subject change. His eyes widened and a nervous cough pushed through his throat. “Easy, tiger, I’m not gonna pounce on you.” Yet. “We need to get you set up with social media.”
He shrugged casually. “I’m on Twitter.”
“You’re on Twitter. Ricky Rear isn’t, and he needs to be. Plus Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr. It’s the only way to get your name out there and bag yourself a following.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll just take a shower and we’ll get on it.”
While Mason showered I downed a bottle of water, held my head out of the window for a smoke, and then settled down on the couch with the laptop on my knee. I checked my own notifications and messages while I was waiting for him, and sure enough my screen was on fire with people itching for a scene with me and Joe – AKA Stewart.
Jacob Phelps @Fitboy92616h
@KyleKingXXX we NEED a scene with you and @JoeJinxOfficial. Make it happen!
Reply Retweet Favorite … More
Jax Clover @Kax2theMax8h
@KyleKingXXX When r u gonna pound @JoeJinxOfficial fuckin hot ass?
Reply Retweet Favorite … More
“Okay,” Mason announced, startling me when he re-entered the room. “Time to make me famous.”
“Wouldn’t go that far, tiger,” I teased. “You’ll never knock me off the top spot.”
Laughing, Mason settled down beside me on the couch, moving closer so our thighs were touching and we could both see the screen of the laptop clearly.
“Let’s start with Twitter,” I suggested, seeing as I was already on the page. Mason shrugged as I logged out of my account. “Right, you need a handle.”